Beaver has invited an old friend of his, Jackie, over for the weekend. They are both full of excitement about rekindling their friendship and doing the old things they used to enjoy. Only as soon as they start to do the old stuff (play "Korea," swing on a tire swing), they realize they're bored with each other. They've outgrown these old games, and they're not the same kids they were before. They have learned the hard way that time has moved on and you can't recapture the past. Ward explains this to Beaver in his usual gentle understanding way at the end. In the meantime, the boys' weekend turns into a grating attempt to kill the time without going nuts. When Jackie's parents finally arrive to pick him up, both boys are relieved. Altogether a sobering episode, but a necessary lesson to learn as one grows older.
5 Reviews
Wolfe and Fitzgerald, not Murders in the Rue Morgue
pensman5 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Jackie Waters is coming for a visit. He was a neighbor before the Cleavers moved away. And while Ward has some difficulty in recalling Jackie, he remembers his mom who looked like Susan Hayward.
At first, Beaver and Jackie are happy to see one another. As the boys try to repeat old activities they find out they aren't having the fun they used to. Then Beaver ends up in his room building a model; Jackie ends up in the den reading a book. What do you do when even at thirteen or so, you discover time has changed you and your friend? In my experience, at that age, you quickly find new commonalities. But Beaver and Jackie seem to go their own way. Ward and Wally jump in, reluctantly, and things go from bad to worse. Ward suggests a movie but before they can go, Jackie has called his parents to come and get him.
Maybe Thomas Wolfe and Fitzgerald were on target when they suggested that you can't go home again or repeat the past. Ward tries to explain that over time all people change and so do their interests. Even he knows grown men who still act like little boys holding on to their past. Beaver tries to analogize the lesson: maybe it's like chewing gum. When you put it on the windowsill overnight, it's not the same the next morning, Not perfect, but good enough.
If you catch the episode, the title will make more sense to you.
At first, Beaver and Jackie are happy to see one another. As the boys try to repeat old activities they find out they aren't having the fun they used to. Then Beaver ends up in his room building a model; Jackie ends up in the den reading a book. What do you do when even at thirteen or so, you discover time has changed you and your friend? In my experience, at that age, you quickly find new commonalities. But Beaver and Jackie seem to go their own way. Ward and Wally jump in, reluctantly, and things go from bad to worse. Ward suggests a movie but before they can go, Jackie has called his parents to come and get him.
Maybe Thomas Wolfe and Fitzgerald were on target when they suggested that you can't go home again or repeat the past. Ward tries to explain that over time all people change and so do their interests. Even he knows grown men who still act like little boys holding on to their past. Beaver tries to analogize the lesson: maybe it's like chewing gum. When you put it on the windowsill overnight, it's not the same the next morning, Not perfect, but good enough.
If you catch the episode, the title will make more sense to you.
Getting Older
angelsunchained6 November 2020
The Second Time Around
StrictlyConfidential16 November 2020
(*Jackie Waters quote*) - "Don't worry, dad, I won't act like I do at home."
Jackie Waters is an old school friend of Beaver's who had moved away from Mayfield some years ago.
Beaver has invited Jackie to come over for the weekend so that the two of them can have lots of fun together just like in the good old days.
Well, things don't work out as planned between Beaver and Jackie and a real inexplicable rift takes place between these two boys that has them going their separate ways in the Cleaver home and actually refusing to speak to each other.
Jackie Waters is an old school friend of Beaver's who had moved away from Mayfield some years ago.
Beaver has invited Jackie to come over for the weekend so that the two of them can have lots of fun together just like in the good old days.
Well, things don't work out as planned between Beaver and Jackie and a real inexplicable rift takes place between these two boys that has them going their separate ways in the Cleaver home and actually refusing to speak to each other.
Tells a lesson in life
vitoscotti13 June 2021
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