The Andy Griffith Show backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Best Episodes of The Andy Griffith Show Season 5

Every episode of The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Andy Griffith Show Season 5!

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 9.0/10

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised on CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays the widowed sheriff of the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina.

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons8

All12345678

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 1 - Opie Loves Helen
    7.6/10(333 votes)

    #1 - Opie Loves Helen

    S5:E1

    Opie develops a crush on his teacher, Ms. Crump, and Andy sees that the only way to get Opie to forget about it is to admit to him that he and Helen are an "item."

    Director:Aaron Ruben
    Writer:Bob Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 2 - Barney's Physical
    8.6/10(411 votes)

    #2 - Barney's Physical

    S5:E2

    New height and weight requirements go into effect for all law enforcement officers, which threatens to put Barney out of a job unless Andy can figure out a way to throw around some much-needed weight.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writer:Bob Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 3 - Family Visit
    7.6/10(379 votes)

    #3 - Family Visit

    S5:E3

    Aunt Bee's sister Nora and her family come to visit and drive everybody crazy. When Nora's husband starts going around town acting like a police officer, Andy decides to give him a taste of the life of a real lawman.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writers:James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 4 - The Education of Ernest T. Bass
    8.1/10(385 votes)

    #4 - The Education of Ernest T. Bass

    S5:E4

    Ernest T. Bass returns to Mayberry to get an education so his girlfriend will marry him. But when he meets his new teacher Helen, he falls in love with her. Now Andy has to help Helen give Ernest all the facts he needs, including the one about the true object of his affection.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 5 - Aunt Bee's Romance
    7.1/10(334 votes)

    #5 - Aunt Bee's Romance

    S5:E5

    Aunt Bee's old flame Roger comes to town for a visit and starts driving Andy and Opie crazy. Andy tries to give him the benefit of the doubt for Aunt Bee's sake, until Roger threatens to stay forever.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writer:Harvey Bullock

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 6 - Barney's Bloodhound
    8.2/10(345 votes)

    #6 - Barney's Bloodhound

    S5:E6

    Barney buys an old bloodhound to help him and Andy track down a prison escapee, but he only succeeds in getting them both taken hostage. That's when Andy remembers the dog's one pet peeve.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Andy Griffith Show

    READ
  7. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 7 - Man in the Middle
    7.8/10(311 votes)

    #7 - Man in the Middle

    S5:E7

    A lover's spat between Barney and Thelma Lou blows out of proportion and ends up involving Andy and Helen. Soon all four are not speaking and it's up to Barney to fix things, but he'll have to make up with Thelma Lou first.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:Gus Adrian, Dave Evans

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 8 - Barney's Uniform
    8.4/10(393 votes)

    #8 - Barney's Uniform

    S5:E8

    Barney angers a local businessman who threatens to break every bone in his body if he sees him out of uniform, so Barney starts wearing his uniform everywhere. Andy has an idea to help him by changing a little more than his clothes.

    Director:Coby Ruskin
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 9 - Opie's Fortune
    8.4/10(340 votes)

    #9 - Opie's Fortune

    S5:E9

    Opie finds a change purse with $50 and Andy tells him he can keep it if no one claims it in seven days. On the seventh day the owner comes looking for the money, and Andy discovers Opie has already spent it.

    Director:Coby Ruskin
    Writers:Art Baer, Ben Joelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 10 - Goodbye, Sheriff Taylor
    8.2/10(323 votes)

    #10 - Goodbye, Sheriff Taylor

    S5:E10

    While Andy is away in Raleigh considering a job offer, Barney is left as acting sheriff and dreams of the day he'll have the job. When he ends up causing more trouble than he prevents, he wonders if he really wants the job as much as he thought.

    Director:Gene Nelson
    Writers:Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 11 - The Pageant
    7.3/10(305 votes)

    #11 - The Pageant

    S5:E11

    Aunt Bee is elated when she is cast in the lead role in the Mayberry Centennial Pageant. When it becomes apparent she is not the actress she thinks she is, Andy devises a way for her to get a first-hand look at some real talent.

    Director:Gene Nelson
    Writer:Harvey Bullock

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 12 - The Darling Baby
    7.6/10(379 votes)

    #12 - The Darling Baby

    S5:E12

    The Darling family returns to Mayberry seeking a future husband for their 3-month-old daughter. To Andy's horror, they choose Opie, and he finds he will have to scare up a little witchcraft to get out of this one.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writers:James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 13 - Andy and Helen Have Their Day
    7.9/10(333 votes)

    #13 - Andy and Helen Have Their Day

    S5:E13

    Andy and Helen end up before a justice of the peace when Andy forgets his fishing license during their picnic. When word reaches Barney, he believes they are getting married and rounds up the whole gang to be there for the nuptials.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 14 - Three Wishes for Opie
    9.0/10(525 votes)

    #14 - Three Wishes for Opie

    S5:E14

    Opie makes three wishes on a "magic lamp" Barney bought. When one of his wishes doesn't come true, Barney dismisses the whole thing. Opie learns there are many different ways for a wish to be granted.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writer:Richard M. Powell

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 15 - Otis Sues the County
    7.9/10(343 votes)

    #15 - Otis Sues the County

    S5:E15

    Otis is talked into suing the county by a shady lawyer, thinking Andy will support his efforts to attract more money for the courthouse. To his surprise, Andy decides to fight the case.

    Director:Howard Morris
    Writer:Bob Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 16 - Barney Fife, Realtor
    8.3/10(346 votes)

    #16 - Barney Fife, Realtor

    S5:E16

    Andy catches Opie trying to sell his broken bike to a friend and teaches him a lesson in honest dealing. But when Barney talks Andy into selling his house, the lesson comes to haunt him as Opie points out all the faults of the Taylor house to Barney's potential buyers.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 17 - Goober Takes a Car Apart
    7.7/10(352 votes)

    #17 - Goober Takes a Car Apart

    S5:E17

    Andy is horrified to find Goober has brought a car into the courthouse after being left in charge while Andy was away at a sheriff's conference. That's when he learns that a couple of law-enforcement friends from the conference are coming for a visit.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 18 - The Rehabilitation of Otis
    7.7/10(319 votes)

    #18 - The Rehabilitation of Otis

    S5:E18

    Barney's attempts at getting Otis to stop drinking through psychotherapy only succeed in driving him away to Mount Pilot. When Andy sees how bad Barney feels, he takes him up to Mount Pilot to convince Otis to come back, only to find that Otis prefers their jail over Andy's.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 19 - The Lucky Letter
    8.3/10(326 votes)

    #19 - The Lucky Letter

    S5:E19

    Barney feels he's become "hexed" after Andy persuades him to throw away a chain letter. Now with the annual law-enforcement officers' pistol-shooting qualifications coming up, Andy has to soothe Barney's nerves or he may lose his job.

    Director:Theodore J. Flicker
    Writer:Richard M. Powell

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 20 - Goober and the Art of Love
    7.9/10(351 votes)

    #20 - Goober and the Art of Love

    S5:E20

    Goober starts to annoy Andy and Barney by hanging around during their dates with Helen and Thelma Lou. They decide to set him up with a girl he likes, only to find they now have twice the trouble.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 21 - Barney Runs for Sheriff
    8.1/10(334 votes)

    #21 - Barney Runs for Sheriff

    S5:E21

    Andy is offered a job in Minnesota so Barney decides to run for sheriff in the upcoming election. But when Andy's job offer falls through, he returns to Mayberry to find Barney with a case of campaign fever, aiming to unseat Andy.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Richard M. Powell

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 22 - If I Had a Quarter Million Dollars
    8.3/10(319 votes)

    #22 - If I Had a Quarter Million Dollars

    S5:E22

    Barney sets up a sting operation to catch a crook who may be returning to Mayberry for some stolen loot and ends up arresting an undercover FBI agent instead. But a suspicious Andy realizes Barney's operation may not have been as far off as he thought.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Bob Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 23 - TV or Not TV
    8.1/10(380 votes)

    #23 - TV or Not TV

    S5:E23

    An article written up about Andy attracts the attention of a Hollywood film crew who come to make a television show about him. Andy is flattered, until he notices the crew's strange fascination with the Mayberry town bank.

    Director:Coby Ruskin
    Writers:Art Baer, Ben Joelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 24 - Guest in the House
    7.2/10(391 votes)

    #24 - Guest in the House

    S5:E24

    The pretty daughter of a friend of Aunt Bee's comes to stay with the Taylors and develops a crush on Andy, who tries to be nice for Aunt Bee's sake without getting in trouble with Helen.

    Director:Coby Ruskin
    Writers:Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Andy Griffith Show Season 5 Episode 25 - The Case of the Punch in the Nose
    8.4/10(389 votes)

    #25 - The Case of the Punch in the Nose

    S5:E25

    Barney uncovers an old assault case between Floyd the barber and his friend Charlie that never went to trial and ends up re-igniting an old feud that spreads to the whole town. Now Andy has to find a way to resolve the dispute and keep everyone out of court.

    Director:Coby Ruskin
    Writers:Sam Bobrick, Bill Idelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Opie Loves Helen" is the best rated episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" season 5. It scored 7.6/10 based on 333 votes. Directed by Aaron Ruben and written by Bob Ross, it aired on 9/21/1964. This episode is rated 1.0 points higher than the second-best, "Barney's Physical".