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The Best Episodes of The Big Valley

Every episode of The Big Valley ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Big Valley!

Binge this in 3d 21h•Peaking at 8.4/10

The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 30 - Last Train to the Fair
    8.4/10(148 votes)

    #1 - Last Train to the Fair

    S1:E30

    While on their way to the fair in Sacremento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately there is a doctor on board, unfortunately he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Paul Savage

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  2. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 5 - Night in a Small Town
    8.4/10(150 votes)

    #2 - Night in a Small Town

    S3:E5

    Heath and family help a wayward saloon girl.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 13 - Night of the Executioners
    8.4/10(121 votes)

    #3 - Night of the Executioners

    S3:E13

    While traveling through a strange town, a murder occurs and an innocent man is accused of it. Heath saw the man who really committed the crime, a fact which gets him more trouble than he bargained for.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 1 - Palms of Glory
    8.3/10(289 votes)

    #4 - Palms of Glory

    S1:E1

    In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.

    Director:William A. Graham
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 3 - Boots with My Father's Name
    8.3/10(216 votes)

    #5 - Boots with My Father's Name

    S1:E3

    Victoria begins to wonder if Tom ever truly loved her, if he could go off and have an affair which produces a child. So she's off to Heath's hometown Strawberry to find out more about Tom and Leah's (Heath's mother) relationship.

    Director:Joseph H. Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 12 - Night of the Wolf
    8.3/10(175 votes)

    #6 - Night of the Wolf

    S1:E12

    When Nick is bitten by a rabid wolf, he makes Heath swear not to say a word, and leaves town so his family will not have to witness what will happen to him.

    Director:Joseph H. Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Big Valley

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  7. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 14 - The Brawlers
    8.3/10(159 votes)

    #7 - The Brawlers

    S1:E14

    A group of irish immigrants settle down on Barkley land, believing that they bought the land legally. Nick, along with the others at first, believes they are merely squatters. They, however, refuse to believe that the land does not belong to them.

    Director:Joseph Pevney
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 25 - Plunder!
    8.3/10(131 votes)

    #8 - Plunder!

    S2:E25

    Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.

    Director:Richard Long
    Writer:William Blinn

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  9. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 9 - The Profit and the Lost
    8.3/10(125 votes)

    #9 - The Profit and the Lost

    S4:E9

    When Heath kills someone in self-defense, he becomes a wanted man

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 10 - A Stranger Everywhere
    8.3/10(125 votes)

    #10 - A Stranger Everywhere

    S4:E10

    When Jennie's house is ransacked by three gunmen, Nick realises his practical joke wasn't so great after all!

    Director:Paul Henreid
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 11 - The Prize
    8.3/10(126 votes)

    #11 - The Prize

    S4:E11

    When Heath is asked to look after a wanted man's baby, he gets himself into trouble.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 8 - My Son, My Son
    8.2/10(191 votes)

    #12 - My Son, My Son

    S1:E8

    An old childhood friend of Audra's returns whom she'd like to be involved with. She doesn't know however that he is emotionally disturbed, dangerously so.

    Director:Paul Henreid
    Writer:Paul Schneider

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  13. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 10 - The Murdered Party
    8.2/10(153 votes)

    #13 - The Murdered Party

    S1:E10

    Jarrod defends a man accused of murder, even though the only witness is his own brother, Heath!!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 11 - The Iron Box
    8.2/10(144 votes)

    #14 - The Iron Box

    S2:E11

    While in a strange town, Heath and Nick buy a bull from a man who turns around and has them arrested for stealing it. The sherrif catches up to them while they sit around their campfire, and a fight ensues in which Heath badly burns his leg in the fire. The crooked sheriff takes them to a road gang prison to await trail. . .in a few months!! The cruel warden refuses to allow Heath a doctor and makes him work alongside the others. They soon find out the real reason that innocent drifters are arrested and imprisoned, free work labour for the man whom the Barkley brothers had bought the bull from. Meanwhile, at home Jarrod has found out what has happened to his brothers and heads out after them. Arriving at the prison he demands to see them and when the warden refuses he threatens him with legal action if he is not allowed to see his clients. After he speaks with them he rides off to find the circuit judge. Getting scared that the truth will come out now that he realizes who he's dealing

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 14 - Hide The Children
    8.2/10(141 votes)

    #15 - Hide The Children

    S2:E14

    Nick accompanies a gypsy to her wedding.

    Director:Arthur H. Nadel
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 24 - Court Martial
    8.2/10(150 votes)

    #16 - Court Martial

    S2:E24

    An old war friend of Nick's is being courtmartialed, along with Nick himself!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 4 - The Time after Midnight
    8.2/10(113 votes)

    #17 - The Time after Midnight

    S3:E4

    Jarrod is temporarily blinded.

    Director:Charles S. Dubin
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 17 - Days of Wrath
    8.2/10(130 votes)

    #18 - Days of Wrath

    S3:E17

    After his new bride is murdered, a grief stricken Jarrod goes out for revenge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 19 - Shadow of a Giant
    8.2/10(118 votes)

    #19 - Shadow of a Giant

    S3:E19

    When the Stryder gang escapes, Heath and Nick want to help catch them

    Director:Norman Powell
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 20 - Fall of a Hero
    8.2/10(104 votes)

    #20 - Fall of a Hero

    S3:E20

    Jarod defends Heath in court when he is accused of murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 22 - Rimfire
    8.2/10(122 votes)

    #21 - Rimfire

    S3:E22

    When Jarod goes to Rimfire to conclude a merge of two mines, trouble starts.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 20 - Under a Dark Star
    8.1/10(154 votes)

    #22 - Under a Dark Star

    S1:E20

    A guilt ridden Jarrod offers to help a man that he helped to convict of a crime that Jarrod now knows that he did not commit. Even though the man threatened to kill Jarrod at the trial.

    Director:Michael Ritchie
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 22 - The Death Merchant
    8.1/10(158 votes)

    #23 - The Death Merchant

    S1:E22

    Handy Random, theman who killed the man that killed Tom Barkley, comes to Stockton. It's a happy reunion for all but Heath who hates the man, and for good reason. Everywhere he goes he starts range wars to profit from them.

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 29 - Days of Grace
    8.1/10(118 votes)

    #24 - Days of Grace

    S2:E29

    Heath is wrongfully arrested for attempted rape, and is helped by a nun who used to be his girlfriend.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 13 - Top of the Stairs
    8.1/10(106 votes)

    #25 - Top of the Stairs

    S4:E13

    Victoria learns that her brother-in-law has been declared insane.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Last Train to the Fair" is the best rated episode of "The Big Valley". It scored 8.4/10 based on 148 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Paul Savage, it aired on 4/27/1966. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Night in a Small Town".