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The Worst Episodes of The Big Valley

Every episode of The Big Valley ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Big Valley!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 23 - Town of No Exit
    6.7/10(127 votes)

    #1 - Town of No Exit

    S4:E23

    A ghost town is inhabited by lunatics who capture Heath.

    Director:Norman Powell
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 25 - Flight from San Miguel
    6.7/10(87 votes)

    #2 - Flight from San Miguel

    S4:E25

    A woman asks Heath to convince her rebel Mexican husband to leave Mexico

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Edward J. Lakso

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  3. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 20 - A Passage of Saints
    6.8/10(96 votes)

    #3 - A Passage of Saints

    S4:E20

    Bigots harass a Mormon family who have rented a house from Jarrod.

    Director:Nicholas Webster
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 24 - Danger Road
    7.0/10(90 votes)

    #4 - Danger Road

    S4:E24

    Victoria has Edward deliver her medical supplies to the indians

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 11 - The Way to Kill a Killer
    7.1/10(141 votes)

    #5 - The Way to Kill a Killer

    S1:E11

    When one of Nick's old friends, Mariano Montoya, comes through town on his way to sell his cattle, trouble hits in the form of deadly anthrax. The man's cattle begin to die off and it seems as though they will have to shoot them all, killing as well Mariano's dreams for the money. Until Eugene tells them of something called immunization, which he believes will work. Mariano isn't so sure however and tells them that to prove it works, the Barkleys must first try it on their own prize bull!The bull collapses and it looks as though it has been killed but then it moves and gets up, it works!! Mariano's herd is saved!

    Director:Joseph M. Newman
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 17 - Lightfoot
    7.1/10(85 votes)

    #6 - Lightfoot

    S4:E17

    An indian friend returns to Stockton

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 3 - Legend of a General (2)
    7.2/10(108 votes)

    #7 - Legend of a General (2)

    S2:E3

    Nick and Jarrod head to Mexico to break out Heath, who has already broken out and been recaptured.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 1 - Joaquin
    7.2/10(108 votes)

    #8 - Joaquin

    S3:E1

    A man is hired at the ranch who is believed to be a Mexican outlaw thought long dead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 18 - Miranda
    7.2/10(101 votes)

    #9 - Miranda

    S3:E18

    When the Barkleys meet a Mexican fleeing a revolution, they vow to help protect him

    Director:Paul Henreid
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 16 - The Twenty-five Graves of Midas
    7.2/10(98 votes)

    #10 - The Twenty-five Graves of Midas

    S4:E16

    Someone has robbed the Dutton Mining Company, and Heath is taking the blame.

    Director:Richard Long
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 19 - The Royal Road
    7.2/10(116 votes)

    #11 - The Royal Road

    S4:E19

    When a prince from India comes to Stockton, Laura falls in love with him. However, the prince is an imposter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 2 - Legend of a General (1)
    7.3/10(111 votes)

    #12 - Legend of a General (1)

    S2:E2

    Part 1, Heath is down in Mexico where an old friend of the family escapes arrest, fleeing to the Barkley ranch. Heath is imprisoned to be held in exchange for the general.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 5 - Pursuit
    7.3/10(111 votes)

    #13 - Pursuit

    S2:E5

    Victoria heads alone into the desert to find a sick indian before he reaches, and infects, his people.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 7 - Target
    7.3/10(119 votes)

    #14 - Target

    S2:E7

    A candidate for governor, Joshua Hawks, who had been traveling up and down California spreading lies and causing trouble, comes to Stockton.His target this time, The Barkleys, his story, that Tom Barkley stole every inch of land that they own. He chose the wrong family to mess with this time though, because the Barkleys don't lie down for anyone they come out fighting. Against the wishes of his campain manager, the man who fabricated the story, he decides to, foolishly, stay and fight. Jarrod decides not to bring about a libel charge against Hawks, knowing that it would only result in a long drawn out court battle. Instead he asks the senator to form a committee of four men to decide on the case. Hawks cooks up a scheme to murder the committee and blame it on the Barkleys, he even kills his campaign manager when he decides to leave him, after he has found out Hawks' plan. The plan backfires however and Hawks' ends up getting himself killed instead. In the end The Barkleys get the good

    Director:Arthur H. Nadel
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 21 - The Haunted Gun
    7.3/10(96 votes)

    #15 - The Haunted Gun

    S2:E21

    Gunman turned senator Jud Robson comes to Stockton, and soon begins to say he is being stalked. The main problem with his story, he is suspicious of EVERYONE.

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 21 - The Emperor of Rice
    7.3/10(113 votes)

    #16 - The Emperor of Rice

    S3:E21

    A couple kidnap Victoria in exchange for rice

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 25 - Run of the Savage
    7.3/10(95 votes)

    #17 - Run of the Savage

    S3:E25

    Nick sets out to emotionally help a 14 year old boy who is rejected by his high-class parents.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 17 - By Fires Unseen
    7.4/10(134 votes)

    #18 - By Fires Unseen

    S1:E17

    Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise. . . a fiance!! While he is completely smitten with her, the rest of the family isn't so quickly won over. They see the truth, that she's just not ready to leave behind the life of parties and numerous suitors, to which she has become accustomed.

    Director:Ralph Senensky
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 16 - Wagonload of Dreams
    7.4/10(103 votes)

    #19 - Wagonload of Dreams

    S2:E16

    A man tries to get his peaches to market.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 17 - Image of Yesterday
    7.4/10(110 votes)

    #20 - Image of Yesterday

    S2:E17

    An old beau of Victoria's comes to town, but he is not the man she remembers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 22 - Price of Victory
    7.4/10(93 votes)

    #21 - Price of Victory

    S2:E22

    Nick manages an injured boxer, in his last fight.

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 26 - Turn of a Card
    7.4/10(109 votes)

    #22 - Turn of a Card

    S2:E26

    Heath travels to bring his brothers money for a water pump, but a gambler wants to relieve him of it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Gilbert Ralston

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  23. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 6 - The Jonah
    7.4/10(130 votes)

    #23 - The Jonah

    S4:E6

    The Barkleys hire a man famous for his bad luck to help harvest their crops.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 5 - The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner
    7.5/10(165 votes)

    #24 - The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner

    S1:E5

    Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Paul Savage

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  25. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 7 - Winner Lose All
    7.5/10(163 votes)

    #25 - Winner Lose All

    S1:E7

    Heath falls for a beautiful spanish girl, whose father happens to be involved in a land dispute with the Barkleys! Her father disapproves of Heath because of his illegitamate birth, picturing a much finer bred man for his only daughter. He sets about using the land problems to break them apart.

    Director:Richard C. Sarafian
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Town of No Exit" is the worst rated episode of "The Big Valley". It scored 6.7/10 based on 127 votes. Directed by Norman Powell and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/7/1969. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Flight from San Miguel".