The Best Episodes of The Donna Reed Show Season 3

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.7/10(39 votes)

   #1 - Weekend

   S3:E19/15/1960

   The family wants to get away for the weekend. The brochure shows Lakeview Lodge to be a great place to go, so Donna and Alex head up there early with Mary and Jeff to join them later, but Lakeview Lodge turns out to be a major disappointment. Now what can they do?

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
2. 

   8.3/10(38 votes)

   #2 - The Mystery Woman

   S3:E29/22/1960

   A lady spots Donna and Mary having lunch in a restaurant, so she stops to say hello. She recognized Donna, even though ""it's been 13 years."" Donna doesn't recognize her but is polite and too embarrassed to ask her name. Later, Donna realizes she must find out who the mystery woman was.

   Director:Norman Tokar

   Writer:Barbara Avedon

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Norman Tokar

   Writer:Barbara Avedon
3. 

   8.0/10(47 votes)

   #3 - Donna Decorates

   S3:E39/29/1960

   Donna tries to redecorate the house, but neighbor boy Dennis Mitchell (Jay North) tries to help her...and ends up making things more of a mess. Donna finally calls Dennis' nearer neighbor Mr.Wilson (Joseph Kearns) to ask if Dennis would help him with anything. (I'm sure Mr.Wilson sympathized.) This was a crossover show-with two people from ""Dennis the Menace"" guesting. It turns out both shows are set in the town of Hilldale...but Dennis probably lived in a different neighborhood than Donna.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
4. 

   7.7/10(36 votes)

   #4 - The Love Letter

   S3:E410/6/1960

   Nick the Greek is the handyman at the Stone's house. He's still learning how to write English, so he asks Jeff for help in writing a love letter to his girlfriend. Later, Mary finds this love letter in Jeff's handwriting and wonders if Jeff is involved in a new romance.

   Director:Robert Ellis Miller

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Robert Ellis Miller

   Writer:Unknown
5. 

   8.1/10(45 votes)

   #5 - How the Other Side Lives

   S3:E510/20/1960

   Mary's friend Ginny lives in a mansion with a maid, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. Now Ginny is going to spend the weekend at Mary's house. What can Mary do to impress Ginny, with the Stone family having no maid, no pool, no tennis court, and with a wild unruly younger brother Jeff at home?

   Director:James Sheldon

   Writer:John Whedon

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:James Sheldon

   Writer:John Whedon
6. 

   7.8/10(38 votes)

   #6 - Alex's Twin

   S3:E610/27/1960

   Mary is enamored with the new boy at school, Elroy! Why? Because he reminds her so much of what her dad must have been like as a teenager. Alex can't see the resemblance at all.

   Director:Jeffrey Hayden

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Jeffrey Hayden

   Writer:Unknown
TRENDING NOW
The 20 BEST Episodes of The Donna Reed Show
READ
7. 

   7.9/10(35 votes)

   #7 - Worried Anyone?

   S3:E711/3/1960

   Like, are we worried about Mary riding in Scotty's car? After all, its only a hot rod made with parts taken from wrecked cars!

   Director:Robert Ellis Miller

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Robert Ellis Miller

   Writer:Unknown
8. 

   7.0/10(33 votes)

   #8 - Higher Learning

   S3:E811/10/1960

   Alex is cited for his research in a Medical Journal article that he tries to read throughout the whole episode, but he's constantly interrupted. Mary gives up boys when Roger and Elroy let a coin toss decide which one will play tennis with her. She decides to become a scientist. Boys are back in her life when she discovers the new boy Stanley mowing their yard and conducting a science project at the same time.

   Director:Jeffrey Hayden

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Jeffrey Hayden

   Writer:Unknown
9. 

   8.1/10(31 votes)

   #9 - Never Marry a Doctor

   S3:E911/17/1960

   The Stones' cleaning lady has troubles. Her baby is sick and her husband lost his job due to illness. Alex takes care of the baby's health, and Donna hires the husband to do odd jobs in their house. Now the Stones have troubles. The twenty dollars that Alex left on the counter for Mrs. Cruikshank's charity is missing. Could the handyman be a thief? Mrs. Cruikshank thinks so and makes Donna wonder if it's true.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
10. 

    7.5/10(28 votes)

    #10 - It Only Hurts When I Laugh

    S3:E1011/24/1960

    The tables are turned as Alex becomes a hospital patient, and a difficult one at that.

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown
11. 

    7.4/10(27 votes)

    #11 - The Model Daughter

    S3:E1112/1/1960

    Mary goes to a session at Taffy Cinders Charm School and wins a scholarship to learn how to be a model. Most of the girls who went with Mary also ""won"" scholarships, too! Then the expenses mount up, as she needs the School instruction book, the School grooming aids, etc.

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
12. 

    7.6/10(33 votes)

    #12 - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

    S3:E1212/8/1960

    Mary is so indecisive, always asking her mother about what clothes to wear which boys to date. Tonight though, she starts making her own decisions when she, Roger, and Larry go out on the town. They go to the Hungry Onion coffeehouse and listen to poetry. They get into money troubles with dinner at the Flamingo Club, and that's when Mary makes the right decision.

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown
13. 

    7.3/10(29 votes)

    #13 - Donna Goes to a Reunion

    S3:E1312/15/1960

    Donna heads to a Blaine Women's College reunion, and while she's away, Jeff adopts Duke, the dog.

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:John Whedon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:John Whedon
14. 

    7.9/10(37 votes)

    #14 - Someone is Watching

    S3:E1412/22/1960

    Jeff wants a motor scooter like Gordie just got, but Alex won't agree to that. Gordie shows off his riding skill until he drives the scooter into a tree in the Stones front yard. Gordie proceeds to fake a leg injury that puts him in Jeff's bed overnight, with Donna taking care of him. Why would Gordie do that? Does it have anything to do with his new stepmother or his dad giving him anything he wants? Does Donna have an idea about how to help Gordie's mom with this problem? You bet she does!

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:John Whedon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:John Whedon
15. 

    8.0/10(30 votes)

    #15 - The Lean and Hungry Look

    S3:E1512/29/1960

    Donna can't fit into the dinner dress she bought a few months ago, and she wants to wear it! She decides it's time to exercise and diet the extra pounds off. Then, Alex notices his tuxedo is a little too tight now, so he decides, well, you get the picture! And will Jeff ever repay the money he borrowed from Mary so she can buy that sweater she's been wanting for a long time. And what do you think happens when she finally does get that sweater and tries it on?

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
16. 

    7.0/10(24 votes)

    #16 - Character Building

    S3:E161/5/1961

    When Donna's letter-to-the-editor about parents needing to make sure that their children follow through by finishing what they start gets published, it prompts Donna to follow through herself. Now Mary can't play tennis till she finds her lost jacket and returns a library book, and Jeff can't rest till he finds the tire pump he borrowed from a friend.

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:Unknown
17. 

    7.3/10(29 votes)

    #17 - World's Greatest Entertainer

    S3:E171/12/1961

    Jeff just can't seem to do anything right --- he slams the door and the angel food cake in the oven droops; his model airplane has cockeyed wings; airplane glue gets on the carpet, so he bleaches it out! The family needs to build up his spirits, so when he does mediocre imitations of movie stars like James Cagney, Peter Lorre, and Edward G. Robinson, he gets all the family's praise. So he decides to enter the upcoming school talent show! Now what can Mary, Donna, and Alex do?

    Director:Norman Tokar

    Writer:Barbara Avedon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Norman Tokar

    Writer:Barbara Avedon
18. 

    7.4/10(29 votes)

    #18 - Variations On a Theme

    S3:E181/19/1961

    Donna and Alex remember their honeymoon and this wonderful musical tobacco jar for Alex. When the jar is broken, unknown to one another Donna and Mary buy an identical replacement, Alex also finds another one, while Jeff glues the original tobacco jar back together! The Stones now own 3 musical tobacco jars!

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:John Whedon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Jeffrey Hayden

    Writer:John Whedon
19. 

    7.6/10(36 votes)

    #19 - The Stones Go to Hollywood

    S3:E191/26/1961

    Alex needs to go to Hollywood to discuss suggestions for a Children's Clinic, so the whole family takes the opportunity to go along and see Hollywood, except it rains, for 2 days! They had so much wanted to meet a movie and TV star before they leave, They do! Also enjoy Donna dreaming that she is a big Hollywood star.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
20. 

    7.7/10(34 votes)

    #20 - Donna Directs a Play

    S3:E202/2/1961

    Donna fills in for the director of Mary's drama group when he is called to Hollywood for a part in a movie.

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
21. 

    7.3/10(27 votes)

    #21 - Trip to Nowhere

    S3:E212/9/1961

    Jeff has been complaing that there's nothing to do. To top it off, Ricky comes over and brags about how his dad is taking him on an exciting camping trip this weekend. Now Jeff wants to go camping, but Alex is away at a conference. So Donna decides to take Jeff and Mary camping at Truesdale Park right in town. This isn't the kind of camping trip Jeff had in mind.

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
22. 

    6.9/10(37 votes)

    #22 - The Geisha Girl

    S3:E222/16/1961

    The new doctor has a Japanese Geisha girl for a wife. She is constantly seeing to her husband's needs, can't do enough for him. The married couples of Hilldale have a difficult time adjusting to her. Leave it to Donna to ""Americanize"" her in matters of wifely duties.

    Director:Norman Tokar

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Norman Tokar

    Writer:Unknown
23. 

    7.5/10(31 votes)

    #23 - The Busy People

    S3:E232/23/1961

    In a try for more togetherness, Donna signs Alex and herself up for painting lessons.

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
24. 

    7.1/10(35 votes)

    #24 - Tony Martin Visits

    S3:E243/2/1961

    While driving through Hilldale, Tony Martin is arrested for speeding by a policeman using radar. He knows he wasn't speeding, but figures he'll just pay the fine and be on his way. In court, Tony sees Donna fighting a parking meter violation and insisting on a jury trial rather than pay a $2 fine. Tony decides to ask for a jury trial, too. It's a matter of man versus machine: is the parking meter keeping correct time or did Donna? Was the radar unit accurate or not? Will popular singer Tony Martin sing a song in this episode? Yes!

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown
25. 

    7.6/10(33 votes)

    #25 - Aunt Belle's Earrings

    S3:E253/9/1961

    No description available

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Robert Ellis Miller

    Writer:Unknown