The Big Valley backdrop
Western•Drama

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

Airs on
ABC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S3:E5

    Heath and family help a wayward saloon girl.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 1 - Palms of Glory
    8.3/10(293 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 3 - Boots with My Father's Name
    8.3/10(217 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Big Valley

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 11 - The Iron Box
    8.3/10(145 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S2:E25

    Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.

    Director:Richard Long
    Writer:William Blinn

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S4:E9

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

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 11 - The Prize
    8.3/10(130 votes)

    S4:E11

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Big Valley Season 1 Episode 8 - My Son, My Son
    8.2/10(192 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S1:E10

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 14 - Hide The Children
    8.2/10(142 votes)

    S2:E14

    Nick accompanies a gypsy to her wedding.

    Director:Arthur H. Nadel
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 24 - Court Martial
    8.2/10(151 votes)

    S2:E24

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 4 - The Time after Midnight
    8.2/10(114 votes)

    S3:E4

    Jarrod is temporarily blinded.

    Director:Charles S. Dubin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S3:E17

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S3:E19

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

    Director:Norman Powell
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    S3:E20

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Big Valley Season 3 Episode 22 - Rimfire
    8.2/10(123 votes)

    S3:E22

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Big Valley Season 4 Episode 13 - Top of the Stairs
    8.2/10(109 votes)

    S4:E13

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 19 - Down Shadow Street
    8.1/10(122 votes)

    S2:E19

    Victoria witnesses a murder, committed by her godson, and is thrown in a sanitarium to prevent her testimony.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

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".