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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!

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...
Genres:WesternDrama
Network:ABC
Episodes
112
Avg. Rating
7.7
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
8.3
7.5
7.2
7.6
7.7
7.2
7.9
7.6
8.3
7.1
7.8
7.4

Best Episodes Summary

"Palms of Glory" is the best rated episode of "The Big Valley". It scored 8.3/10 based on 264 votes. Directed by William A. Graham and written by N/A, it aired on 9/15/1965. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Boots with My Father's Name".

  • Palms of Glory
    8.3/10(264)
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    #1 - Palms of Glory

    Season 1 Episode 1

    Aired 9/15/1965

    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: N/A

  • Boots with My Father's Name
    8.3/10(199)
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    #2 - Boots with My Father's Name

    Season 1 Episode 3

    Aired 9/29/1965

    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: N/A

  • Night in a Small Town
    8.3/10(126)
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    #3 - Night in a Small Town

    Season 3 Episode 5

    Aired 10/9/1967

    Heath and family help a wayward saloon girl.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Night of the Executioners
    8.3/10(101)
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    #4 - Night of the Executioners

    Season 3 Episode 13

    Aired 12/11/1967

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Days of Wrath
    8.3/10(111)
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    #5 - Days of Wrath

    Season 3 Episode 17

    Aired 1/8/1968

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Prize
    8.3/10(114)
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    #6 - The Prize

    Season 4 Episode 11

    Aired 12/16/1968

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Brawlers
    8.2/10(144)
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    #7 - The Brawlers

    Season 1 Episode 14

    Aired 12/15/1965

    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: N/A

  • Last Train to the Fair
    8.2/10(128)
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    #8 - Last Train to the Fair

    Season 1 Episode 30

    Aired 4/27/1966

    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: N/A

    Writer: Paul Savage

  • A Noose is Waiting
    8.2/10(113)
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    #9 - A Noose is Waiting

    Season 3 Episode 9

    Aired 11/13/1967

    A deranged doctor moves to town and makes Victoria, then Audra, his next victim.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rimfire
    8.2/10(101)
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    #10 - Rimfire

    Season 3 Episode 22

    Aired 2/19/1968

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Stranger Everywhere
    8.2/10(106)
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    #11 - A Stranger Everywhere

    Season 4 Episode 10

    Aired 12/9/1968

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

    Director: Paul Henreid

    Writer: N/A

  • My Son, My Son
    8.1/10(177)
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    #12 - My Son, My Son

    Season 1 Episode 8

    Aired 11/3/1965

    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

  • The Murdered Party
    8.1/10(139)
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    #13 - The Murdered Party

    Season 1 Episode 10

    Aired 11/17/1965

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Night of the Wolf
    8.1/10(161)
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    #14 - Night of the Wolf

    Season 1 Episode 12

    Aired 12/1/1965

    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: N/A

  • The Death Merchant
    8.1/10(143)
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    #15 - The Death Merchant

    Season 1 Episode 22

    Aired 2/23/1966

    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: N/A

  • The Iron Box
    8.1/10(119)
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    #16 - The Iron Box

    Season 2 Episode 11

    Aired 11/28/1966

    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: N/A

  • Hide The Children
    8.1/10(120)
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    #17 - Hide The Children

    Season 2 Episode 14

    Aired 12/19/1966

    Nick accompanies a gypsy to her wedding.

    Director: Arthur H. Nadel

    Writer: N/A

  • Court Martial
    8.1/10(127)
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    #18 - Court Martial

    Season 2 Episode 24

    Aired 3/6/1967

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Plunder!
    8.1/10(108)
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    #19 - Plunder!

    Season 2 Episode 25

    Aired 3/13/1967

    Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.

    Director: Richard Long

    Writer: William Blinn

  • Days of Grace
    8.1/10(98)
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    #20 - Days of Grace

    Season 2 Episode 29

    Aired 4/17/1967

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Time after Midnight
    8.1/10(98)
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    #21 - The Time after Midnight

    Season 3 Episode 4

    Aired 10/2/1967

    Jarrod is temporarily blinded.

    Director: Charles S. Dubin

    Writer: N/A

  • Shadow of a Giant
    8.1/10(100)
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    #22 - Shadow of a Giant

    Season 3 Episode 19

    Aired 1/29/1968

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

    Director: Norman Powell

    Writer: N/A

  • Fall of a Hero
    8.1/10(87)
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    #23 - Fall of a Hero

    Season 3 Episode 20

    Aired 2/5/1968

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hell Hath No Fury
    8.1/10(119)
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    #24 - Hell Hath No Fury

    Season 4 Episode 7

    Aired 11/18/1968

    When Heath falls in love with a woman, he doesn't realize how dangerous she is, and what could happen to him.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Profit and the Lost
    8.1/10(102)
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    #25 - The Profit and the Lost

    Season 4 Episode 9

    Aired 12/2/1968

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

    Director: Bernard McEveety

    Writer: N/A