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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

Best Episodes Summary

"Palms of Glory" is the best rated episode of "The Big Valley". It scored 8.3/10 based on 263 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
    8.3/10263 votes
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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
    8.3/10198 votes
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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
    8.3/10125 votes
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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
    8.3/10101 votes
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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
    8.3/10111 votes
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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
    8.3/10114 votes
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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
    8.2/10140 votes
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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
    8.2/10127 votes
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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

  • Plunder!
    8.2/10105 votes
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    #9 - Plunder!

    Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 3/13/1967

    Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.

    Director: Richard Long

    Writer: William Blinn

  • A Noose is Waiting
    8.2/10113 votes
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    #10 - 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
    8.2/10101 votes
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    #11 - 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
    8.2/10106 votes
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    #12 - 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
    8.1/10177 votes
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    #13 - 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
    8.1/10139 votes
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    #14 - 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
    8.1/10160 votes
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    #15 - 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
    8.1/10142 votes
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    #16 - 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
    8.1/10119 votes
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    #17 - 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
    8.1/10120 votes
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    #18 - 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
    8.1/10126 votes
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    #19 - 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

  • Days of Grace
    8.1/1098 votes
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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
    8.1/1098 votes
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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
    8.1/10100 votes
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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
    8.1/1087 votes
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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
    8.1/10119 votes
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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
    8.1/10102 votes
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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