Only hints at what’s to come, 13 August 2020
If you’re as old as I am, you’ve most likely known the words of the Green Acres theme song all of your life. The plot in the pilot episode follows those lyrics pretty well. Oliver wants to farm, while Lisa wants to stay in the city. They go back and forth, but, ultimately, Oliver wins and Lisa reluctantly agrees to go - at least for 6 months.
While I feel that the first episode of Green Acres is good and often quite funny, it only hints at the zanniness to come. Regardless, there’s still a lot here to like. First, I really like the documentary style presentation. We see right from the start that Green Acres isn’t a show afraid to break the fourth wall - something that happens with regularity.. Second, we get a chance to meet several of the locals who help make the show so funny. While my personal favorite, Hank Kimble, isn’t around, we get a chance to see Sam Drucker, Fred Ziffel, Arnold, and a few others. A lot of the locals weren’t new to TV audiences back in 1965 having appeared on Petticoat Junction for a couple of years, so there’s no time wasted on introductions. Instead, the locals get a chance to meet newcomer Oliver Wendell Douglas. Which leads me to number three, we (along with the locals) get a chance to hear one of Mr Douglas’ speeches about the importance of the American farmer. All we’re missing is the accompanying fyfe that would come later. Sam and Co’s reaction is a hoot.
So overall, Oliver Buys a Farm is a nice episode that goes a long way to laying the necessary groundwork. It might not be as funny as what follows, but still worth a watch if you want to see how Green Acres got its start.
6/10
