I've been picking up Dowdle puzzles here and there as I've come across them at garage sales and thrift stores, both pre- and post-Buffalo acquisition versions, and this is the first one I've actually gotten around to putting together. As it happens, this is not one of the few I've grabbed over the past year, but a new one I ordered on sale a couple of weeks ago. I've loved The Andy Griffith Show (the black & white seasons, anyway) for as far back as my memory goes, so I had to get it as soon as I saw it!
I quite like the idea of artist Eric Dowdle trying to capture the soul of a city, though I have not visited Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, I can't say how accurate this is. It makes me want to visit the city very much! The pleasing art style gives the city an appropriate homespun feel, and features several real-life businesses and landmarks. Floyd's barbershop and Wally's are representative of iconic locations from the show, and there's a replica of the courthouse and sheriff's office. Various characters and scenes from the show play out across the art, with likenesses that are off just enough to avoid being sued.
Scenes I spotted:
Barney on his motorcycle from the aptly-named Barney gets a Motorcycle
Andy officiating the sham wedding between a disguised Barney and Ernest T. Bass to avoid having Bass wreck the real wedding (Mountain Wedding)
An inebriated Otis riding a cow, thinking it is a horse (The Rehabilitation of Otis)
Andy mediating between the patriarchs of two feuding families who balk at dueling once they're actually put on the spot (A Feud is a Feud)
The Darlings playing music (Multiple episodes)
Mr. McBeevee talking to Opie (Mr. McBeevee)
Andy and Barney with the goat that ate a bunch of dynamite (The Loaded Goat)
Howard Sprague apparently selling newspapers (Not 100% sure what he's doing, as he's a character from the color seasons, which I never really liked, and haven't seen nearly as much.)
Barney dancing with one of the escaped convicts (Convicts at Large)
Gomer dancing with Thelma Lou's cousin Mary Grace (A Date for Gomer)
There are plenty of other characters such as Aunt Bee, Floyd, and Goober, and other scenes that are more generic and not rooted to any specific episode.
The quality is typical of Buffalo, with thin, mostly sturdy pieces and not a lot of dust. False fits are possible, and easy to miss in certain areas. The trees and sky were the toughest bits, and I left the uppermost edge for last. The poster has a section with information about the various landmarks. One thing I learned is that the nearby city of Mount Pilot on the show was named for the actual Pilot Mountain, seen near the top of the puzzle! A moonshine pie also sounds pretty tasty. I'll have to try one if I ever get to visit!
My top eight Andy Griffith Show episodes (I tried for five, but barely manage to whittle it down this much)
Bargain Day: Some of the most consistent wall-to-wall laughter of the entire series. The sometimes ridiculous lengths Aunt Bee goes to in an attempt to save money remind me of my mom. The scene where she goes down in the middle of the night to sit with the malfunctioning freezer as if it's a sick relative just kills me every time!
Opie the Birdman: This one usually tops "best of" lists for good reason. The scene at the beginning, with Barney trying to explain how people made slingshots in the olden days ("Where'd David get the inner tube?") has some welcome humor in an episode with more than usual emotional content.
Opie's Charity: Probably not one of the objectively best episodes, but this one has so many funny lines and scenes, and the twist where we discover why Opie has been so seemingly stingy with his money is a bit of an emotional gut punch.
Mr. McBeevee: Andy and Barney suspect that Opie's new friend is imaginary, which becomes a problem when he starts providing him with gifts. The scene where Andy realizes he trusts his son even though what he's telling him makes no sense to him is powerful. He knows his son is a good child, and he puts his faith in him. That really struck a chord with me when I was little, and still does now.
Andy on Trial: A wealthy newspaper publisher with a grudge against Andy sends one of his reporters to dig up dirt on the sheriff. She plays on Barney's vanity to manipulate him into giving her enough information to bring a case against him. Barney's impassioned speech at the trial is a great showcase for the character, and shows that Don Knotts was capable of more than just clowning.
Convicts at Large: Barney and Floyd are held captive by a trio of escaped convicts from a women's prison. The scene where Barney dances with the leader to give Andy a chance to capture her is one of the funniest from the entire series!
The Pickle Story: Aunt Bee is a wonderful cook, but pickles are her weakness. Andy, Barney, and Opie trying to cope with her "kerosene cucumbers" is a rollicking good time.
The Song Festers: This is probably a bit of a hot take, but I prefer this one to the more well-known "Barney and the Choir." Barney doesn't come off as so delusional and stupid here, and the resolution just makes more sense. I also love how it shows what a good and selfless person Gomer is, and showcases Jim Nabors' amazing real-life vocal talent.
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