The BEST episodes of The Big Valley

Every episode of The Big Valley ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Big Valley!

Setting is the 1870's in California's gorgeous San Joaquin Valley, The Big Valley is the story of Stockton's richest and most powerful family, the Barkleys. Lead by the family matriarch Victoria Barkley, widow of Tom Barkley, they live on the Barkley Ranch managing their cattle herd, mines, citrus groves and logging camps. Victoria's family consists of her two sons Jarrod and Nick, daughter Audra and Tom Barkley's son Heath. Jarrod, a prominent lawyer, handles legal issues for the family and manages his two law offices in Stockton and San Francisco. Nick, a rancher, physically manages the family's holdings. Nick is aggressive, out-spoken and at times hot-headed. Victoria's youngest child is her beautiful daughter Audra. Audra is protected by all of the family members. Audra is very sensitive, caring, loves horses, and is a very talented rider. Heath, Tom Barkley's son, helps Nick manage the family ranch.

Last Updated: 11/12/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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star
8.62
13 votes

#1 - The Iron Box

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/1966

While traveling, Nick and Heath buy a bull from a man who subsequently has them arrested for stealing it.

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star
8.50
6 votes

#2 - Wagonload of Dreams

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/2/1967

The Barkley family helps a man trying to get his peaches to market.

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star
8.38
8 votes

#3 - The Buffalo Man

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/25/1967

The Barkleys hire convicts to help with their crops as part of a parole system, but a sadistic guard is determined to make his charges miserable.

Directors: Joseph Mazzuca
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star
8.38
16 votes

#4 - The Murdered Party

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/1965

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

Directors: Virgil Vogel
Writer: Jack Curtis
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star
8.33
9 votes

#5 - Four Days to Furnace Hill

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/4/1967

Victoria is captured by crooked prison guards, who plan to substitute her for a convict they murdered.

Writer: Ken Pettus
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star
8.25
4 votes

#6 - The Royal Road

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/3/1969

When a prince from India comes to Stockton, Jarrod's wealthy young ward Laura falls in love with him.

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star
8.22
9 votes

#7 - Hide The Children

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/19/1966

Nick accompanies a gypsy and her family to her wedding.

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star
8.22
9 votes

#8 - Explosion! (pt. 2)

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/27/1967

Jarrod, Nick and Heath volunteer to take the nitroglycerin to the fire.

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star
8.22
9 votes

#9 - Night of the Executioner

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.

Writer: Mel Goldberg
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star
8.20
10 votes

#10 - Explosion! (pt. 1)

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/20/1967

A forest fire rages, drawing closer to Stockton. The only solution is a firebreak created by a nitroglycerin explosion.

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star
8.18
17 votes

#11 - The Lost Treasure

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1966

A man arrives at the Barkley Ranch and claims that he is Heath's father, causing Heath to question his parentage.

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star
8.17
6 votes

#12 - Pursuit

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/10/1966

Victoria heads alone into the desert to find a sick indian before he reaches, and infects, his people.

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star
8.17
6 votes

#13 - Fall of a Hero

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/5/1968

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

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star
8.11
9 votes

#14 - Barbary Red

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/16/1966

While having a birthday drink at The Barbary Red saloon with two of his ranch hands, Nick is shanghaied.

Directors: Michael Ritchie
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star
8.10
10 votes

#15 - Into the Widow's Web

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/23/1966

Heath's childhood sweetheart Liberty Keane suddenly reappears in his life, bringing unexpected trouble.

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star
8.10
10 votes

#16 - A Noose is Waiting

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/13/1967

Victoria and Audra become acquainted with the new town doctor, unaware that he is a psychotic killer out to avenge his father's suicide by hanging those he holds responsible, and Victoria is one of his targets.

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star
8.08
12 votes

#17 - 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.

Directors: Joseph H. Lewis
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star
8.00
11 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: Joseph Pevney
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star
8.00
6 votes

#19 - The Great Safe Robbery

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/1966

Bumbling thieves hold Victoria and Audra hostage as they try to open a safe at the train station.

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star
8.00
6 votes

#20 - Image of Yesterday

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/9/1967

An old beau of Victoria's comes to town, but he is not the man she remembers.

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star
8.00
7 votes

#21 - Price of Victory

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/13/1967

Nick manages an injured boxer who has been told by his doctor to quit fighting.

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star
8.00
11 votes

#22 - The Disappearance

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/6/1967

A frantic Victoria searches for Audra, who has disappeared from a hotel and who no one claims to have seen.

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star
7.95
22 votes

#23 - My Son, My Son

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/1965

An old childhood friend of Audra's returns and surprises her at her birthday party. She doesn't know that he is dangerous and emotionally disturbed.

Directors: Paul Henreid
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star
7.91
22 votes

#24 - The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/1965

Victoria sells land to an old friend, keeping a promise made many years before, while Jarrod supports a plan to flood the land to benefit the entire valley.

Directors: Arnold Laven
Writer: Paul Savage
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star
7.90
10 votes

#25 - The Invaders

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/29/1965

While out counting cattle, Heath comes across a dead cow and is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow.

Directors: Arnold Laven
Writer: Jay Simms
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