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.
#2 - 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.
#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.
#4 - 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.
#6 - Explosion! (pt. 2)
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/27/1967
Jarrod, Nick and Heath volunteer to take the nitroglycerin to the fire.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#17 - 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.
#18 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - Plunder!
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/13/1967
Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.
#23 - Earthquake!
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/10/1965
An earthquake traps Victoria with several others in a forgotten mine shaft under the mission church.
#25 - 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.