The BEST episodes of The Big Valley season 1
Every episode of The Big Valley season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Big Valley season 1!
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.
#1 - Under a Dark Star
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/9/1966
A guilt ridden Jarrod offers to help a man that he helped to convict of a crime that Jarrod now knows that he did not commit.
#2 - Judgement in Heaven
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/22/1965
Jarrod decides to bring Maybelle Williams, one of his clients, home for Christmas.
#3 - Last Train to the Fair
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 4/27/1966
While on their way to the fair in Sacramento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately, there is a doctor on board, but he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.
#4 - Tunnel of Gold
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 4/20/1966
Bert Jason's new store is used by outlaws who tunnel into the next building to steal the Barkley's gold shipment.
#5 - The Midas Man
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/13/1966
Audra falls for a shrewd financier, who has come to the valley to capitalize on a drought that has left most of the ranchers in need of loans.
#6 - The River Monarch
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/6/1966
A boy discovers the wreckage of a long-lost riverboat, the River Monarch, which was said to be carrying a large shipment of gold.
#7 - By Force and Violence
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 3/30/1966
When Victoria and Heath take a wagon full of supplies up to the Barkley lodge to prepare for the arrival of the rest of family, their pleasant ride soon turns into a nightmare.
#8 - 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.
#9 - Hazard
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/9/1966
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and is shot by bounty hunters.
#10 - The Fallen Hawk
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/2/1966
Heath feels that his friend's injury and paralysis is his fault, and ends up being used by the man.
#11 - The Death Merchant
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/23/1966
Handy Random, the man who killed the man that killed Tom Barkley, comes to visit the Barkley family during a property dispute.
#12 - 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.
#13 - Teacher of Outlaws
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/2/1966
Mistaken for the schoolteacher, Victoria is kidnapped by an outlaw who wishes to learn to read.
#14 - A Time to Kill
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/19/1966
Jarrod is visited by an old law school friend who is being followed by the Secret Service.
#15 - By Fires Unseen
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/5/1966
Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise - a fiance.
#16 - 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.
#17 - 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.
#18 - The Guilt of Matt Bentell
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/8/1965
Matt Toddman, the new foreman of the Barkley's logging operations to dinner, is discovered to be Matt Bentell, the former commander of a prison camp where Heath had been held.
#19 - 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.
#20 - The Way to Kill a Killer
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/24/1965
While on his way to sell his herd of cattle, Nick's friend Mariano Montoya discovers that anthrax has infected the herd.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#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.
#24 - Winner Lose All
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/1965
While the Barkleys are involved in a land dispute with a neighbor, Heath falls for the neighbor's daughter, who has recently returned from the east.
#25 - Heritage
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/1965
While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley family for promises that have not been kept by the mines' managing partner.