Ep 8. The Shave
- November 20, 1958
- 25 min
It was the 1950s, a time when TV shows were just starting to flourish. 'Leave it to Beaver' was one such show that revolved around the lives of the Cleavers, an all-American family who strive to navigate the ups and downs of their daily lives with love and humor. The series followed the adventures of young Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, his older brother Wally, their parents June and Ward, and their extended family and friends.
In season 2, episode 8 titled 'The Shave,' Beaver, played by Jerry Mathers, gets into trouble after he decides to give himself an impromptu shave. The episode begins with Beaver observing his dad, Ward, getting ready for work. He notices how effortlessly his dad shaves his face and, inspired by him, decides to try shaving himself.
Things do not go as planned as Beaver mistakenly applies aftershave lotion instead of shaving cream, causing a burning sensation on his face. The situation worsens when Beaver's attempts to conceal his face results in covering his entire face with bandages.
Beaver's troubles only compound as he must now deal with the embarrassment of appearing in front of people with a bandaged face. In school, his friends don't recognize him and, feeling humiliated, he decides to stay home.
Meanwhile, Ward and June are worried about Beaver's absence from school. They confront him, and he finally confesses to what happened. Taking pity on him, they decide to help him out of his troubles by coming up with hilarious but inventive ways to help Beaver deal with the situation.
One such scene involves Ward and Beaver wearing twin sun hats and large sunglasses while on a walk, which leaves passersby with a puzzled look. While this is happening, Beaver's school principal pays them a surprise visit to check on him, and the situation is made worse when Beaver touches the burning tip of his father's cigarette with his bandaged hand.
The story follows closely about how Beaver eventually comes to terms with his folly, and his family rallies around him in support. It is an endearing and heartwarming episode that highlights the love, support, and ingenuity that families need to navigate through life's challenges.
In conclusion, 'Leave it to Beaver' was a landmark show that ran for six seasons from 1957 to 1963. The series gave audiences an insight into the life of the typical American family, and it remains popular in reruns to this day. The Shave is one of the many episodes that highlights the show's essential themes of family, love, and humor. Anyone looking for a light-hearted and enjoyable TV show will find 'Leave it to Beaver' to be an excellent choice.