There were two major turning points in "The Flintstones" six-year run.
The first was the introduction of the characters of Pebbles (at the end of Season 3) and Bamm-Bamm (beginning of Season 4).
The second was when the wonderful Bea Benaderet left the show at the end of Season 4. She made the character of Betty Rubble a real person and not just "the second wife". Her replacement for the last 2 seasons was not in the same league.
But, getting back to the first change. Part of what made the show special was the notion of an animated sit-com with scripts geared for adults. Episodes involving suspicion of infidelity and Fred's gambling addiction show that children were not the target audience.
After the introduction of the children the show changed. There were still great episodes (my favorite "A Haunted House is Not a Home" is from Season 5) but also episodes made to appeal to children. (Episodes such as "Superstone" and "Dripper" are almost unwatchable to anyone over 12.) And when you start introducing characters based on other sit-coms (The Hatrocks, The Gruesoms) it's a sign you're running out of ideas.
Still, during the first 3 seasons nearly every episode was wonderful.
One thing I love to listen for--when the four lead voice actors appear doing "additional voices". Alan Reed did it occassionally. The other three in nearly every episode. Trying to spot them is fun.
BTW Wilma's Mother didn't have a name during her early appearances. It's only in Season 4 that we hear Betty call her "Mrs. Slaghoople". Where they got the name "Pearl" I don't know as she's never called that.
Review of The Flintstones
