User Reviews

This isn't one of my favorite episodes but it shows how you can be led to see the good side about a bad things that might happen.

Nice episode, but very dated. Back then people were taught to believe the evolution stuff about vestigial organs and as a result, many doctors were taught that some are not needed anymore.

We now know better.

Nevertheless, as the story goes, Beaver's doctor (who visits the house - they quit doing that a long time ago) tells him he may need his tonsils removed.

At first he's upset but when told about ice cream and pretty nurses he suddenly wants his operation.

So he's kind of upset when the infection goes away.

Kind of a psychological study episode, but Beaver's still at a cute age.

This series was funny because it showed life as seen through the eyes of children. Also it was meant to help parents better understand their children.

It's still one of my favorite sitcoms and I watch the reruns when they air.

I wonder what was going on in the 50's as so many of us had our tonsils out. Most of my friends had them out in their doctor's office; but I had to go to the hospital and have a surgeon. And yes, they gave us ice cream, but we really went through crushed ice which really helped. And don't be shocked that Dr. Kirby came to house. That was ending about that time, but I still recall having Dr. Schellhase come to our house. He was a really nice man, and fortunately lived in the neighborhood.

Beaver was OK with having his tonsils out until his friend Richard starts filling his head with his version of what it was like having his out. Then Ward tries to calm Beaver down with stories of what it was like getting his tonsils out. Ward was pretty much on target. I still remember the children's ward I was in and being able to play with some of the other kids. But I don't remember any presents.

Beaver's enthusiasm increases after Ward's talk. And when he tells his friends at school about the upcoming operation, they get envious. Even Gus the fireman promises he'll come and see the Beaver when he's in the hospital. Beaver even has a list of things that his friends promise they will bring to him when they visit. But Beaver is crushed when Dr. Kirby returns and announces the tonsils get to stay. He even throws a bit of a hissy fit; and Ward figures maybe if they still get Beaver the telescope they had promised as a gift that he won't be so disappointed. And he wasn't. A good episode to bring back memories, if you are old enough.

I really got a kick of Richard explaining how they put a patient to sleep; and Beaver responds that he knows about that, he saw Paladin do that when he was a doctor before.

No way a kid would want an operation just to get a few gifts. Then to tell everyone it's for sure when it isn't makes Beaver seem moronic. Good acting by Jerry Mathers though.