Browse episode ratings trends for The Big Valley. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of The Big Valley's 112 episodes.
Best Episodes of The Big Valley
The Iron Box
S2 Ep11
8.4
28th Nov 1966
While in a strange town, Heath and Nick buy a bull from a man who turns around and has them arrested for stealing it. The sherrif catches up to them while they sit around their campfire, and a fight ensues in which Heath badly burns his leg in the fire. The crooked sheriff takes them to a road gang prison to await trail. . .in a few months!! The cruel warden refuses to allow Heath a doctor and makes him work alongside the others. They soon find out the real reason that innocent drifters are arrested and imprisoned, free work labour for the man whom the Barkley brothers had bought the bull from. Meanwhile, at home Jarrod has found out what has happened to his brothers and heads out after them. Arriving at the prison he demands to see them and when the warden refuses he threatens him with legal action if he is not allowed to see his clients. After he speaks with them he rides off to find the circuit judge. Getting scared that the truth will come out now that he realizes who he's dealing
The Buffalo Man
S3 Ep15
8.2
25th Dec 1967
The Barkleys hire a bunch of convicts to help with a harvest, and find out that they are tormented by an evil overseer.
The Murdered Party
S1 Ep10
8.2
17th Nov 1965
Jarrod defends a man accused of murder, even though the only witness is his own brother, Heath!!
Four Days to Furnace Hill
S3 Ep12
8.2
4th Dec 1967
Victoria is grabbed by men on their way to a prison, who need to replace the female prisoner they killed.
Wagonload of Dreams
S2 Ep16
8.1
2nd Jan 1967
A man tries to get his peaches to market.
Night of the Executioners
S3 Ep13
8.1
11th Dec 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.
Explosion (2)
S3 Ep11
8.1
27th Nov 1967
Part2, The Barkley boys volunteer to take the nitro to the fire!!
Explosion (1)
S3 Ep10
8.1
20th Nov 1967
Part 1, A forest fire rages drawing closer to Stockton. The only solution, a firebreak made with nitroglyceryn!!
Lost Treasure
S2 Ep1
8.1
12th Sep 1966
A con man comes claiming to be Heath's real father, not Tom Barkley.
The Royal Road
S4 Ep19
8.0
3rd Mar 1969
When a prince from India comes to Stockton, Laura falls in love with him. However, the prince is an imposter.
Fall of a Hero
S3 Ep20
8.0
5th Feb 1968
Jarod defends Heath in court when he is accused of murder.
A Noose is Waiting
S3 Ep9
8.0
13th Nov 1967
A deranged doctor moves to town and makes Victoria, then Audra, his next victim.
Hide The Children
S2 Ep14
8.0
19th Dec 1966
Nick accompanies a gypsy to her wedding.
Night of the Wolf
S1 Ep12
8.0
1st Dec 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.
The Disappearance
S3 Ep8
7.9
6th Nov 1967
While on a layover in a strange town, Audra disappears without a trace, leaving her desperate mother to find her.
Into the Widow's Web
S1 Ep25
7.9
23rd Mar 1966
Heath's childhood sweetheart Libby suddenly reappears in his life, bringing nothing but trouble.He ends up thrown in jail, accused of the murder of Liberty's drunken husband, by the new D.A. who's out to prove that the Barkleys power and money can't buy everything. It's a race to prove Heath's innocence and save him from a fate at the end of a rope!!
Barbary Red
S1 Ep21
7.9
16th Feb 1966
While having a birthday drink at The Barbary Red saloon with two of his ranch hands, Nick is shanghaied.
Price of Victory
S2 Ep22
7.9
13th Feb 1967
Nick manages an injured boxer, in his last fight.
Pursuit
S2 Ep5
7.9
10th Oct 1966
Victoria heads alone into the desert to find a sick indian before he reaches, and infects, his people.
My Son, My Son
S1 Ep8
7.9
3rd Nov 1965
An old childhood friend of Audra's returns whom she'd like to be involved with. She doesn't know however that he is emotionally disturbed, dangerously so.
The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner
S1 Ep5
7.8
13th Oct 1965
Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!
Plunder!
S2 Ep25
7.8
13th Mar 1967
Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.
Earthquake!
S1 Ep9
7.8
10th Nov 1965
Victoria is in a mission church with a pregnant indian woman, when an earthquake collapses it into a forgotten mine underneath. As if the situation isn't isn't bad enough. . they are also trapped with a man whom Nick had fired and who now has a serious grudge against the Barkleys.
Rimfire
S3 Ep22
7.8
19th Feb 1968
When Jarod goes to Rimfire to conclude a merge of two mines, trouble starts.
The Brawlers
S1 Ep14
7.8
15th Dec 1965
A group of irish immigrants settle down on Barkley land, believing that they bought the land legally. Nick, along with the others at first, believes they are merely squatters. They, however, refuse to believe that the land does not belong to them.
Image of Yesterday
S2 Ep17
7.8
9th Jan 1967
An old beau of Victoria's comes to town, but he is not the man she remembers.
The Great Safe Robbery
S2 Ep10
7.8
21st Nov 1966
Bumbling thieves hold Victoria and Audra hostage as they try to open a safe at the train station.
Hazard
S1 Ep24
7.8
9th Mar 1966
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and gets shot by bounty hunters. It turns out he's not a friend of Heath's like he stated, in fact Heath has sworn to kill him himself.
The Invaders
S1 Ep16
7.8
29th Dec 1965
While out counting cattle Heath comes across a dead animal. When he gets down off of his horse to investigate, he is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow. When they realize that he is still alive, they decide to take him back to the ranch for a finder's ""reward"". Once there they find that all of the other men are gone for at least a week, leaving the house and all within ripe for the picking.
Heritage
S1 Ep6
7.8
20th Oct 1965
While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley's for unkept promises. This discovered they work to set things right before anything else happens.
They Called Her Delilah
S4 Ep2
7.7
30th Sep 1968
One of the former confederate spies arrives in Stockton.
A Day of Terror
S2 Ep13
7.7
12th Dec 1966
Victoria and Audra are held captive in the church by an outlaw and her sons.
The Midas Man
S1 Ep28
7.7
13th Apr 1966
Audra falls for a man out to make money off the other ranchers in the valley, by taking their land.
The Emperor of Rice
S3 Ep21
7.7
12th Feb 1968
A couple kidnap Victoria in exchange for rice
Worst Episodes of The Big Valley
Joaquin
S3 Ep1
6.5
11th Sep 1967
A man is hired at the ranch who is believed to be a Mexican outlaw thought long dead.
Days of Grace
S2 Ep29
6.6
17th Apr 1967
Heath is wrongfully arrested for attempted rape, and is helped by a nun who used to be his girlfriend.
Court Martial
S2 Ep24
6.8
6th Mar 1967
An old war friend of Nick's is being courtmartialed, along with Nick himself!
Hunter's Moon
S4 Ep12
6.8
30th Dec 1968
Nick is believed to be having an affair with a man's wife, and the man plans to hang Nick in the morning
Ambush
S3 Ep2
6.8
18th Sep 1967
Victoria helps three indian women at a desert mission.
The Martyr
S2 Ep6
6.9
17th Oct 1966
Jarrod defends a Basque sheepherder.
Danger Road
S4 Ep24
6.9
21st Apr 1969
Victoria has Edward deliver her medical supplies to the indians
Tunnel of Gold
S1 Ep29
6.9
20th Apr 1966
Some men try to dig a tunnel from a general store to the train depot next door, to steal the Barkley's gold shipment.
Guilty
S3 Ep7
6.9
30th Oct 1967
A client of Jarrod's escapes and takes over the schoolhouse where Audra is substitute teacher.
By Fires Unseen
S1 Ep17
7.0
5th Jan 1966
Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise. . . a fiance!! While he is completely smitten with her, the rest of the family isn't so quickly won over. They see the truth, that she's just not ready to leave behind the life of parties and numerous suitors, to which she has become accustomed.
Last Train to the Fair
S1 Ep30
7.0
27th Apr 1966
While on their way to the fair in Sacremento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately there is a doctor on board, unfortunately he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.
Brother Love
S2 Ep23
7.0
20th Feb 1967
A fake faith healer comes to Stockton.
Joshua Watson
S4 Ep14
7.0
20th Jan 1969
Everyone has lost their patience even before the annual rodeo has begun
The Secret
S4 Ep15
7.0
27th Jan 1969
A wealthy and powerful rancher moves into Stockton to ruin the Barkley enterprises. His motive: intense hatred of Jarrod, who he thinks is having an affair with his young wife.
Point and Counterpoint
S4 Ep26
7.0
19th May 1969
The final episode of The Big Valley
The Man from Nowhere
S2 Ep9
7.1
14th Nov 1966
Jarrod gets amnesia while far from home.
The Good Thieves
S3 Ep16
7.1
1st Jan 1968
Heath and Nick travel across the state line to find the two brothers that shot Jarrod in the midst of a robbery. What they find is a town full of people who think of the outlaws as saints, since they're the ones who built the town. In the end the town finds out their true colors and they are brought to justice.
Journey into Violence
S3 Ep14
7.1
18th Dec 1967
Accused of killing one of their people, a band of ""religious"" take Heath captive, where he is forced to work as a slave to the widow of the dead man.
Hell Hath No Fury
S4 Ep7
7.1
18th Nov 1968
When Heath falls in love with a woman, he doesn't realize how dangerous she is, and what could happen to him.
Lightfoot
S4 Ep17
7.1
17th Feb 1969
An indian friend returns to Stockton
The Challenge
S3 Ep26
7.1
18th Mar 1968
When a senator arrives in Stockton to promote his re-election, troubles flare when his opponent releases a fraudulent photo.
Top of the Stairs
S4 Ep13
7.1
6th Jan 1969
Victoria learns that her brother-in-law has been declared insane.
The Twenty-five Graves of Midas
S4 Ep16
7.1
3rd Feb 1969
Someone has robbed the Dutton Mining Company, and Heath is taking the blame.
Ladykiller
S3 Ep6
7.2
16th Oct 1967
Nick stops at an inn where they kill people for their money.
Run of the Savage
S3 Ep25
7.2
11th Mar 1968
Nick sets out to emotionally help a 14 year old boy who is rejected by his high-class parents.
Legend of a General (1)
S2 Ep2
7.2
19th Sep 1966
Part 1, Heath is down in Mexico where an old friend of the family escapes arrest, fleeing to the Barkley ranch. Heath is imprisoned to be held in exchange for the general.
The River Monarch
S1 Ep27
7.3
6th Apr 1966
When a riverboat belonging to the the Barkleys, which sank years before taking with it a fortune in government gold, is recovered, the gold is nowhere to be found. Rumors and accusations soon fly, that it was Tom Barkley who stole the gold and sank the boat to cover it up. An investigation follows which seems to prove that Tom was guilty, a fact that could cost the Barkleys their fortune!!!
Boy into Man
S2 Ep18
7.3
16th Jan 1967
15-year-old Lud Akely is determined to take care of his younger siblings without any help from the Barkleys, who are trying to help find the mother who abandoned them.
Deathtown
S4 Ep5
7.3
28th Oct 1968
When Jarrod visits Baker City, he gets involved in a Mexican Marital mix-up.
Palms of Glory
S1 Ep1
7.3
15th Sep 1965
In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.
The Lady from Mesa
S2 Ep28
7.3
3rd Apr 1967
Nick goes to find the daughter of a seriously injured ranch hand, with unexpected results.
Turn of a Card
S2 Ep26
7.3
20th Mar 1967
Heath travels to bring his brothers money for a water pump, but a gambler wants to relieve him of it.
Cage of Eagles
S2 Ep30
7.3
24th Apr 1967
Nick captures an eagle, and a dynamiter causes trouble at a Barkley mine.
The Devil's Masquerade
S3 Ep24
7.3
4th Mar 1968
A friend of Heath's has been carrying on a correspondence courtship with a woman who is to be his mail-order bride.
The Big Valley Episode Guide
Palms of Glory
S1 Ep1
7.3
15th Sep 1965
In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.
Forty Rifles
S1 Ep2
7.5
22nd Sep 1965
While preparing for a major cattle drive bunching the Barkley's herd with those of other ranchers, Heath has major difficulties being accepted as a Barkley, especially by the ranch hands. Then when Nick's former commander in the war comes to visit, Heath is suspicious of him, and with good reason. He is there to cause trouble and steal the herd!! Nick ends up getting shot while on the drive and has to be taken to town, leaving Heath in charge of the drive. Heath ends up saving the day, and finally the hands begin to accept him as a true Barkley.
Boots with My Father's Name
S1 Ep3
7.6
29th Sep 1965
Victoria begins to wonder if Tom ever truly loved her, if he could go off and have an affair which produces a child. So she's off to Heath's hometown Strawberry to find out more about Tom and Leah's (Heath's mother) relationship.
Young Marauders
S1 Ep4
7.5
6th Oct 1965
Audra is save by a man who claims to be a mustang hunter, but who's band of mustangers are also extorting protection money from the farmers and ranchers of Stockon. While Audra is smitten with him her brothers are suspicious, and soon find out the truth. Which Audra does as well. . .after she is kidnapped by them.
The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner
S1 Ep5
7.8
13th Oct 1965
Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!
Heritage
S1 Ep6
7.8
20th Oct 1965
While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley's for unkept promises. This discovered they work to set things right before anything else happens.
Winner Lose All
S1 Ep7
7.7
27th Oct 1965
Heath falls for a beautiful spanish girl, whose father happens to be involved in a land dispute with the Barkleys! Her father disapproves of Heath because of his illegitamate birth, picturing a much finer bred man for his only daughter. He sets about using the land problems to break them apart.
My Son, My Son
S1 Ep8
7.9
3rd Nov 1965
An old childhood friend of Audra's returns whom she'd like to be involved with. She doesn't know however that he is emotionally disturbed, dangerously so.
Earthquake!
S1 Ep9
7.8
10th Nov 1965
Victoria is in a mission church with a pregnant indian woman, when an earthquake collapses it into a forgotten mine underneath. As if the situation isn't isn't bad enough. . they are also trapped with a man whom Nick had fired and who now has a serious grudge against the Barkleys.
The Murdered Party
S1 Ep10
8.2
17th Nov 1965
Jarrod defends a man accused of murder, even though the only witness is his own brother, Heath!!
The Way to Kill a Killer
S1 Ep11
7.5
24th Nov 1965
When one of Nick's old friends, Mariano Montoya, comes through town on his way to sell his cattle, trouble hits in the form of deadly anthrax. The man's cattle begin to die off and it seems as though they will have to shoot them all, killing as well Mariano's dreams for the money. Until Eugene tells them of something called immunization, which he believes will work. Mariano isn't so sure however and tells them that to prove it works, the Barkleys must first try it on their own prize bull!The bull collapses and it looks as though it has been killed but then it moves and gets up, it works!! Mariano's herd is saved!
Night of the Wolf
S1 Ep12
8.0
1st Dec 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.
The Guilt of Matt Bentell
S1 Ep13
7.7
8th Dec 1965
When the Barkleys invite the foreman of their logging operations to dinner, Heath walks in and tries to kill the man on sight. It turns out that the man is Matt Bentell, the warden of violent, horrible Carterson Prison, where Heath was held during the war. A man whom he had sworn to kill if he ever saw him again. The family comes up with the brilliant idea to send Heath up to the logging camp with the man to help with the building of log flumes, and to protect the man whose identity has been brought into the open. Heath ends up saving his life and learns that people can change.
The Brawlers
S1 Ep14
7.8
15th Dec 1965
A group of irish immigrants settle down on Barkley land, believing that they bought the land legally. Nick, along with the others at first, believes they are merely squatters. They, however, refuse to believe that the land does not belong to them.
Judgement in Heaven
S1 Ep15
7.5
22nd Dec 1965
Jarrod decides to bring home one of his clients, a young woman named Maybelle, for Christmas. Her accused crime aiding and abbetting her outlaw boyfriend, a boyfriend who recently escaped from jail and is now looking for Maybelle.
The Invaders
S1 Ep16
7.8
29th Dec 1965
While out counting cattle Heath comes across a dead animal. When he gets down off of his horse to investigate, he is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow. When they realize that he is still alive, they decide to take him back to the ranch for a finder's ""reward"". Once there they find that all of the other men are gone for at least a week, leaving the house and all within ripe for the picking.
By Fires Unseen
S1 Ep17
7.0
5th Jan 1966
Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise. . . a fiance!! While he is completely smitten with her, the rest of the family isn't so quickly won over. They see the truth, that she's just not ready to leave behind the life of parties and numerous suitors, to which she has become accustomed.
A Time to Kill
S1 Ep18
7.4
19th Jan 1966
Jarrod is happy to see an old law school friend. . until he learns there is a secret service agent on his tail. It seems everywhere he goes counterfeit money follows, and Jarrod is determined to find out what's going on with his old friend.
Teacher of Outlaws
S1 Ep19
7.6
2nd Feb 1966
Mistaken for the schoolteacher, Victoria is kidnapped by an outlaw who wishes to learn to read.
Under a Dark Star
S1 Ep20
7.4
9th Feb 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. Even though the man threatened to kill Jarrod at the trial.
Barbary Red
S1 Ep21
7.9
16th Feb 1966
While having a birthday drink at The Barbary Red saloon with two of his ranch hands, Nick is shanghaied.
The Death Merchant
S1 Ep22
7.6
23rd Feb 1966
Handy Random, theman who killed the man that killed Tom Barkley, comes to Stockton. It's a happy reunion for all but Heath who hates the man, and for good reason. Everywhere he goes he starts range wars to profit from them.
The Fallen Hawk
S1 Ep23
7.6
2nd Mar 1966
Heath feels that his friend's injury and paralysis is his fault, and ends up being used by the man.
Hazard
S1 Ep24
7.8
9th Mar 1966
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and gets shot by bounty hunters. It turns out he's not a friend of Heath's like he stated, in fact Heath has sworn to kill him himself.
Into the Widow's Web
S1 Ep25
7.9
23rd Mar 1966
Heath's childhood sweetheart Libby suddenly reappears in his life, bringing nothing but trouble.He ends up thrown in jail, accused of the murder of Liberty's drunken husband, by the new D.A. who's out to prove that the Barkleys power and money can't buy everything. It's a race to prove Heath's innocence and save him from a fate at the end of a rope!!
By Force and Violence
S1 Ep26
7.6
30th Mar 1966
When Victoria and Heath head up to the lodge to prepare things for the whole family, their pleasant ride turns into a nightmare. After becoming stuck in a muddy section of road, Heath gets out to help push, only to have the axle break and the heavily loaded wagon fall on him. Unable to free him herself, Victoria sets out to find help. She soon finds that the only person able to help is an escaped convict with bounty hunters on his tail, and no intentions of stopping to help anyone.
The River Monarch
S1 Ep27
7.3
6th Apr 1966
When a riverboat belonging to the the Barkleys, which sank years before taking with it a fortune in government gold, is recovered, the gold is nowhere to be found. Rumors and accusations soon fly, that it was Tom Barkley who stole the gold and sank the boat to cover it up. An investigation follows which seems to prove that Tom was guilty, a fact that could cost the Barkleys their fortune!!!
The Midas Man
S1 Ep28
7.7
13th Apr 1966
Audra falls for a man out to make money off the other ranchers in the valley, by taking their land.
Tunnel of Gold
S1 Ep29
6.9
20th Apr 1966
Some men try to dig a tunnel from a general store to the train depot next door, to steal the Barkley's gold shipment.
Last Train to the Fair
S1 Ep30
7.0
27th Apr 1966
While on their way to the fair in Sacremento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately there is a doctor on board, unfortunately he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.
The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California rancher. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman, and produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven for Four Star Television.
🇺🇸
Showing providers for United States as we're unable to find providers for your location
Stream on:
The best rated episodes of The Big Valley are:
The Iron Box S2E11 rated 8.4
The Buffalo Man S3E15 rated 8.2
The Murdered Party S1E10 rated 8.2
Four Days to Furnace Hill S3E12 rated 8.2
Wagonload of Dreams S2E16 rated 8.1
Night of the Executioners S3E13 rated 8.1
Explosion (2) S3E11 rated 8.1
Explosion (1) S3E10 rated 8.1
Lost Treasure S2E1 rated 8.1
The Royal Road S4E19 rated 8.0
The lowest rated episodes of The Big Valley are:
Joaquin S3E1 rated 6.5
Days of Grace S2E29 rated 6.6
Court Martial S2E24 rated 6.8
Hunter's Moon S4E12 rated 6.8
Ambush S3E2 rated 6.8
The Martyr S2E6 rated 6.9
Danger Road S4E24 rated 6.9
Tunnel of Gold S1E29 rated 6.9
Guilty S3E7 rated 6.9
By Fires Unseen S1E17 rated 7.0
The first episode of The Big Valley aired on September 15, 1965.
The last episode of The Big Valley aired on May 19, 1969.
