Ep 8. The Courtship of Elly

The Beverly Hillbillies season 4 episode 8 is titled "The Courtship of Elly". The show follows the lives of a family from the Ozarks who strike it rich when they discover oil on their land. They then move to Beverly Hills and encounter many cultural differences and humorous situations.

In this episode, the focus is on the youngest member of the family, Elly May. She has caught the eye of a man named Marshall Poole, who is interested in courting her. He invites her and her family to go on a picnic, which they eagerly accept.

Elly May is excited about the prospect of being courted and starts to plan what she is going to wear. She gets advice from her cousin Pearl, who tells her to wear the fanciest outfit she has. However, when it comes time to get dressed, Elly May realizes that she does not have any fancy clothes.

Jed, her father, suggests that she wears her cousin Jethro's suit, but it is obvious that it does not fit her properly. Granny, Jed's mother, chimes in and suggests that she wears a dress that she made. However, the dress is made of burlap and is not suitable for a fancy picnic.

Elly May is disappointed and worries that Marshall Poole will not be interested in her because she does not have fancy clothes. She confides in her father, who comes up with a solution. He tells her to be herself and not to worry about what others think of her.

At the picnic, Elly May takes her father's advice and enjoys herself. Marshall Poole is impressed by her down-to-earth personality and appreciates that she is not trying to be someone she is not. They bond over their shared love of animals, and Marshall invites Elly May to go horseback riding with him.

The rest of the family enjoys the picnic as well and stands out with their hillbilly ways. They cook their own food over an open flame and play music on homemade instruments. These antics provide some comedic relief for the episode.

As the episode draws to a close, Marshall Poole and Elly May plan their next date, and he asks her to go to a fancy restaurant with him. Elly May is hesitant, but ultimately agrees because she wants to impress Marshall. The episode ends with the family excitedly talking about Elly May's newfound romantic interest.

In summary, "The Courtship of Elly" is a heartwarming episode that focuses on Elly May's first experience with courtship. It showcases the importance of being true to oneself and not trying to conform to societal norms. The episode also provides some laughs with the family's hillbilly ways being on full display. Overall, it is a great addition to the Beverly Hillbillies series.