The Big Valley Season 2 Episode 17 Image of Yesterday

In season 2, episode 17 of The Big Valley, titled "Image of Yesterday," the Barkley family faces a new challenge. The episode begins with Heath (Lee Majors) getting into a heated argument with Martha Simmons (Marjorie Bennett), the owner of a local antique shop. Martha accuses Heath of stealing a Civil War sword from her store, and even though he denies it, she threatens to press charges.

Later, Heath confides in Nick (Peter Breck) about his past as a soldier in the Civil War and his memories of a commanding officer who owned a sword just like the one Martha claims he stole. Nick suggests that they investigate the matter further, and they go to talk to the old officer, Colonel Johnship (John Hoyt). The colonel confirms that he did have a sword like that, but he lost it during a battle in which Heath was injured and presumed dead. He also tells them that his son, who was also a soldier, died during that battle, and he never got over the loss.

Meanwhile, Victoria (Barbara Stanwyck) is trying to convince a young woman, Jamie Lee (Juli Reding), to change her way of life. Jamie Lee is working as a saloon girl in town, and Victoria wants her to come work at the Barkley ranch instead. However, Jamie Lee is not convinced, and Victoria realizes she will need to take drastic measures to change her mind.

As the episode progresses, the Barkley family learns more about Heath's past and the possible connection between the sword and the colonel's son. They also discover that Martha's own son was a soldier in the same war and died in battle. In the end, the truth about the sword comes out, and Heath is exonerated. The colonel, who had been harboring a grudge against Heath since the war, learns to let go of his anger and grief and even comes to appreciate the young man as a surrogate son.

Meanwhile, Victoria's efforts to help Jamie Lee pay off, and the young woman agrees to come work on the ranch. In a touching scene, Victoria tells Jamie Lee that she sees something special in her and believes in her potential. Jamie Lee, who has never had anyone believe in her before, is touched by Victoria's faith in her.

Overall, "Image of Yesterday" is a poignant episode of The Big Valley that explores themes of loss, grief, and redemption. The characters are well-developed, and the performances are strong, particularly those by Majors and Stanwyck. The episode also has some nice moments of humor and action, making it an entertaining watch. Fans of the show will not be disappointed by this installment.