Ep 9. The Not-So-Ugly Duckling

The Brady Bunch season 2 episode 9, titled "The Not-So-Ugly Duckling," follows Jan Brady as she becomes consumed with jealousy over her sister Marcia's popularity. Marcia is elected president of the Boosters' Club, which leads to Jan feeling overshadowed and unimportant. She begins to feel like the "ugly duckling" of the family, believing that Marcia is the beautiful and perfect swan who has it all.

Jan takes her frustrations out on everyone around her, even lashing out at her best friend, Lucy, for unknowingly wearing the same dress as Marcia. Her parents and siblings try to console her, but Jan can't shake the feeling of being the outcast. She even goes as far as to dye her hair black in an attempt to stand out and be different from Marcia.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family is dealing with their own issues. Carol is organizing a fundraiser for the school, which Mike becomes overzealous about, causing tension between the couple. Greg is also struggling with his newfound freedom as a high school student and wants to start driving. However, his parents are hesitant, leading to arguments between Greg and his father.

As the episode progresses, Jan's jealousy reaches a peak when she and Marcia audition for the lead role in the school play. Marcia gets the part, and Jan believes it's because everyone likes Marcia more. However, after a heart-to-heart with her mother, Jan discovers that her feelings of inadequacy were all in her head and that she is loved and valued just as much as Marcia. She decides to embrace her individuality and dyes her hair back to its natural color.

The episode ends with the family coming together for a successful fundraiser and Marcia and Jan performing in the school play, with Jan stealing the show with her unique and quirky performance. "The Not-So-Ugly Duckling" teaches a valuable lesson about jealousy and self-acceptance, reminding viewers that we are all special in our own way and that it's important to embrace our individuality.