Ep 28. Linda, the Grownup

As the thirteenth installment of the popular sitcom, Linda, the Grownup is the twenty-eighth episode of the tenth season of The Danny Thomas Show, originally aired on April 13, 1961. The episode picks up with the resident Williams, budding actress Linda, returning home from college as a certified adult, prepared to embrace her independence. As the new family matriarch, Linda brims with ideas and suggestions for the family, much to the apprehension of her doting father, Danny.

Initially, Danny tries to keep his daughter close and nurtured, trying to stifle her ventures into the real world with stories of his own experiences. He dishes out fatherly lectures and tries to stamp out Linda's ambitions, hoping to protect her from the harshness of the industry. However, the new door to the adulthood of Linda proves to be an exciting journey for her as she makes acquaintances and starts to venture into the unknown.

Linda promptly starts to take hold of her newfound freedoms, such as driving her car and expanding her boundaries beyond the Williams household. One of her first tasks as an adult is re-decorating Danny's office. The downside? Danny does not like her suggestions. As the adult vs. child dynamic plays out in their home, the clash between father and daughter becomes one of the show's core themes.

Linda's new adult venture takes her to the local hangout to hang out with her friends and experiment in the adult world. Linda's former neighbor Richard accompanies her to the venue. Danny seems doubtful that Richard is a good idea. Accordingly, he takes the initiative to give him a stern talking-to individual, warning him to stay away from his younger daughter. Richard's response ranges from amusing to bizarre and ultimately proves futile in his efforts to get Linda's father to approve of him.

Meanwhile, Linda's brother Rusty starts to feel pushed aside by the new adult Linda as he clings to his childhood. To ease Rusty's insecurities, Danny arranges for them to watch the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs. As they watch the game together, Danny finds himself reminiscing about his days playing basketball as a teenager. Nevertheless, Rusty and Linda's argumentative nature comes to a head, and the two have a bitter feud. But eventually, the sibling bond prevails.

In the episode, Danny tries to be a better father while grappling with his evolution as an actor and his own insecurities. Linda becomes a central figure in Danny's realizations and helps him appreciate the changes in life as a result of new experiences. Over the course of the episode, Danny learns to let go of his protective side and embraces Linda's transformation into an adult capable of her own decisions and mistakes.

Overall, Linda, the Grownup delves into the intricacies of parenthood and the dynamics between father and daughter as they both try to navigate the divide that adulthood presents. As the episode reaches its conclusion, we see Danny come to terms with his shortcomings as a father, and Linda blossoms into a beautiful adult with promising opportunities ahead of her.