Ep 4. Enter Rhoda's Parents

In the third season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, viewers are treated to a heartwarming episode titled "Enter Rhoda's Parents."

The episode begins with Mary Richards (played by Mary Tyler Moore) eagerly preparing for a visit from Rhoda's parents, Ida and Martin Morgenstern (played by Nancy Walker and Harold Gould). Rhoda (played by Valerie Harper) is ecstatic to have her parents come and visit her in Minneapolis, but is nervous about them meeting Mary for the first time.

As soon as Ida and Martin arrive at the apartment, it's clear that they are quite different from one another. Ida is loud and opinionated, while Martin is more quiet and reserved. Despite their differences, Rhoda is thrilled to see them and begins showing them all around the city. Mary tags along, eager to get to know Rhoda's parents better.

Throughout the day, Mary tries her best to impress the Morgensterns, but quickly realizes that her efforts are futile. Ida is constantly criticizing Mary's life choices, from her career to her fashion sense. Martin, on the other hand, takes a liking to Mary and enjoys having conversations with her.

As the day goes on, tensions between Ida and Mary continue to rise. Ida can't understand why Mary is single and doesn't have children, and Mary starts to feel insecure about her choices. Meanwhile, Rhoda is caught in the middle and tries to smooth things over between her mother and her best friend.

Later that evening, the group goes out to dinner and Ida's well-meaning but intrusive questions push Mary over the edge. She storms out of the restaurant, leaving Rhoda and her parents behind. Martin realizes that Mary is upset and goes after her. The two have a heart-to-heart conversation, with Martin offering Mary some wise advice.

Eventually, they make their way back to the restaurant where Ida apologizes to Mary for her behavior earlier in the day. The episode ends with the group laughing and reminiscing about the events of the day, ending on a positive note.

"Enter Rhoda's Parents" is a poignant episode that showcases the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to be accepted by those that we care about. Mary's journey in this episode is relatable to anyone who has ever felt judged by someone close to them. The episode ultimately ends on a positive and heartwarming note, showing that despite our differences, love and understanding can prevail.