New posts

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 416641" data-attributes="member: 23">Mary Tyler MooreSeason SevenMary Midwife / Mary The Writer / Sue Ann’s Sister / What’s Wrong With Swimming? / Ted’s Change Of Heart / One Producer Too Many / My Son, The Genius / Mary Gets A Lawyer / Lou ProposesThis might make sense only to me, but I’ve found there to be a degree of loudness to the episodes so far this season, and not necessarily in a bad kind of way.With the end in sight, I thought there might be a slightly subdued air, but it feels like the opposite is true. Everyone seems to be having great fun with it and doesn’t seem ashamed to show it. This translates into a kind of confidence, that mostly works and only occasionally gets distracting. The latter has been caused by the actors seeming a little more aware of the studio audience than I’ve previously noticed, and sometimes playing lines to them. Georgia Engel seems to turn in their direction every time she gets a punchline, and even MTM herself has given a couple of knowing glances outwards. It could be read as a little needy or insecure, but with glass half full these moments have arguably enhanced my viewing since it reinforces that this was a live performance.There’s no doubt that I’m watching a sitcom as it feels quite broad. While I feel it’s amped up a little is Season Seven, it could equally be because there’s been quite a gap since I last watched, and I’m returning to MTM directly off the back of some particularly gritty episodes of Liverpool soap Brookside.Continuity is a little rocky, as always. Ted and Georgette don’t seem to be particularly tied down by their newborn daughter who is sometimes named Mary Lou and sometimes nameless (although, in fairness, the indecision around the name was commented upon by Murray), and a number of situations - like Murray’s job offer - have a sense of déjà vu.Broad and simple as it is, though, there’s still a definite warmth and heart to the series.I would say that in place of the subdued air, there’s a willingness to be a little reflective and explore character in some depth, which gives the series a nice balance. Take the episode in which Ted had a near death experience and went overboard with his love and gratitude. By episode’s end, the entire ensemble was gazing at a sunset and counting their blessings, aware that they may feel differently tomorrow and it was surprisingly touching.This willingness to explore character has seen traits we’ve come to associate with them challenged. From Mary being rude after reading Murray’s book, to Lou crying after Mary’s Aunt Flo(!) turned down his proposal of marriage. We’ve also seen perfect Mary lie to Mr Grant, as well as making bad decisions, such as employing the sportscaster who refused to speak about any contact sports and would only discuss swimming (said sportscaster, by the way, had a Farrah flick, and this was only broadcast around a month into Charlie’s Angels’ first season. Did this hairdo become hot immediately after the Pilot was broadcast some months earlier, or is it simply a popular style that Farrah happened to adopt and which ended up associated with her). Ted’s adopted son has been through a bratty phase (and the resulting corporal punishment hasn’t dated well), and even Georgette has had some mildly snarky lines.It seems to me that Murray has borne the brunt of most critical appearance-based lines in the series in previous seasons (usually Sue Ann making fun of his hairline), but there seem to be no sacred cows this year, which has yielded some funny lines, with one of my favourites said by Lou to Mary:</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?