On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Five (the final season) of Rhoda!
RHODA: SEASON FIVE
1978
13 episodes
Rhoda's final season was a truncated one as the show was cancelled in December 1978 after only 13 episodes had been produced (and only nine had aired). This feels like a continuation from season four in many ways except with the ill-advised split between Ida and Martin (more on that below). While Rhoda has an occasional good moment and even a couple decent episodes, it is a show that seems so wildly different from season one and not in a good way. Rhoda could never figure out what it fully wanted to be and only made it four and a half seasons as a result.
Starring
Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern (13 episodes)
Julie Kavner as Brenda Morgenstern (13 episodes)
Ray Buktenica as Benny Goodwin (11 episodes)
Kenneth McMillan as Jack Doyle (9 episodes)
Nancy Walker as Ida Morgenstern (8 episodes)
Lorenzo Music as Carlton the Doorman (10 episodes)
Nancy Lane as Tina (6 episodes)
Harold Gould as Martin Morgenstern (3 episodes)
98. Martin Doesn't Live Here Anymore (9/23/78)
On his 60th birthday, Rhoda and Brenda discover that Martin has left Ida to find himself in Florida.
Rhoda's ill-fated fifth and final season kicks off with a very jazzed up version of the theme that actually isn't that bad when you get to used to it. What is bad is the decision to split Martin and Ida up. I actually can't believe the show decided to do this after the very polarizing divorce of Rhoda and Joe. Not only do they not need to rehash separation storylines, it's also far less believable that Ida and Martin would split than Rhoda and Joe and completely out of character for Martin to leave Ida, even if just to "find himself." Some decent performances are hard to even appreciate thanks to the horrific story but a solid turn from Nancy Walker keeps the episode from being a complete waste.
RATING: 3.5/10
99. In Search of Martin (9/30/78)
After learning where Martin is in Florida, Rhoda and Brenda go with Benny to find him.
While the Ida and Martin saga continues, I will say this is one of the first times that Benny is actually a decent human being. He volunteers to drive Rhoda and Brenda to Florida and then has a funny moment where he manipulates a coin toss. This is the second episode in the last four that has a very long section in Benny's car although this one is better done than the two-parter at the end of season four. I think if I was in charge of Rhoda and decided to do this unnecessary arc, I would try to have found a way for the Martin scene to be used in the first episode because it explained his side of things much better. I still don't think the arc was a good idea.
RATING: 5.5/10
1978
13 episodes
Rhoda's final season was a truncated one as the show was cancelled in December 1978 after only 13 episodes had been produced (and only nine had aired). This feels like a continuation from season four in many ways except with the ill-advised split between Ida and Martin (more on that below). While Rhoda has an occasional good moment and even a couple decent episodes, it is a show that seems so wildly different from season one and not in a good way. Rhoda could never figure out what it fully wanted to be and only made it four and a half seasons as a result.
Starring
Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern (13 episodes)
Julie Kavner as Brenda Morgenstern (13 episodes)
Ray Buktenica as Benny Goodwin (11 episodes)
Kenneth McMillan as Jack Doyle (9 episodes)
Nancy Walker as Ida Morgenstern (8 episodes)
Lorenzo Music as Carlton the Doorman (10 episodes)
Nancy Lane as Tina (6 episodes)
Harold Gould as Martin Morgenstern (3 episodes)
On his 60th birthday, Rhoda and Brenda discover that Martin has left Ida to find himself in Florida.
Rhoda's ill-fated fifth and final season kicks off with a very jazzed up version of the theme that actually isn't that bad when you get to used to it. What is bad is the decision to split Martin and Ida up. I actually can't believe the show decided to do this after the very polarizing divorce of Rhoda and Joe. Not only do they not need to rehash separation storylines, it's also far less believable that Ida and Martin would split than Rhoda and Joe and completely out of character for Martin to leave Ida, even if just to "find himself." Some decent performances are hard to even appreciate thanks to the horrific story but a solid turn from Nancy Walker keeps the episode from being a complete waste.
RATING: 3.5/10
99. In Search of Martin (9/30/78)
After learning where Martin is in Florida, Rhoda and Brenda go with Benny to find him.
While the Ida and Martin saga continues, I will say this is one of the first times that Benny is actually a decent human being. He volunteers to drive Rhoda and Brenda to Florida and then has a funny moment where he manipulates a coin toss. This is the second episode in the last four that has a very long section in Benny's car although this one is better done than the two-parter at the end of season four. I think if I was in charge of Rhoda and decided to do this unnecessary arc, I would try to have found a way for the Martin scene to be used in the first episode because it explained his side of things much better. I still don't think the arc was a good idea.
RATING: 5.5/10
100. Rhoda vs. Ida (10/7/78)
Rhoda is upset when Ida begins dating a much younger man, and they end up in a fight.
We're now three for three of episodes in season five dealing with the separation of Ida and Martin. It's no wonder the show got cancelled midway through the season. The idea that Ida would be dating a 41 year old man is so absurd and none of this episode seems believable as a result. We also have the second appearance of Tina, who is now a recurring character. Why? First of all, she was associated with Gary and Ron Silver is no longer on the show. So there was no reason to bring back this terrible character. But they did anyway. Just so many bad choices from the writers at this point.
RATING: 2.5/10
101. Brenda Gets Engaged (10/14/78)
Brenda gets engaged to Benny but then is very upset when Ida won't give her blessing.
Brenda's long life of being single comes to an end in this episode when she gets engaged to Benny. It's funny to hear Rhoda talk about having a brother-in-law because Mary Tyler Moore Show fans know that Rhoda's "sister" got married on that show but that sister was never heard from again once Rhoda started. However, this episode ends up being mostly about a Brenda and Ida feud exactly one episode after an episode that dealt with a Rhoda and Ida feud. I know these shows weren't created in a binge-watching era but the episodes did air only one week apart and the plot seems a little similar, albeit in a different context. This one is funnier though and the mad dash to keep Benny in the bathroom when Ida visits is pretty funny.
RATING: 7/10
Rhoda accompanies Brenda to meet Benny's parents for the first time as well as his obnoxious brother, Earl.
If Rhoda was on TV today, I have a feeling that Benny's parents would be stunt casted with older TV veterans, but stunt casting was not as much of a thing back in the 1970s. Benny's parents are pretty good in this episode, but we also have to meet Earl, Benny's even more obnoxious brother (and that's saying something). I know Earl is supposed to be annoying, but as is too often the case with Rhoda, they don't find any appealing side to humanize their obnoxious characters. Speaking of which, Tina is back again. It was in the first scene of this episode where I felt like I was watching Welcome Back Kotter and Tina would be much more welcome on that show. She's way too fake for this one.
RATING: 2/10
103. Ida's Roommate (10/28/78)
Ida puts an ad in the paper for a roommate with Martin gone and ends up taking in a widower who she falls for.
This is the best episode that came out of the Ida-Martin split arc. It's a great Ida showcase with a strong guest performance by Philip Sterling. I like that the episode keeps us guessing where it's going to go. At first, it seems like Phillip is going to be the one to fall for Ida, but they turn it on its head by having Ida fall for Phillip. And then, they switch it up again just when Ida is ready to confess her love. The scene between the two of them at the end of the episode is very sweet and played very honestly while the earlier scenes, specifically the bit about the fish with Rhoda, is pretty funny. This is the best episode of the final season.
RATING: 9/10
104. Martin Comes Home (11/11/78)
On Ida's birthday, Martin returns home but Ida isn't quite ready to welcome him back.
At the risk of harping on something that has been a problem for the whole series, this is the seventh episode of the season and not one of them really had Rhoda as the central figure. Sure, she's sort of important in each episode. But this series really never figured out how to write for her as a lead character. The few times they tried, like in the "One is a Number" or Judd Hirsch episodes from Season 4 were effective, but they couldn't do it on a consistent basis. I'm glad this episode brought Martin back even if this season seems completely overwhelmed by that storyline and they don't even resolve it here.
RATING: 5/10
105. Jack's New Image (12/2/78)
Jack has lost some weight and decides to change his style and start dating again.
Aside from this being a Jack-centric episode, this one is bad because it doesn't fit the character at all. Sure, Jack lost a little bit of weight. But nothing we have seen from the Jack character in over a year on the show tells us that he would ever do some of the things he does in this episode. I feel like this just stemmed from the writers thinking it would be funny to get Kenneth McMillan looking super sharp with absolutely no care about the motives of the character. It's a rough episode all the way around including a trip to a train-themed restaurant that falls flat with every joke it tries to make about that location.
RATING: 2/10
Benny is in a funk and Brenda resorts to a book to try to find ways to cheer him up.
The final Rhoda episode that aired before it was unceremoniously cancelled at the end of 1978, "The Total Brenda" is reminiscent of some earlier Rhoda episodes where Brenda acts foolish over a man or over her life choices and Rhoda gets so frustrated with her. It feels like it's been a long time since we've seen an episode like this and Rhoda does get off a great line when she asks Brenda if she's "dirt." This episode does ring true even though Brenda has matured, because she most likely still has those tendencies within her. Of course, as is too often the case, Benny seems like a complete child again. It makes it hard to root for Brenda, which I was prone to do for much of Rhoda's run, when she's in a relationship with someone like Benny.
RATING: 6/10
107. The Date in the Iron Mask (unaired)
Rhoda is nominated for a costuming award but her date wears the mask before the ceremony and can't get it off.
This is the first Rhoda episode that didn't air in its original run as the show has already been cancelled. It's also one of the silliest episodes. But they actually seem to have some fun with the absurdity of the premise and it's finally an episode that has Rhoda as a central character. Seriously, for only the second time this season. I actually think they could have gone a little longer with the mask stuck on Rhoda's date's head because once it came off, it turned into a pretty pedestrian awards show episode reminiscent of the Teddy Awards episodes on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Still, this unaired episode is certainly better than some of the ones that aired.
RATING: 7.5/10
108. Martin Swallows His Heart (unaired)
Martin decides to make a nice dinner for Ida to help win her back but accidentally swallows the expensive charm he bought her.
This is the second episode in a row that veers a little bit towards a campy plot. It's hard to imagine Rhoda doing an episode like this or the previous one earlier in its run. While the previous episode managed to make a silly premise fun, this one doesn't. It starts at an okay level with the Martin and Ida scene but it really hits a wall when they find the doctor upstairs and end up involved in a poker game with other doctors. It's like the writers didn't really want to do a story about Martin swallowing the charm so they just changed course midstream. Sort of like this series!
RATING: 3.5/10
109. Earl's Helping Hand (unaired)
Benny's brother Earl helps out Jack with money for the business so he can try to get closer to Rhoda.
Benny's brother Earl returns because Rhoda can never just give one episode to an obnoxious supporting player. Honestly, I can't think of another show that relied so much on irritating side characters. It also runs so counter to other MTM shows. Yet, the craziest thing is how capable Rhoda is of great episodes and duds. The range seems more pronounced for this show than others, especially MTM ones. The only thing that redeems this episode a little bit is that it doesn't quite resolve in the way it seems like it's going to and it actually redeems the Earl character a little bit. With only two episodes, he's not as high on the list of side characters who doom episodes.
RATING: 3.5/10
Brenda is feeling pressure from Ida, Brenda and Rhoda about the wedding and decides to run away.
The final episode of Rhoda ends pretty quietly. You can't blame it for that since the show was abruptly cancelled. I'm sure if Rhoda had gotten to do a full year, season five would have ended with Brenda and Benny's wedding. So we are left with this, but it isn't a terrible episodes since it focuses on the only constants from the series (besides Carlton): Rhoda, Brenda and Ida. It makes you think about what this show could have been if it had ever settled down and focused on the best performers and the best relationships in the show for an extended period of time, but it never did. It's a little bit of a sad story for a very promising, and occasionally brilliant, spin-off of one of TV's all-time greatest shows.
RATING: 7/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON FIVE:
4.9/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Ida's Roommate" (#103) - 9/10
2. "The Date in the Iron Mask" (#105) - 7.5/10
3. "Brenda Runs Away" (#110) - 7/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Jack's New Image" (#105) - 2/10
2. "Meet the Goodwins" (#102) - 2/10
3. "Rhoda vs. Ida" (#100) - 2.5/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
Next Thursday: A wrap-up look at Rhoda!
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