While rewatching the first season episodes on television recently, I've noticed that during year 1 Mallory seemed like she was more intelligent than in later seasons. In season 2 and beyond, she was portrayed as a bit ditzy, where as that wasn't the case in the first season. Has anyone else noticed this?

While rewatching the first season episodes on television recently, I've noticed that during year 1 Mallory seemed like she was more intelligent than in later seasons. In season 2 and beyond, she was portrayed as a bit ditzy, where as that wasn't the case in the first season. Has anyone else noticed this?
I think the producers realized they could get a lot of humor from the Alex/Mallory relationship especially if they emphasized the contrast between Alex's intelligence and Mallory's seeming lack of same.

I think the producers realized they could get a lot of humor from the Alex/Mallory relationship especially if they emphasized the contrast between Alex's intelligence and Mallory's seeming lack of same.


Marv! :)

Yes, I have noticed that too! First season Mallory wasn't nearly as ditzy. Actually it seems like that happens a lot with sitcoms... the characters start out more normal but as the years go on they become almost like caricatures of their original selves.

Last night Me-Too showed the episode where Mallory and Alex take I.Q. tests and Mallory gets two points higher than Alex-twice!

Mallory did seem smarter in the first season. In the pilot episode she even knew something that Alex didn't. She knew about Polo. Alex didn't seem to know anything about it, lol.

Mallory did seem smarter in the first season. In the pilot episode she even knew something that Alex didn't. She knew about Polo. Alex didn't seem to know anything about it, lol.


I feel bad that Skippy received a 0 on the I.Q. test. If Nick had taken it the test he would probably have scored in the negative. :eek:

Yes, I have noticed that too! First season Mallory wasn't nearly as ditzy. Actually it seems like that happens a lot with sitcoms... the characters start out more normal but as the years go on they become almost like caricatures of their original selves.

Yep. This happens with many sitcoms, unfortunately. Often in sitcoms, by the final season, most of the cast has devolved into complete idiocy.

In one of the later seasons Mallory mentions that she's going to go watch cartoons with Nick. That's not something Mallory would have never done in the first season. I think they had to dumb her character down so that she could be closer to Nick's level.

[QUOTE=Family Ties Forever!]In one of the later seasons Mallory mentions that she's going to go watch cartoons with Nick. That's not something Mallory would have never done in the first season. I think they had to dumb her character down so that she could be closer to Nick's level.[/QUO

I'm not sure they could have brought Mallory all the way down to Nick's level of intelligence. A dumb rock is smarter than Nick. :lol:

[QUOTE=Family Ties Forever!]In one of the later seasons Mallory mentions that she's going to go watch cartoons with Nick. That's not something Mallory would have never done in the first season. I think they had to dumb her character down so that she could be closer to Nick's level.[/QUO

I'm not sure they could have brought Mallory all the way down to Nick's level of intelligence. A dumb rock is smarter than Nick. :lol:

True. Nick was very dumb. Andy knew how to read better than Nick did. :lol:

Yes, I have noticed that too! First season Mallory wasn't nearly as ditzy. Actually it seems like that happens a lot with sitcoms... the characters start out more normal but as the years go on they become almost like caricatures of their original selves.


And sometimes it backfires big time! Look at how the writers completely destroyed the character of "Aunt Jackie" in Roseanne in the later seasons. :confused:

And sometimes it backfires big time! Look at how the writers completely destroyed the character of "Aunt Jackie" in Roseanne in the later seasons. :confused:
So true. It's almost as if the writers forgot the original Jackie character and instead wrote in a complete moron character. So sad to see what was once a capable, single woman slowly devolve into Gilligan.