Adamantium
11-18-2014, 06:00 PM
When I posted my thoughts on season one, I wasn’t intending to do the whole series. Heck, I wasn’t planning on watching the whole series. I was just waiting for my “Wonder Years” DVDs to arrive and figured I’d watch the first episode of “Mama’s Family,” which I realized I hadn’t seen before. That turned into me watching all of season one. After giving my thoughts on it, I decided to go for season two as well. Now I’ve just finished season three and here’s what I have to say.
This is the “Mama’s Family” I remember! Of the first three seasons, this is my favorite. Returning from the NBC years to the syndication episodes are Thelma “Mama” Harper, her son Vinton and his wife Naomi. No more Buzz. No more Sonja and no more Aunt Fran. Her departure is the premise for the first episode. Even though I like the syndicated cast better than the NBC cast, I really missed Aunt Fran, at least in the early episodes without her. I wondered if they’d explain Buzz and Sonja and they didn’t. I mean they mentioned them, which was good. They just didn’t say where they went. With Eunice and Ed living in Florida, their son Bubba straight out of juvenile hall moves in with the Harpers. Their next door neighbor is Iola Boylen. She has a crush on Vinton, which tends to upset Naomi. It’s a fun dynamic. Mama’s daughter Ellen (Betty White) makes one final appearance in the third episode of the season. So it’s a strange feeling to no longer have the recurring characters (Eunice & Ellen) visiting through out the season.
When it comes to the departing characters, I’ve missed both Aunt Fran and Sonja. I couldn’t care less about Buzz being gone. He was such a dull character. Bubba is so much better and funnier. He is what this show needs. In fact, a couple of my favorite episodes heavily featured him. My top favorite of season three is “Cat’s Meow.” It was such an odd and funny episode to see that freeze-dried cat and the family’s reactions to it. I laughed my butt off. Another is “Have It Mama’s Way.” That’s the one where both Mama and Bubba get a job at a fast food restaurant. Finally, I really liked “The Best Policy” where Mama and Iola think Naomi is trying to kill Vinton over his insurance. If I didn’t know better, I’d be right there with the two. It looked pretty suspicious to me, lol. As for least favorites, I can’t really think of one. Maybe “Soup to Nuts” but even that was bad.
All in all this was a great season for the show. The switch to syndication was the best thing for this wacky little show. I’ll soon begin watching season four and give my opinions on that season as well.
This is the “Mama’s Family” I remember! Of the first three seasons, this is my favorite. Returning from the NBC years to the syndication episodes are Thelma “Mama” Harper, her son Vinton and his wife Naomi. No more Buzz. No more Sonja and no more Aunt Fran. Her departure is the premise for the first episode. Even though I like the syndicated cast better than the NBC cast, I really missed Aunt Fran, at least in the early episodes without her. I wondered if they’d explain Buzz and Sonja and they didn’t. I mean they mentioned them, which was good. They just didn’t say where they went. With Eunice and Ed living in Florida, their son Bubba straight out of juvenile hall moves in with the Harpers. Their next door neighbor is Iola Boylen. She has a crush on Vinton, which tends to upset Naomi. It’s a fun dynamic. Mama’s daughter Ellen (Betty White) makes one final appearance in the third episode of the season. So it’s a strange feeling to no longer have the recurring characters (Eunice & Ellen) visiting through out the season.
When it comes to the departing characters, I’ve missed both Aunt Fran and Sonja. I couldn’t care less about Buzz being gone. He was such a dull character. Bubba is so much better and funnier. He is what this show needs. In fact, a couple of my favorite episodes heavily featured him. My top favorite of season three is “Cat’s Meow.” It was such an odd and funny episode to see that freeze-dried cat and the family’s reactions to it. I laughed my butt off. Another is “Have It Mama’s Way.” That’s the one where both Mama and Bubba get a job at a fast food restaurant. Finally, I really liked “The Best Policy” where Mama and Iola think Naomi is trying to kill Vinton over his insurance. If I didn’t know better, I’d be right there with the two. It looked pretty suspicious to me, lol. As for least favorites, I can’t really think of one. Maybe “Soup to Nuts” but even that was bad.
All in all this was a great season for the show. The switch to syndication was the best thing for this wacky little show. I’ll soon begin watching season four and give my opinions on that season as well.