Well just finished watching season 5 and............

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

I've been watching the season 5 episodes on ME-tv for the first time in many years and it's pretty clear that the show had completely run out of gas. Hardly a single laugh and the stories were just awful. The episode with Rhoda seething with jealously at her Mom's boyfriend was cringe worthy. When you compare this season with the first season, which was arguably as funny or funnier than the Mary Tyler Moore Show, it's obvious everyone involved with the show had lost interest. At that point, I guess they were all just collecting nice fat paychecks and phoning the rest in.

The mother should have never left the show after season 2 which left a hole in the show

[ajgenard]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

I've been watching the season 5 episodes on ME-tv for the first time in many years and it's pretty clear that the show had completely run out of gas. Hardly a single laugh and the stories were just awful. The episode with Rhoda seething with jealously at her Mom's boyfriend was cringe worthy. When you compare this season with the first season, which was arguably as funny or funnier than the Mary Tyler Moore Show, it's obvious everyone involved with the show had lost interest. At that point, I guess they were all just collecting nice fat paychecks and phoning the rest in.

Without question Rhoda was in coast mode by the end of it's run. It's true, the first couple seasons being as good as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and these later episodes looking like garbage in comparison. I think the original sin was divorcing Rhoda and Joe. After they finally moved past that, it just kept on deteriorating.

Not only is the show itself very poor in this final season, but they added insult to injury when they changed Valerie Harper from a gorgeous woman in stylish clothing to some lady in dowdy grandma clothes with an ugly perm. The fashion and style in the late 70s/early 80s is nothing short of a cultural eyesore that plagues everything from local TV ads to Playboy pictorials.

[Coffeecup]

I have been watching the 5th season shows and I did notice Valerie had an odd perm and the dresses do look a bit bland. One ep she was wearing a dress you would wear in either 90 degree weather, or a little girl of age 4 would wear.
I am waiting to see Vivian Vance on the show for I heard she played a neighbor.

[mets82]

I've caught bits and pieces of Season 5. I think they rushed Rhoda and Joe's wedding and divorce a little too fast. You want to give those things proper build.

Btw, why and where did the father go?

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by mets82

Btw, why and where did the father go?

He left Ida and moved to Florida. I can't remember why exactly.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by mets82

I've caught bits and pieces of Season 5. I think they rushed Rhoda and Joe's wedding and divorce a little too fast. You want to give those things proper build.

Btw, why and where did the father go?

It didn't even matter where the dad was at that point lol

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by DJM77

He left Ida and moved to Flordia. I can't remember why exactly.

He came back before the show was cancelled.

[ajgenard]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I have been watching the 5th season shows and I did notice Valerie had an odd perm and the dresses do look a bit bland. One ep she was wearing a dress you would wear in either 90 degree weather, or a little girl of age 4 would wear.
I am waiting to see Vivian Vance on the show for I heard she played a neighbor.

You referring to that brownish/greenish/whitish patterned strapless horse blanket she was wearing in the episode where she laments Ida's new boyfriend? Just from your description that sounds like it. That's the one I saw that made my perception of her late-season wardrobe go from "bland" as you say directly to "hideous and alltogether unnattractive." As a straight guy in his late 20s I don't claim to be a fashion expert, but I at least know what looks downright silly. I truly can't think of another show where the title character is the worst dressed in the whole cast.

[OOliver]

Originally Posted by DJM77

He left Ida and moved to Flordia. I can't remember why exactly.

He more or less explained to his daughters that he was 60 years old, married for 40 years and was going through a mid-life crisis of some sort. He wanted to experience some things in life (working at the senior community center, working at the zoo) which he felt he couldn't do in NYC, and Ida wouldn't let him do while they were living under the same roof. He didn't want to leave the marriage - he just needed some time to himself.

[JSP]

Definitely it seemed like everybody just didn't care anymore when Season 5 rolled around. Which is a shame because I really enjoyed Season 4. They shouldn't have ran out of ideas so quickly.

And yes, I think Valerie's hair during season 5 is the symbolic turning point showing that she was no longer young and hip but approaching middle age. Maybe she wanted to go for a more "mature" look, but it wasn't flattering for her.

[Svenfan1234]

The show was still good in its final season. IMO it stayed the best throughout its entire run. Solomon just thinks everything's awful.

[scotsguy]

I agree season 5 is rather dull,even Brenda is now dull with the unfunny Benny,also Rhoda doing things like going out on her own,the MTMS Rhoda never had that problem,the only saving grace is Nancy Walker is still in the show.