I remember this guy from an earlier episode when he taught a journalism class at the University of Minnesota. He ended up giving her a C+ but they seemed to be OK. But there has been a parade of men, so I thought he was lost in the shuffle. In this one, the two of them meet in an elevator and are so happy to see each other. Next to him is his fiancée whom he ignores and this leads to tension. He invites Mary to a party at his parents' home which leads to awful tension and the breakup of the happy couple. Now, Mary is faced with the results of her actions. Why would she even go to this thing? She really does create a good deal of unhappiness. As it were, the two have a lot of issues to sort out. I was uncomfortable watching this.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series)
The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter (1972)
User Reviews
Review this title6 Reviews
Boyfriend of the week
Rrrobert10 September 2019
Clunky episode that tries to cover a lot of ground in Mary's romantic life.
Dan (Michael Tolan) returns. Dan was one of many single episode serious romances where the episode ends on a romantic high, but by the very next episode it's as if the guy never existed. Dan's first episode 'Room 223' was one of my favourite dating episodes, as the romance was well integrated into an otherwise good story, and there was lots of comedy besides.
Here, in the first part of the episode, Mary and Dan are awkwardly reunited. Awkward because Dan's new fiance is there too. Mary (and Rhoda) then agree to go to Dan's engagement party, which is a disaster due to Mary's presence. These parts are funny if a bit unbelievable.
In part two the engagement is off, and Dan and Mary are suddenly very serious. All of Mary's friends, family, and future in-laws, are apparently thrilled with the new arrangement. However Mary isn't sure she wants to lose what she has (independence, career, friends) for marriage just yet.
The second part with Mary's dilemma is believably articulated but overall this seems to be an eccentric episode.
The subplots (Ted tries to learn Swedish, Mary's fussy father keeps replacing the lock on her front door) seem a bit contrived.
They hand wave away why Mary and Dan stopped dating. I don't know though, maybe he heard about one of Mary's later boyfriends and backed off. He wouldn't have proposed had he seen what happened in intervening episodes 'Didn't You Used to Be... Wait... Don't Tell Me', and 'You Certainly Are a Big Boy'.
Dan (Michael Tolan) returns. Dan was one of many single episode serious romances where the episode ends on a romantic high, but by the very next episode it's as if the guy never existed. Dan's first episode 'Room 223' was one of my favourite dating episodes, as the romance was well integrated into an otherwise good story, and there was lots of comedy besides.
Here, in the first part of the episode, Mary and Dan are awkwardly reunited. Awkward because Dan's new fiance is there too. Mary (and Rhoda) then agree to go to Dan's engagement party, which is a disaster due to Mary's presence. These parts are funny if a bit unbelievable.
In part two the engagement is off, and Dan and Mary are suddenly very serious. All of Mary's friends, family, and future in-laws, are apparently thrilled with the new arrangement. However Mary isn't sure she wants to lose what she has (independence, career, friends) for marriage just yet.
The second part with Mary's dilemma is believably articulated but overall this seems to be an eccentric episode.
The subplots (Ted tries to learn Swedish, Mary's fussy father keeps replacing the lock on her front door) seem a bit contrived.
They hand wave away why Mary and Dan stopped dating. I don't know though, maybe he heard about one of Mary's later boyfriends and backed off. He wouldn't have proposed had he seen what happened in intervening episodes 'Didn't You Used to Be... Wait... Don't Tell Me', and 'You Certainly Are a Big Boy'.
So YOUR Mary...
UNOhwen22 July 2016
A terrific episode, which so defines Mary.
The episode is in 2 parts; the first, is reuniting with her love, Dan, and the 2nd, is a question; now that you have the 'perfect' man, will she, or won't she, and, more importantly, why.
The first half of this episode, is one of the funniest of the 3rd season. Mary's run into Dan, who she had originally met when he was a teacher at a night-school journalism class she went to. Apparently, it was a very good match, but, something happened, along the way, and the 2 lost lost touch, only to be re-connected here, in one of the most awkward wedding parties imaginable.
The 2nd half has Mary reunited with Dan, but, even though he's ready to tie the knot, Mary isn't.
One has to try and understand the context of the episode's place in time - women were finally entering the work-force, full-on, at this time, and here's Mary - who's at a very important crux; she has - not just a job, but, a career, and, with it, a surrogate family. On the other hand, is Dan, and he represents old-style security, for a woman.
But, happening at thIs period in time, Mary is left wondering; is marriage to Dan all she needs? Is she ready for this? More important, is the sacrifice she, as a 70's career woman would have to make - is she willing to do it?
I've loved this series from the beginning, and seeing Mary now, asking these questions, is something a lot of woman asked - does a woman 'automatically' give up career once a spouse/partner appears? Will a woman be fulfilled - giving a career up, to just 'be' a housewife?
The first half of this episode is hysterical, as Judy - Dan's fiancée does everything she can to hold on to him. And Mary - even though she might claim to be innocent in what ultimately happens, is definitely a guilty conspirator, as I don't think anyone - unless the still had some feelings - would go to an ex's wedding party.
A great guest cast, with Michael Tolan as Dan, Steve Franken as Jonas, and Barra Grant as Judy.
The episode is in 2 parts; the first, is reuniting with her love, Dan, and the 2nd, is a question; now that you have the 'perfect' man, will she, or won't she, and, more importantly, why.
The first half of this episode, is one of the funniest of the 3rd season. Mary's run into Dan, who she had originally met when he was a teacher at a night-school journalism class she went to. Apparently, it was a very good match, but, something happened, along the way, and the 2 lost lost touch, only to be re-connected here, in one of the most awkward wedding parties imaginable.
The 2nd half has Mary reunited with Dan, but, even though he's ready to tie the knot, Mary isn't.
One has to try and understand the context of the episode's place in time - women were finally entering the work-force, full-on, at this time, and here's Mary - who's at a very important crux; she has - not just a job, but, a career, and, with it, a surrogate family. On the other hand, is Dan, and he represents old-style security, for a woman.
But, happening at thIs period in time, Mary is left wondering; is marriage to Dan all she needs? Is she ready for this? More important, is the sacrifice she, as a 70's career woman would have to make - is she willing to do it?
I've loved this series from the beginning, and seeing Mary now, asking these questions, is something a lot of woman asked - does a woman 'automatically' give up career once a spouse/partner appears? Will a woman be fulfilled - giving a career up, to just 'be' a housewife?
The first half of this episode is hysterical, as Judy - Dan's fiancée does everything she can to hold on to him. And Mary - even though she might claim to be innocent in what ultimately happens, is definitely a guilty conspirator, as I don't think anyone - unless the still had some feelings - would go to an ex's wedding party.
A great guest cast, with Michael Tolan as Dan, Steve Franken as Jonas, and Barra Grant as Judy.
Not my favorite
VetteRanger20 March 2023
You may remember an episode from the previous season where Mary took a journalism class and Mr. Grant came in as a guest speaker. Mary got a C+ in the class but she and the prof were interested in each other and dated for a while.
In this episode they run into each other on an elevator but their happy, overly friendly reunion is not well received by someone else in the elevator ... his fiancé.
Mary and Rhoda are invited to the engagement party, and the prof spends all his time fixated on talking to Mary, which breaks up the engagement. Although there were humorous lines in that scene, it was a painful scene to watch and it didn't make me think highly of the prof.
Later on, he and Mary date again and it's obvious he wants to propose ... in a scene where Mary's father gets the best line of the episode. Exactly a year later, the actor who played Mary's father appeared on an episode of the Bob Newhart show, and the two series often cast the same talent.
In this episode they run into each other on an elevator but their happy, overly friendly reunion is not well received by someone else in the elevator ... his fiancé.
Mary and Rhoda are invited to the engagement party, and the prof spends all his time fixated on talking to Mary, which breaks up the engagement. Although there were humorous lines in that scene, it was a painful scene to watch and it didn't make me think highly of the prof.
Later on, he and Mary date again and it's obvious he wants to propose ... in a scene where Mary's father gets the best line of the episode. Exactly a year later, the actor who played Mary's father appeared on an episode of the Bob Newhart show, and the two series often cast the same talent.
Avoids the real issue
robert375015 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I found this episode annoying. First of all, I didn't think much of Dan for his very affectionate greeting to Mary right in front of his fiance. Dan and his fiance should have been standing next to each other, instead of having Mary push herself between them. Those aren't the actions of a man in love. Mary proceeds to break up Dan's engagement (a rather underhanded move on her part), then they pick up where they left off, which raises the question of why they broke up in the first place. The episode never bothers to explain. After all of Mary's family and friends express their approval of Dan, we have the big "I want to marry you, no I'm not ready" scene. We're given a lot of feminist "I am an independent woman not ready for marriage" posturing to explain why she says no. This despite the fact that she WAS ready for marriage prior to moving to Minneapolis (she didn't do so because her boyfriend didn't love her and didn't want to get married). Another example of the insincerity of her "I'm not ready for marriage" excuse was the episode "Remembrance of Things Past", in which it's obvious that she has the big time HOTS for a guy named Tom who once bitterly disappointed her by not marrying her (she says it was the worst day of her life). Not a HINT of the "I'm not ready for marriage" excuse. The scene tries to avoid the obvious and very simple explanation for Mary's answer: She doesn't love Dan (then why the hell did you butt into his engagement, Mary? To stroke your ego?). The MOST she's able to eke out is "I care for you". The scene has an artificiality about it, making it all too obvious that the plot armor imposed by the ironclad "Thou shall not have Mary get married" premise of the series means that she can NEVER be in love AND have someone be in love with her AND truly want to be with her, feminist posturing be damned.
Will anybody ever be good enough for Mary?
ronnybee211216 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I agree with a previous reviewer's assessment,this particular episode is rather annoying. It is annoying for the way it portrays Mary.
Mary is always dating,because she's young,attractive and single. It is often implied or outright stated that Mary has been out with several dozens of men over the years but she cannot find the right man at the right time.
Here,Mary runs into an old ex boyfriend at a bad time,because he's about to be married! The old ex boyfriend's fiancee/'bride to be' is the jealous-type and she obviously has heard enough about Mary (from hubby-to-be) to last her a lifetime !
Mary is invited to the Bridal Shower and when she shows up,this causes problems with the bride to be. Knowing how jealous his 'bride to be is',it is very hard to believe that Mary was invited to the Bridal Shower to begin with.
Mary's presence aggravates existing tensions between the shaky couple and the next thing you know,the wedding is off. Mary then spends some time socially with the old boyfriend. Everyone likes this guy,and he seems to be a decent man. So what is the problem?
Mary,the woman that always complains about not being able to find a decent guy,has seemingly found (or been reunited with) a truly decent guy. However,you would never guess that finding this decent guy is a good thing, from the way Mary behaves.
Mary is suddenly worried,very worried. What about?
Strangely enough,Mary is worried that this good man might ask her to marry him !
After all the supposed bad dates with so many flaky men over the years,you'd think that Mary would be a little bit less terrified over the idea of marrying a good man,right? However that is not how the episode was written.
Mary wastes no time and spares no energy making it very clear that any marriage ideas are completely out of the question. Apparently having job at the tv station (that she really doesn't like) and living in an empty apartment (by herself) has more appeal to her than having a family life of of her own. Who would fall for that ? 🤡
Mary is always dating,because she's young,attractive and single. It is often implied or outright stated that Mary has been out with several dozens of men over the years but she cannot find the right man at the right time.
Here,Mary runs into an old ex boyfriend at a bad time,because he's about to be married! The old ex boyfriend's fiancee/'bride to be' is the jealous-type and she obviously has heard enough about Mary (from hubby-to-be) to last her a lifetime !
Mary is invited to the Bridal Shower and when she shows up,this causes problems with the bride to be. Knowing how jealous his 'bride to be is',it is very hard to believe that Mary was invited to the Bridal Shower to begin with.
Mary's presence aggravates existing tensions between the shaky couple and the next thing you know,the wedding is off. Mary then spends some time socially with the old boyfriend. Everyone likes this guy,and he seems to be a decent man. So what is the problem?
Mary,the woman that always complains about not being able to find a decent guy,has seemingly found (or been reunited with) a truly decent guy. However,you would never guess that finding this decent guy is a good thing, from the way Mary behaves.
Mary is suddenly worried,very worried. What about?
Strangely enough,Mary is worried that this good man might ask her to marry him !
After all the supposed bad dates with so many flaky men over the years,you'd think that Mary would be a little bit less terrified over the idea of marrying a good man,right? However that is not how the episode was written.
Mary wastes no time and spares no energy making it very clear that any marriage ideas are completely out of the question. Apparently having job at the tv station (that she really doesn't like) and living in an empty apartment (by herself) has more appeal to her than having a family life of of her own. Who would fall for that ? 🤡
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