MovieChat Forums > Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Discussion > Mary and Rhoda Are Very Naive

Mary and Rhoda Are Very Naive

posted 11 years ago by Ariane1998
22 replies | jump to latest

I'm always stunned when I realize how trusting Mary and Rhoda are. Even for 1970s Minneapolis, they seem naive, especially around men they find attractive!

When the architect played by Bradford Dillman -- a total stranger -- shows up at Mary's door and says that he is drawing the house and wants to see the inside of her apartment -- she lets him in! She didn't even freak when he draws her telephone to get her telephone number!

IIRC, the "forest ranger" episode happens when Mary and Rhoda are at the auto shop and they let a total stranger -- the future forest ranger -- drive them home!

Mary apparently meets the "younger man" played by Peter Strauss at a supermarket and ends up spending the whole day with him. I would assume that they end up in a car together.

(If you think I'm obsessed about cars -- I just don't think it is wise to get into a car with a totally strange man -- or any stranger!)

[–] azkittykat-km 9 years ago

Things were a lot different back then. Not saying there weren't rapists or pedophiles or even drive by shootings...... but I have gotten in the car with a stranger before as a teen. I would never do that now, obviously. Times were so much simpler then....

[–] hifijohn 9 years ago

its not being naive, you have to keep the story line moving youll notice nobody locks their doors in tv shows even in bad neighborhoods.

[–] tmitch-1 9 years ago

It's just the way TV has changed over the years.

I was caught a bit off guard with the episode where Ted essentially tried to force himself on Mary. Mary tells him 'no' several times. He keeps at it, eventually backs down, and the two reconcile.

Back then you could present something like that as a minor disagreement between friends. Today, it could be considered a full-blown assault.

It's not the world has changed that much. Just the way we see it - and TV presents it.

[–] anbmom 8 years ago

It was a completely different world back in 1970. We did get in stranger's cars and walk down dark streets alone and pick up people who needed rides. A date would pick you up and you were at his mercy, no cell phone, etc. Now, you meet him in a public place until you get to know him and you bring your own car and phone. Can you imaging sending your teenager off to college or even on a date with no cell phone? I called my parents once a week from school and it was on Sundays when the rates were down. You didn't call home just to here Mom's voice because you couldn't afford it. There are so many things you did beck then that there is no way you could do today including just driving alone at night with the windows of the car rolled down.