The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) Remembrance of Things Past (1973) User Reviews

A bit of a retcon

[Rrrobert · 6/10 · 1 October 2019]

In a long running sitcom you have to accept that some episodes will feel like a retcon with upheavals that are quickly reversed then never referred to again in any later episode.

This one retcons in a long-lost never-before-referred-to old flame who we learn was Mary's one true love and soul mate who drives her crazy with his sweet talk and failure to commit. No, this isn't Bill, the guy from Love Is All Around she was engaged to for two years. Nor is it Sandy, the concert pianist from Baby Sit-com who years before had asked Mary to marry him. And it isn't Dan the teacher from Room 223 and The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter, a real catch whose offer of marriage Mary rejected as she wasn't ready yet (and who, in the next episode, is said to still be dating Mary). This is a new beau, Tom Vernon (Joseph Campanella), who makes Mary forget all about those other guys when he rocks in and disrupts her life again.

It is a big switcheroo to try and pull off. With all the boyfriends Mary has had, this guy who is supposedly so important to her, has NEVER been mentioned before. While Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper act the scenes setting all this up pretty well, I get the feeling even their hearts were not in it. Despite Mary's good acting, I found it hard to care much about the romance itself as it all seemed forced. Tom was pretty annoying which makes you wonder what the attraction was (Mary has had much more appealing beaus). While it is well written and acted, the story didn't really ring true for me and it just doesn't fit well into series continuity.

The subplot of Ted going to Washington is funny and well done.

Mr. Baxter Goes to Washington

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 10 February 2017]

Apparently, there was someone in Mary's past with whom she fell in love. He is a guy played by Joseph Campanella who is self centered and manipulative. He walks in and out of her life and she turns into a wet noodle when he's around. She knows he is trouble but still loves him. There are times when Mary's status as a liberated woman is diminished in these episodes. The whole interaction between the two of them is incredibly uninteresting. The much more interesting subplot involves the station sending Ted to Washington to interview important political figures, including the Secretary of State. His knowledge of the whole political world is so lacking, it's hard to imagine him even being allowed to represent the station.

Boarr---inngg ! !

[ronnybee2112 · 8/10 · 17 August 2020]

Geez-what a weak episode of a usually great,and sometimes fantastic show.. A major part of the episode involves MTM interacting with a 'hot old flame' that has never been seen or even mentioned previously. The 'old flame' actor, Joseph Campanella,has a distinctive voice,he was the boss on 'Mannix' and was a long-time narrator of PBS programs-I knew he sounded very familiar! Anyways,the premise is that MTM and this character had an intense on-and-off relationship spanning many years. He is a quick-moving hustler,and she wants to get married! The whole schtick seemed forced and not very believable to me,somehow it just didn't click despite a clear effort by both of these very-good actors. The peripheral storyline of the hilariously vain Ted Baxter going to Washington actually ends up being the best part of the show. Rhoda is her obnoxious usual self but she is tolerable and somewhat humorous in spite of it. Probably on my '10 worst MTM episodes' list,but still worth watching.

The one episode of tMTMS that drives me CRAZY.

[crapshack-41247 · 3/10 · 15 November 2021]

Where was the continuity person with this episode? This would've made perfect sense if the character from the past was Bill, but for some reason they had to wedge in a character named Tom who simply does NOT fit in the chronology of the show.

For instance, Tom talks about Mary's "roommates" from when they had their apparently head-over-heels love affair 2 1/2 years before. But would that put Mary back in her hometown right before she moved to Minneapolis - BUT SHE LEFT HER HOMETOWN BECAUSE OF BILL! Was she cheating on Bill the medical student with THIS guy?

And who plays Tom? Joseph Camanella! A magnificent character actor, yes, but... but...

He was 49 years old when this episode was made! To put that into perspective - he was only 4 years younger than Nanette Fabray, who was playing Mary's MOTHER that season! Even more astonishing - Harold Gould was 50 that year - playing Rhoda's FATHER! And he looked YOUNGER than Joseph Campanella IMHO.

I know, I know, get a life. But I've been a huge fan of this show since literally childhood... 168 episodes and this is the only inexplicable one. (The sub-plot of Ted going to Washington was very well done, and welcome comic relief).