Ep 12. Mother-in-Law Part I

Alice season 1 episode 12, titled "Mother-in-Law Part I," is a heartwarming story that revolves around the relationship between Alice and her mother-in-law, Belle Dupree. Alice is a single mother who runs a diner in Phoenix, Arizona, along with her son, Tommy. Belle, on the other hand, is a wealthy widow who lives in San Francisco and has never approved of her son's marriage to Alice.

In this episode, Belle comes to visit Alice and Tommy, and the friction between the two women becomes immediately apparent. Belle is snobbish and critical of Alice's lifestyle and parenting skills, while Alice is defensive and resentful of Belle's judgmental attitude. However, when Tommy falls ill, Belle puts aside her differences with Alice and helps her care for him. As they tend to Tommy together, the two women start to see each other in a new light and make genuine efforts to connect.

Throughout the episode, we see the contrast between Belle's sophisticated, upper-class lifestyle and Alice's down-to-earth, working-class existence. Belle wears expensive jewelry and designer outfits, while Alice struggles to make ends meet and can barely afford to pay her bills. However, what Belle lacks in material wealth, she makes up for with her warmth and kindness towards Alice and Tommy. Belle recognizes that Alice is a devoted mother who loves her son deeply, and she admires her strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

As they spend more time together, Belle also reveals that her own life has not been without difficulties. She lost her husband at a young age and had to raise her son alone while managing her late husband's business empire. Belle's wealth and social status may give her an air of superiority, but she has faced her share of challenges and knows what it's like to struggle. Through these conversations, we see Belle and Alice begin to develop a genuine bond that goes beyond their initial prejudices.

The episode ends on a hopeful note, as Belle offers to help Alice by investing in her diner and helping her expand her business. Alice is skeptical at first, given their rocky history, but eventually accepts Belle's offer and begins to see the potential for her diner to become a thriving enterprise. As the episode concludes, we see the two women embracing each other warmly, a sign that their tentative truce has blossomed into a true connection.

Overall, "Mother-in-Law Part I" is a touching and insightful episode that explores the complexities of family relationships and the power of empathy and understanding. It shows that even when we have different backgrounds and values, we can find common ground and build mutually beneficial relationships if we are open to learning from each other. The performances by Linda Lavin (Belle) and Polly Holliday (Alice) are nuanced and nuanced and deliver a believable portrayal of two women who are learning to see each other in a new way.