Ep 9. Thanksgiving and Taking

Murphy Brown season 11 episode 9, "Thanksgiving and Taking," focuses on the Brown family's Thanksgiving celebrations. The episode begins with Murphy waking up on Thanksgiving morning and receiving a call from her son Avery, who is serving in Afghanistan. The call brings out a flurry of emotions in Murphy as she deeply misses her son and the fact that he cannot be present with the family during the holiday.

As the day progresses, Murphy prepares to host her family's Thanksgiving dinner. However, several unexpected obstacles keep getting in the way. Frank struggles to cook their turkey, Corky is preoccupied with her relationship status, and Miles tries to gain Murphy's attention as he promotes a new game show.

The episode takes a dramatic turn when Murphy receives a phone call from the prestigious Columbia University. They inform her that they want to invite her to receive an honorary degree for her groundbreaking work in journalism. While Murphy is thrilled to receive such recognition from an esteemed institution, the invitation creates a stir within her family, as they cannot forgive her for walking out on them during Thanksgiving.

The Brown family dinner becomes a contentious affair as Murphy's sister, Ginny, unleashes years of resentment and anger that she has kept bottled up towards Murphy. Ginny accuses Murphy of always prioritizing her career over her family, leaving them to deal with their aging father's care. This leads to an emotional confrontation between the two sisters, which leaves them both in tears.

The episode brilliantly captures the essence of family dynamics, where the holiday season can bring out both the best and worst in people. It showcases the Brown family's complicated relationships with each other, where tension and disagreements are never in short supply. At the same time, the episode portrays the unconditional love that binds families together and how it can triumph even in the midst of chaos.

While the episode's central theme revolves around Thanksgiving, it deftly uses the holiday as a backdrop to explore much grander ideas. It delves into the idea of how personal ambitions can sometimes conflict with the expectations of one's family, leading to complicated relationships. It also touching upon the theme of forgiveness, where family members must learn to let go of the past and show empathy towards each other.

Overall, Murphy Brown season 11 episode 9 presents a poignant and heartwarming portrayal of the Brown family dynamics, coupled with excellent writing and direction. It offers a thought-provoking exploration of family politics, ambition, and tension, blended with holiday festivities. It is an episode that is a must-watch for anyone who values the importance of family, forgiveness, and love.