Ep 8. Mary's Delinquent

Mary's Delinquent is the eighth episode of the sixth season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In this episode, Mary Richards (played by Mary Tyler Moore) plays a supportive role to a rebellious teenager named Suzi (played by Randee Heller) who is struggling with discipline issues.

Suzi, a friend of Mary's landlady, Phyllis (played by Cloris Leachman), has been causing trouble lately by getting into fights, skipping school, and even stealing. After a conversation with Phyllis, Mary decides to take Suzi under her wing in an effort to help her straighten up her act.

However, things do not go as smoothly as Mary had hoped. Despite Mary's best efforts to set boundaries and offer guidance, Suzi continues to act out. Mary reaches out to her friends and colleagues for advice, including her boss Lou Grant (played by Edward Asner) and her best friend Rhoda Morgenstern (played by Valerie Harper).

As the situation with Suzi escalates, Mary becomes increasingly frustrated and feels like she is failing. She is torn between wanting to help Suzi and feeling like she may not be qualified to do so. Ultimately, Mary has a heart-to-heart with Suzi and encourages her to take responsibility for her actions and strive to be a better person.

The episode also delves into the inner workings of Mary's own mind and reveals her struggles with overcoming self-doubt. As she grapples with the complexities of helping a troubled teenager, Mary is forced to confront her own insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.

Overall, Mary's Delinquent is a poignant and heartfelt episode that explores the difficulties of mentoring and the importance of self-reflection. The character development of both Mary and Suzi is beautifully crafted, and the episode's themes of self-doubt, growth, and acceptance are highly relatable.