Sun, Feb 1, 1976
Washington, DC based FBI agent Michael Stearns makes what most consider an unreasonable request: to move into Brenda's apartment for an indefinite period of time (meaning that she would have to find other accommodation for that time) while he does some surveillance work on an apartment across the street. Brenda agrees if only because she is attracted to Michael. Insecure Brenda, who ends up staying with a cold plagued Rhoda and Joe upstairs, makes any excuse she can to go to her apartment just so that she can see Michael. He doesn't mind as he too is attracted to her. When both Michael and Brenda come to the point of declaring their mutual attraction for each other, Michael makes a confession: that he is already involved with someone else. Willing to risk getting hurt, Brenda still decides to get involved with him for however long he is in New York. But both Michael and Brenda have to decide what to do once his assignment is completed and he is ready to head back to Washington. For Brenda, what may factor into her decision is how painful the thought of saying goodbye to Michael forever ends up being.
Sun, Oct 24, 1976
After the latest of what has been their weekly dates, Joe has spent the night with Rhoda. Outwardly, Brenda sees this situation as a good sign. Rhoda, on the other hand, sees it as a bad sign as Joe is too happy in their current situation of dating once a week. Both Brenda and Gary think that Rhoda has to do something professionally about the matter, namely go see a marriage counselor, something which Rhoda had already contemplated previously but was afraid of the outcome. She does believe now is the time, and she is able to convince Joe into going. Rhoda wants to go into the process not looking like the instigator of their problems, but as she and Joe meet with Dr. Fox, that meeting which starts off on a bad footing, they obviously both have issues, but obviously also still love each other and want to be together. But it isn't until near the end of this first session with Dr. Fox that the ultimate question is asked and answered which may be the root of their current situation.
Sun, Oct 31, 1976
Both Gary and Brenda are trying to get Rhoda out to prevent her from lamenting about Joe and falling into old bad habits. Gary wants to set her up on a date with another tenant in the building, Eric Jurgenson. As she is not ready to date, Rhoda opts for Brenda's suggestion: accompany her to her latest Weight Control Center meeting, that group which Rhoda herself used to belong to. At the meeting, Brenda gets some unexpected news: she has met her weight loss goal, and thus is kicked out of the group. Brenda takes this news hard as she sees this as yet another rejection, and she has always used her weight as a crutch on which to blame all her life's problems. Brenda also has a hard time giving up what she has done all her life, and that is to hide herself physically and emotionally as not to show what she considered her ugly self to others. Regardless, others do notice, among them being Eric who asks her out. As attracted as Brenda is to Eric, she has to decide if a past encounter, one that Eric probably doesn't remember, will affect her present.
Sun, Nov 7, 1976
Rhoda doesn't quite understand Joe's latest complaint about their marriage: that it was too comfortable. The more she thinks about it though, she finally does understand that the marriage was dull, which she didn't really realize, and more so that she herself is dull and not spontaneous. To get herself out of her rut, she wants to do something crazy, but can't figure out what that crazy but also doable thing will be. She draws Brenda into her scheme, the two who will each write three three things down on pieces of paper, and each randomly draw one of those pieces of paper, having to do whatever is written on it. Brenda's task ends up being to telephone Woody Allen whose telephone number she got from the bank and who she has wanted to call since. Rhoda's task ends up being a little more expensive: take a weekend trip to Paris. Although many people, like Sally and Brenda, encourage Rhoda to go through with the trip, many little voices, mostly inside of her and a louder external voice from Joe, who tells her that this trip isn't her, tell her not to go. To who will Rhoda ultimate listen?
Sun, Nov 14, 1976
Brenda agrees to go out on a date with Gary. She has second thoughts when she finds out the real reason he asked her: it is to accompany him to his parents' place for dinner as he has told them that they have been dating for the last six months. He chose Brenda specifically because she is the type of girl his parents would like, despite she being nowhere near Gary's type. Brenda still decides to go along with the ruse. Shortly before they would be heading off to the dinner, Brenda comes down with the flu. Gary can't tell his parents the truth about Brenda's illness as that's the excuse he's used every other time they have suggested getting together. Brenda still decides to go if only to help Gary. If only to keep Brenda in bed where she truly belongs, Rhoda reluctantly agrees to be Brenda for the evening in front of Gary's parents. Beyond Rhoda trying to remember all those made up things Gary has told his parents about Brenda, many of those things which Rhoda doesn't even know, Rhoda has to pretend to be the sweet, accommodating girl that Brenda really is, which may be the more difficult task. Rhoda forgets one important item, which ultimately places her in survival mode in the Levy home.
Sun, Dec 12, 1976
While Rhoda is in the bank waiting in Brenda's teller line, a man gets in the long line behind her, he telling her that he wants specifically to be in this line as he is attracted to Brenda. Rhoda does whatever she can to get this man and Brenda together, which does not take much encouragement on either side. They both eventually learn that he is Marty Davidson, a successful businessman who owns three McDonald's franchises. After their first date, Brenda is totally enamored with him, as he's sweet, and treats her like she's the most special person in the world. Brenda is however unprepared for his marriage proposal, which he asks in front of Rhoda only after a few dates. Regardless, Brenda accepts. As Brenda thinks more about the proposal, she comes to the realization that although she loves Marty more than any man she has ever been with, she is not in love with him. She has to decide if that is enough to stay engaged to him, and indeed to continue dating him.
Sun, Dec 19, 1976
Sally is staying temporarily with Rhoda while work is being done on her own apartment. During this stay, Sally receives a visit at Rhoda's from her airline pilot ex-husband, Lloyd Zimmer, the two who got divorced because of his philandering despite the fact that Sally sees him as a descent guy otherwise. Lloyd, who philandered in part to overcome his insecurity of being short, comes bearing news: he is getting remarried, and he wants Sally's blessing... to reduce his alimony to her on fiancée Cissy's wants. In discussing the issue with Rhoda and Brenda, Sally has mixed emotions about the situation. She can screw Lloyd by not giving in to his request. But if she does agree, she will never have to deal with Lloyd ever again. Sally decides what she is going to do, but, as a gesture, decides to have a dinner with Lloyd and Cissy together. After meeting Cissy, Sally changes her mind about what she is going to do, which affects Lloyd in more ways than one.
Sun, Dec 26, 1976
Rhoda has done some freelance work for Rick, the owner of the singles bar/restaurant she and Joe frequented. She designed some invitations for him announcing the third anniversary of his place, for which he is having a big party. Despite being slightly repulsed by the thought of Rick, Sally nonetheless agrees to be his date for the evening. He also invites Rhoda and Brenda. Brenda accepts, but it takes much convincing for Rhoda eventually to accept, which she does in part on Gary's plea to be his date so that he can crash the party. Despite Rick's vow that he didn't invite Joe, Joe does show up, as the date of his neighbor, Jan. Rhoda doesn't know what to think about seeing Joe with another woman. All she does know is that she doesn't like the feeling. Regardless, she believes it was somewhat of an inevitability. It isn't until she and Joe can talk about the situation can they come to their true feelings about this aspect of their separated lives.