It's hard to rate this objectively. I watched this when I was very little and feel like I grew up with the family. I'm sure my nostalgia gets in the way of the rating. But it does seem like what probably would have been considered good writing at the time it was made. Standard for a family drama but on the good end of the spectrum. It also seems pretty plugged into issues that were part of current conversation.
The episode revolves around David getting into a relationship with an older woman, played by Adrienne Barbeau. The family meets her and is scandalized. The description listed here had me expecting something completely different, perhaps some drunken blowout at a party where David got in big trouble or a fight.
It's bizarre to watch this in 2023 to see just how upset everyone is about their age difference, especially most of the girls. I could expect that attitude from the older generation but I wouldn't have from the kids. The real life age difference between Grant Goodeve and Barbeau is actually 2-3 years less than their characters and they have good chemistry. My one note is that I would never want Dr Maxwell as my doctor. His comments about what he wanted to do to Barbeau's character, Jennifer, if he ever got his hands on her just because of her politics, went way over the line of what is healthy. Someone needed to tell that actor to tone down the rage. Sheez.
I have to think this was inspired Diana Hyland's real life relationship with John Travola. She gets three scenes here, which must have been super awkward to film, where she is the one ultimately telling everyone to lighten up and get over themselves about the age difference. All while most of the family is making all sorts of crass remarks and even speculating about possible mental illness.
I would like to know if the scene towards the end between Mary and Dr Maxwell was originally supposed to be with him and Joan instead but it had to be rewritten because of Hyland's illness. It really seems like it would have worked better with Joan. The darkroom scene earlier was very obviously filmed without Hyland on the set and her voice added later. I wonder if this episode was actually filmed prior to the previous one, where Joan doesn't appear. Or did Hyland come back for this last time because the message meant so much to her? It's very sad that this is the last we see of her.
The episode revolves around David getting into a relationship with an older woman, played by Adrienne Barbeau. The family meets her and is scandalized. The description listed here had me expecting something completely different, perhaps some drunken blowout at a party where David got in big trouble or a fight.
It's bizarre to watch this in 2023 to see just how upset everyone is about their age difference, especially most of the girls. I could expect that attitude from the older generation but I wouldn't have from the kids. The real life age difference between Grant Goodeve and Barbeau is actually 2-3 years less than their characters and they have good chemistry. My one note is that I would never want Dr Maxwell as my doctor. His comments about what he wanted to do to Barbeau's character, Jennifer, if he ever got his hands on her just because of her politics, went way over the line of what is healthy. Someone needed to tell that actor to tone down the rage. Sheez.
I have to think this was inspired Diana Hyland's real life relationship with John Travola. She gets three scenes here, which must have been super awkward to film, where she is the one ultimately telling everyone to lighten up and get over themselves about the age difference. All while most of the family is making all sorts of crass remarks and even speculating about possible mental illness.
I would like to know if the scene towards the end between Mary and Dr Maxwell was originally supposed to be with him and Joan instead but it had to be rewritten because of Hyland's illness. It really seems like it would have worked better with Joan. The darkroom scene earlier was very obviously filmed without Hyland on the set and her voice added later. I wonder if this episode was actually filmed prior to the previous one, where Joan doesn't appear. Or did Hyland come back for this last time because the message meant so much to her? It's very sad that this is the last we see of her.
