James (Jeff Joseph) is back and he and Alex (Micheal J. Fox) are engaging in a tutoring business together in Don’t Know Much About History. Written by Micheal J. Weithorn and Marc Lawrence, this episode first aired on 14 February, 1985.

Everything seems to be going well to begin with, but when they take on a pretty coed, Robin Green (Nancy Everhard) their competitive nature resurfaces as they both have romantic designs on her that could end up ruining their friendship.

As they bicker like grade-school boys Robin decides to give them both the boot until they grow up, but until that scene plays out, its fun to watch the immaturity. The pair make up before episode’s end, as James and Alex remember to put their friendship first.

There’s also a fun subplot involving the Keatons getting a new family car to better accommodate their growing family. Steven (Micheal Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter) also have a great discussion on the male ego that has a couple great lines and beats.

It was great to see Jeff Joseph return as James, he and Fox have a fun chemistry together that makes their competitive relationship believable, and Everhard is incredibly lovely, and it’s easy to see why both guys would want to ask her out.

Bringing Up Baby was written by Rich Reinhart and debuted on 21 February, 1985. The Keaton house is hectic, and Steven and Elyse really want to spend time together, but the baby, and their growing kids are keeping them busy.

Mallory (Justine Bateman) has ruined one of Alex’s shirts, Alex is angry at her and Jennifer (Tina Yothers) because Jennifer is constantly on the phone despite the fact that Alex needs to make a call. Jennifer is now at that point when she’s talking about (and to) boys.

The couple tries to find time together, they plan a dinner, they want to snuggle in bed, they want to just catch up with one another, but one thing after another seems to conspire to keep them apart. And in the end, all they can look forward to at the end of the day is falling asleep together.

It’s played completely straight and very broad, and it will no doubt play as very familiar to any couple that is trying to find time for themselves.

It’s an enjoyable episode, playing like a slice-of-life story instead of a narrative with a thematic message.

Cold Storage was penned by Marc Lawrence and was originally broadcast on 7 March, 1985.

When Steven and Elyse take the baby, Alex and Jennifer to visit grandma, by way of a Lamaze class reunion (featuring a number of returning characters, except for Donna, of course) Mallory elects to stay home and work on her history paper about the Louisiana Purchase which she found out wasn’t about a shopping trip in Louisiana.

As she buckles down to go to work, Skippy (Marc Price) pops in to see her, and she asks his help getting some of Alex’s papers out of the basement. She hopes to find something in them to help with her own paper, but the two promptly find themselves locked in the basement and the rest of the family won’t be back until tomorrow!

As the two converse, they realize that despite their differences, they both feel like outsiders and that allows them to connect a little more strongly, even as they struggle to find a way to keep from freezing overnight.

It’s a nice episode, and honestly, puts a new face on the relationship between Mallory and Skippy.

Next time we come to the conclusion of season three, and get ready to jump into season four!