River Phoenix guest stars in My Tutor. Written by Jace Richdale, it first debuted on 14 November, 1985.

Alex (Micheal J. Fox) is having trouble with advanced geometry (he’s gone from 90% to 89%) and he’s hired a tutor to help him out. Enter thirteen-year-old Eugene (Phoneix), a mathematical genius, who works to help Alex out.

But for all his genius, he’s lonely, and when he sees Jennifer (Tina Yothers) he falls hard and attempts to win her love. Alex tries to persuade Jennifer to go out with him because he needs the A.

He convinces her to go out on a double date with him and Ellen (Tracy Pollan, yay!). But it doesn’t go so well because, sadly, Eugene isn’t much of a kid, and doesn’t know how to be a kid, and of course, any chance of a real friendship or connection implodes.

But in that moment, Eugene shows that he is still a kid, and Jennifer recognizes that, and sees something she can relate to in it, so maybe it’s not all bad.

The b-story follows Steven (Micheal Gross) attempting to bring the family finances in line by going through all their expenses.

It’s wonderful to see Phoenix, and just reminds you of what he could have been. And there is some wondeful comedic stuff with Pollan and Fox.

Mr. Right was written by Alan Uger, and first aired on 21 November, 1985 and focuses on a Nick (Scott Valentine) and Alex story. It seems Nick is worried about the disapproval of Elyse (Meredith Baxter) and Steven, so he turns to Alex for some help.

Unfortunately, Alex begins to change Nick into a version of himself. It plays out like a reverse Pygmallion story, and Nick’s change puts Mallory (Justine Bateman) off, though the rest of the family seems to have taken to him, with a couple of reservations.

It may cost him his relationship with Mallory, however, because he’s not the same loveable lug that she fell for. When Nick reveals in front of Steven and Elyse that the reason he’s changed is to get on their good side, Steven goes to see Nick, and tells hims to be himself.

Steven appreciates what he’s doing, but it’s not true to who he is, and even if Steven doesn’t like it, Nick has to be Nick. So it’s no surprise that when the end of the episode arrives, he’s back to his usual monosyllabic self.

it’s nice that Steven did what he did for Nick, and he wants Mallory to be happy. The only one really bothered by Nick reverting to type is Alex. At least until next time.

Just One Look has a script by Micheal J. Weithorn and series creator Gary David Goldberg fro a story by Paul Wolff. It was first broacast on 5 December, 1985.

Richie (Robert Desiderio), an old friend from Steven and Elyse’s Berkley shows up for a visit. As the group revels in the nostalgia and some fun stories are shared, Steven learns that Richie and Elyse had a brief romance furing a break in her and Steven’s relationship.

Steven is shocked, jealous and hurt to discover this, and he’s not sure how to deal or react to it. It all comes to a climax when the trio have a nigth out at a restaurant and he explodes.

At home that evening, Steven reveals his insecurities, and his worries and happily the two find their way back to one another, illustrating the need for communication and trust in relationships, and understanding that your partner had a life outside of your shared time together.

I rather enjoyed this episode.