Alex (Micheal J. Fox) is working with his economics professor, Rodes (Mason Adams) on a paper that is planned to be published and may garner Alex some rewards at the Leland Awards Presentation, something he’s MCing. Unfortunately as Alex goes over and over the numbers in the paper, he finds that Rhodes has made a series of mistakes that invalidates his work.

Written by Wendy Aron, Paper Lion was first broadcast on 11 December, 1986.

When Alex talks to Rhodes, there is a discussion of publish or perish, and Alex believes he’s gotten through to his professor, but when he sees the programme for the evening, their paper is still on it. Alex does the only thing he can do, speak highly of Rhodes during his introduction, hoping his words will give everyone, especially Rhodes pause, and stop him from presenting.

On the homefront, Andrew (Brian Bonsall) is getting more new clothes, because Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers) don’t like the outfits that Alex bought for their baby brother, their choices are a little more relaxed, but no less expensive.

It’s nice to see Alex acting out of compassion for a professor he truly cares about, and the b-story featuring Andrew’s new clothes is happily kept to a minimum.

My Mother, My Friend was written by Kate Boutilier and first debuted on 18 December, 1986.

Mallory (Justine Bateman) is feeling out of sorts. She’s found a new frirend in fellow student, Allison (Robin Morse), and she’s absolutely delighted. But when Allison comes home with Mallory, its revealed that Allison is an architecture student, and she immediately clicks with Mallory’s mom, Elyse (Meredith Baxter).

The pair develop a relationship based on their mutual interests and it excludes Mallory, something that really behins to hurt her as Elyse seems to pull out all the stops to celebrate Allison and Mallory is left out.

Mallory blows up at Elyse, because all of her firends seem to really take to Elyse, seeing her as a woman, and not a mother, but Mallory has problems reconciling that.

There’s a b story involving Alex playing scrabble with all the members of the family, including Andrew, and apparently, father, Steven (Michael Gross) takes it very seriously.

It’s nice to see Bateman and Baxter getting a chance to shine, and really bring the mother-daughter relationship to vibrant life. There’s some really nice moments, and it shows how supportive both characters can be for one another.

Oh, Brother: Part 1 first aired on 8 January, 1987 and was written by Alan Uger.

Steven’s brother, Rob (Norman Parker) has come for a visit and he’s brought some surprising news with him. He’s getting a divorce. The family is shocked. He’s also, apparently, going for a date with a woman he just met on the plane, Kathy (Wendel Meldrum)!

The b-story see Jennifer and Mallory trying to find reasons to check out a cute paramedic who works at the mall, and there’s another one that features Alex and Andrew who are pulling the labels off all the cans in the house.

This is a topic that was recognizable for for a lot of us who grew up in the 80s. It obviously couldn’t happen to the Keatons, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen to their extended family which brings the subject into the series and allows for it to be examined and discussed.

Sure, a lot of it is played for comedy as the family attempts to deal with it, but there’s some real heart to the story as they try to handle this shift in the family dynamic.

The episode gives us a ‘to be continued’ as Elyse and Steven invite Kathy and Rob to join them for dinner and it ends poorly as the brothers clash over the changes Rob is trying to effect in his life, and that Steven can’t accept it.

So where will that leave the brothers? Especially when Maureen (Julie Cobb) shows up at the very end of the episode.