Steven (Michael Gross) is out of surgery and has been moved to recovery, and soon enough the family brings him home. Alex (Micheal J. Fox), Mallory (Justine Bateman), Jennifer (Tina Yothers) and Andy (Brian Bonsall) work to make him comfortable and work to slow things down around the house so that Steven can recover.

Written by Alan Uger and the episode was first broadcast on 18 December, 1988.

At home, Steven and Elyse (Meredith Baxter) confront the incident, Steven’s lingering fear about it and his own mortality. Once again there are a couple of flashbacks, created specifically for the episode which highlight the characters and the importance of not only family, but the house they have made a home.

The pair have a discussion and agree to face the fears of their own mortality, and of growing old, together with their loving family, and having some quality time to themselves.

There are some nice moments as we see Elyse and Steven when they first come into the house with a realtor, not to mention young Alex (Trevor Eyster) and young Mallory’s (Shannon Macpherson) first encounter with a young Skippy (Nicholas Rutherford).

Basic Training sees the Keaton household getting used to life with Steven and his new condition. But Mallory and Skippy (Marc Price) have other things going on. They had a career day at Grant College, and Skippy doesn’t have much in the way of possibilities. Except maybe… the Army?

Written by Susan Borowitz, this episode was first broadcast on 1 January, 1989.

Alex and Skippy go down to the local recruiting office, where Sgt. Davis (John Marshall Jones) inducts him into the service. And Skippy being Skippy, things don’t go well, of course. The Keatons pair up with Skippy’s adopted parents to throw him a farewell party, even if his parents are sure about how Skippy will handle it.

There are running gags throughout the episode about how Steven can’t eat all of his old favourites, and some great character bits with the entire cast, including Fox almost breaking character by laughing, including a musical humming number by the Keatons to see Skippy off.

But I’m sure he’ll be back soon… probably by the end of the episode as I’m fairly sure he’s heading right towards a code red.

And while Stephen Baldwin appeared a couple of episodes back, now it’s time for Daniel Baldwin to show up as one of Skippy’s fellow recruits.

Susan Borowitz also wrote Deja Vu which first aired on 8 January, 1989.

Jennifer is starting to date Josh (Byron Thames), and that brings back memories for Mallory who briefly dated Josh’s older brother, Jeff – remember him? – and how he dumped her during a visit to his university, ruining Alex’s interview.

She urges Jennifer to break it off with him so that she doesn’t go through the same thing. But what if Josh isn’t the same as his older brother? This will cause something that doesn’t happen often, Mallory and Jennifer fighting, and neither Alex nor Nick (Scott Valentine) know how to handle it. Until they decide that Malloy and Nick should double date with Josh and Jennifer.

It goes badly, but Mallory has good intentions, something that she works to explain to Jennifer. The two are able to talk it out, and Mallory realizes that her sister is growing up, but she can’t protect her from everything, and some mistakes have to be hers.

Steven is still getting used to his new restrictions on eating, and activities, so everyone recommends hobbies until Elyse gets him a train set, which he takes to in a big way, until he realizes the models are too small and Alex’s interference is elevating his stress.

We’re well into the final season now, our time with the Keatons will be coming to a close, but there’s still lots of laughs and messages coming are way yet.