Growing up, Family Ties was always a part of my weekly viewing. Coming on after The Cosby Show, it was a window into a happy, tight-knit family that seemed to get along so nicely, despite their differences – just like the Cosbys, only in Ohio not New York. The third season marked several major turning points, the biggest of which was the latest addition to the Keaton clan – baby Andrew.
Season three kicks off with eldest son Alex (Michael J. Fox) going to college. For once he’s intimidated by a teacher and faces the possibility of failure. Things quickly change gears as Elyse (Meredith Baxter Birney) announcing her pregnancy. This becomes a big focus for much of the season. Seeing as how the actress was pregnant in real life, Elyse is noticeably absent or limited to small appearances for a handful of episodes. Rather than ending the season with the predictable birth, the delivery comes much earlier. This allows the show to start milking the new storyline possibilities immediately.
The title Family Ties refers to the fact that although individual members of a family may share their differences, it’s the familial bond that brings them together. In the case of the Keatons, all are very different. Perhaps for the convenience of having a lasting series, but whatever. It works. Elyse and Steven (Michael Gross) are products of the 1960s. They’re very liberal and forward thinking. Alex is a proud Reagan supporter, conservative to the bone. He’s a product of the capitalist, materialistic 1980s. Stuck in the middle are the two sisters: the ditzy Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers), the tomboy.
As a child I didn’t see all the levels to the humour. Now I see a lot more of it. Even though there’s been three Presidents since the show left the air, Family Ties is still very much relevant. With the charged state of American politics, the frequent differences in opinions between the extremely right-wing Alex and his left-leaning parents could very well happen today. Despite regular pop culture references that were current for the day, they don’t muddle down the stories or the dialogue all that often. Instead what remains is the heart and soul of the show – two parents coming to grips with their growing family. It’s an idea or theme rather than just a period.
Perhaps what I appreciate most about Family Ties is the way in which it is grounded. The Keatons are all imperfect. They aren’t positioned on a pedestal where you long to be like them because they are idealistic. You want to be like them because they have blemishes. But blemishes and all, they all share a deep love for one another – something you don’t see on television much anymore.
Family Ties: The Third Season DVD Review
The third season DVD of Family Ties consists of 24 episodes shown with or without the episodic promos. The only other significant extra is a short gag reel. Episodes are shown in a solid full screen format that is very clean. Audio is in English mono.
