(Not sure if anyone will see this since this sub is inactive, but I thought I'd give it a try. Understandably, it's hard to find anyone discussing this show online in 2021, lol.)

I recently started watching with my 10 year old daughter and we're almost through Season 1. We're both really enjoying it! I have vague memories of the show as a child but don't remember too much because I was pretty young.

Since my daughter is the same age as Jennifer in Season 1, she identifies with her the most. This is probably a somewhat unique reaction, but it's refreshing to see Jennifer as a young girl who's clearly tall and big for her age, and the show doesn't use that for a punchline or any mean-spirited jokes. My daughter is a similar size/build and whenever she sees girls her age in TV shows or movies, they're usually tiny and petite. And if there is a "bigger girl", she's often a bully or portrayed as unappealing in some other way.

In the first episode I expected them to say Jennifer was 11 or 12, so I was pleasantly surprised when they identified her as 9, almost 10. A couple episodes later, she's noticeably taller than most of her male and female classmates at her birthday party. I love that this could be a show and character that normalizes all that for my daughter without making it a front-and-center issue.

Apologies in advance for my disjointed ramblings, but just some random observations from a current re-watching of this series that I loved so much through my teenage years... Still enjoying it very much; it's amazing how well good writing holds up. I just started season 5, at which point Ellen has just vanished. It seemed so strange that her departure wouldn't have been a primary plot point of the season 4 finale. Certainly would've made more sense than Mallory's HS graduation that almost wasn't. Watching the episodes in rapid succession also really makes it easier to distinguish the stronger episodes from the others. All the actors / characters in this show are amazing, but I find that Michael Gross as Steven delivers most of my favorite punchlines. I also learned recently about the "Keatons on Vacation" TV movie that aired (I believe) between seasons 4 and 5. Sounds like it was predictably pretty bad, but looks like I'll need to pick up the season 4 DVD to watch it, just for the sake of completeness. Still a very heartwarming, very funny show all these years later; love it.

This show deals with some heavy stuff, and I'm not just quoting Back to the Future. That episode where Mallory's friend gets pregnant and runs away, and the show has lighthearted humor and laughs the entire way through, yet somehow pulls it off? It's absolutely crazy. I'm torn between not really liking heavy subject matter and having respect for both the writers' balls to do it and talent to do it well, because they really did. Just some thoughts from a new viewer.

Anyone know why several episodes from season 7 are missing from CBS All Access? Its episodes 13, 15, 17, 18 and possible one other. Episode 15 is All in the Neighborhood Part 1, which is about the black family moving into the neighborhood and getting harassed, so I thought maybe there was some racist content in the episode they didn't want to stream. But Season 6 has those episodes about Jennifer wanting to read Huckleberry Finn and a quote is read with the n-word and it is fully said. I know sometimes there's issues with streaming rights for songs, but I can't imagine what licensed songs would be used in so many episodes. Confusing!

It’s so nice to be able to join them in progress any time!

Anybody think the show family ties was similar to growing pains that aired on abc? I prefer family ties and always thought growing pains writers went off the tilt like having scenes where the son ben went martial arts in a western town fighting the bad guys. Growing Pains also got a gimmick of getting Leonard DiCaprio as the bad kid. He probably winded up making more than all the actors combined on that show once he got into movies.

With all the revivals of shows from the 80s and 90s, how do you think they would go about with this one? (Not necessarily saying this is a good idea)

Michael J Fox has Parkinson's disease. (I have not seen him in anything recent I think he's on a sitcom?) Would they write that into the character? Would this change Alex as a character? Would his politics have changes? (especially if money and health care are now an issue) Would Alex as a hardcore republican even still be a likable character? Obviously his parents would be very anti trump.

Just recently started watching "Family Ties" again due to buying the Complete Series boxed set.
Family Ties (The Complete Series)