Family Ties - The Second Season (1982)

The Keaton's grow on you

The second season of Family Ties flows better than the first one and this is a really heartwarming and funny sitcom.

Michael J. Fox is clearly the star here and his Alex P. Keaton is an irresistable character. He can be smug, arrogant, insensitive and downright mean but he always sees the errors of his ways and in the end is a completely likable character. Michael Gross, the weakest link on the first season, is much better here (and he looks much better with that beard) and the rest of the cast is good.

Mostly these are fluff episodes on the second season that are enjoyable but on occasion they deal with important issues. Tom Hanks is outstanding as Uncle Ned who it turns out has a serious drinking problem. Steven Keaton considers having an affair and I felt that episode handled that situation well enough. The least favorite here is the christmas episode where Alex sees the future "Scrooge" style.

The supporting character Skippy is starting to grow on me, I found him quite intolerable in the first season.

All in all, as a family sitcom Family Ties scores high. It's nice, cute and always enjoyable. A nice escape from the harsh realities of the real world.

September 9, 2008

One of a kind show.

Family Ties - The Complete Second Season is just as good as the first season, maybe even better. The writing, storylines, and flawless acting is what kept this show alive for seven seasons. Justine Bateman really finds her nitch this season, I just adored her as dimwitted Mallory Keaton. My favorite episodes include: The Homecoming, This Year's Model, Speed Trap, Say Uncle, Ladie's Man, and Baby Boy Doe. I highly recommend season 2, you won't regret it! May 25, 2008

Woohoo!

Well, if you thought Justine Bateman was hot as the Keaton's daughter Mallory in season 1, well, she's still just as hot in season 2! Yay! April 8, 2008

Feel at home!

Family Ties - The Second Season
What we like about the Family Ties series? Its warmth. It feels like home, in a good sense, it feels cosy, with a tiny little touch of nostalgia... All the actors are superb and the whole thing is very funny! January 7, 2008

Much better set than season one

Family Ties really began to hit its stride in the 1983-84 season. There are many standout episodes, including Alex as Scrooge in "A Keaton Christmas Carol"; Alex & Mallory's trip to Princeton ("Go Tigers"); another memorable guest apperance by Tom Hanks ("Say Uncle"), to name just a few.

The real treat in this set is the inclusion of several bonus features, after the bare-bones release of season one. "The Making of Family Ties" offers both recent and vintage interviews with the cast. Unfortunately, neither Meredith Baxter-Birney or Justine Bateman take part in the new material. Michael Gross and Michael J. Fox talk with pride and passion about the show, and you may not even recognize Tina Yothers now.

There is also another brief segment with Fox, and "The Year of the Beard," in which Gross waxes nostalgic on his choice to grow a beard during the summer 1983 hiatus. Episode promos are an added bonus, and really took this viewer back to those great NBC Thursday nights.

As Marc "Skippy" Price puts it, Family Ties is the perfect 80's time capsule. Yet, it doesn't really seem that dated. The humor and heart of the show are timeless. And we fans are fortunate that Paramount is giving the series the respect it deserves on DVD.
December 17, 2007

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