"Remembrances of Things Past, Pt. 2" is the twenty-fourth episode in the third season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on March 28, 1985, and is the sixty-eighth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
While at the family home to help their mother sell the house, Steven and his brother argue over childhood issues. As they argue, they also mellow.
Plot[]
Steven's mother has been alone for six months since his father died, and she is thinking of selling the house. She asks Steven to go to Buffalo to help her. While there with his brother Robert (played by Norman Parker), Steven dreams of his childhood and his (often-strained) relationship with his father.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Guest Starring[]
- Anne Seymour as May Keaton
- Adam Carl as Young Steven Keaton
- Norman Parker as Robert Keaton
- Michael Alldredge as Young Jacob Keaton
- Maryedith Burrell as Young May
- Mark Marias as Young Robert Keaton
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Young Steven takes a stand against his father. Jake asks Stevie what his father would have done if Jake had talked to him like that. Stevie replies, "He'd take out the strap?" Jake agrees and Stevie says, "I'm not afraid." Jake asks unbelievingly, "You're not afraid?", to which Stevie quickly replies, "Actually, I'm petrified."
Trivia[]
- Alex calls up Darwin's "Survival of the Cutest". Of course, Mallory doesn't know who Darwin was.
- Steven's father Jake visited saying that he was dying in Season 1 - "I Never Killed for My Father" (see also Season 7 - "Heartstrings: Part 2")
- Young Steven is played by Adam Carl. Young Robert is played by Mark Marias
- The flashbacks are to the 1950s and to Milton Berle on TV, who is credited with an explosion in television sales (just as this episode shows. Berle mentions Arthur Godfrey.
- Lots of parallels between present and past (the Kretzers, sugar cookies, food too hot, and grievances from each brother about something the other did)
- Steven's brother Robert appears later in "Oh, Brother" and "Father Time".
- Jacob Keaton (October 15, 1911 - August 3, 1984)
- Orange juice is still prominent even when they're not home. (They're always drinking orange juice - from the same pitcher and in the same glasses - at home.)
- Alex's kindergarten teacher - Miss McCollough. According to a later episode ("Sign of the Times"), Alex's kindergarten teacher's name was Mrs. Wills.
- Alex shared a lot of his grandfather's political and economic good sense. Recall in "I Never Killed for My Father", Jake took a stand for Nixon.
Gallery[]
