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The Best Episodes of Family Ties

Every episode of Family Ties ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Family Ties!

The Best Episodes of Family Ties

Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

Seasons7

  1. Background image for The Real Thing  (2)
    8.7/10(215 votes)

    #1 - The Real Thing (2)

    S4:E2

    Alex realizes he must make Ellen aware of his feelings, but she is on a train on her way to marry another man, so he takes drastic measures to stop the wedding. The usually cool Alex decides he must let down his defenses or lose the girl he loves.

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  2. Background image for The Real Thing  (1)
    8.6/10(263 votes)

    #2 - The Real Thing (1)

    S4:E1

    Alex implements a fail-proof, and extremely unromantic, method of meeting the girl of his dreams: He picks her from pictures in the freshman directory. His selection, Tricia, seems to fit his requirements perfectly, but his plan goes off-track when he is strongly attracted to her roommate, Ellen. Ellen and Alex dislike each other instantly, and though he can't figure out why, he finds himself thinking about her constantly.

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  3. Background image for Mr. Wrong
    8.5/10(181 votes)

    #3 - Mr. Wrong

    S4:E3

    Mallory brings home her new boyfriend, Nick, a Rambo-type environmental artist, to meet her family, but Steven and Elyse are shocked by his crude appearance and gruff manner.

    Writer:Unknown
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  4. Background image for 4 Rms Ocn Vu
    8.4/10(241 votes)

    #4 - 4 Rms Ocn Vu

    S3:E8

    While Steven and Elyse are away on vacation, the Keaton house becomes a hotel for the weekend after Mallory accidentally crashes her parents' car into a telephone pole and the kids need to raise money for auto repairs. A lot of people are in town for the Leland homecoming game, so Alex decides to take advantage of the situation and rent out rooms but suddenly he's swamped with renters and the house looks like a three-ring circus.

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  5. Background image for Speed Trap
    8.3/10(224 votes)

    #5 - Speed Trap

    S2:E6

    When Alex takes diet pills for a lift during mid-terms, his dependency level increases daily. Alex is studying for several tests and convinces Mallory to obtain diet pills to help him stay awake. At his hyperness and irritability increase, so does his dependency on the pills. When he finally gets so desperate that he threatens Mallory to get more drugs, she becomes worried that he is headed for a ""crash landing"".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  6. Background image for The Harder They Fall
    8.0/10(212 votes)

    #6 - The Harder They Fall

    S2:E3

    Alex anxiously awaits a crucial college recommendation from his English teacher and urges Steven and Elyse to butter Mr. Tedesco up on parents' nite at school - but the obnoxious Tedesco is so insulting that Elyse slugs him, and a horrified Alex entreats Steven to make amends. The usually calm and non-violent Elyse is amazed and ashamed at her uncharacteristic behavior, though Tedesco ""asked for it"". Steven visits him and after being subjected to disparaging remarks about his wife, winds up repeating her deed. Finally Tedesco, who does recognize Alex's intellect, accepts an invitation to the Keaton home where he alienates everyone again. Alex must decide whether a glowing recommendation from an influential but disgusting man is worth groveling for.

    Director:Sam Weisman
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Family Ties

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  8. Background image for Mr. Right
    8.0/10(147 votes)

    #7 - Mr. Right

    S4:E8

    Mallory's boyfriend, environmental artist Nick Moore, swaps his T-shirt, camouflage pants, combat boots and earrings for a three-piece suit and a haircut to impress Mallory's parents, but while Steven and Elyse love the new Nick, Mallory is ready to leave him.

    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
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  9. Background image for Heartstrings  (2)
    8.0/10(127 votes)

    #8 - Heartstrings (2)

    S7:E6

    While Steven fights for his life in surgery, the family fights to remain optimistic about his condition. When Steven's surgery extends beyond the expected five hours, tension in the waiting room increases. A nervous Alex, however, begins to express acute concern only for himself fearing that he has inherited a weak heart, he searches in vain for his pulse. Lauren soon makes Alex realize that he is fixated on his own health to block the anguish he really feels for his father. While the Keatons wait, they receive hope and encouragement from Mrs. Hobart and Mr. Meyers, whose spouses are also undergoing surgery.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  10. Background image for Say Uncle
    7.9/10(232 votes)

    #9 - Say Uncle

    S2:E14

    Alex discovers that his idol, young Uncle Ned, has a serious drinking problem when the bright, but ill-fated corporate whiz kid returns for a visit after losing another job.

    Writer:Unknown
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  11. Background image for Quittin' Time
    7.9/10(141 votes)

    #10 - Quittin' Time

    S6:E21

    While Andy is inspired by his parents' old love letters to try his hand at writing one to a kindergarten sweetheart, Lauren finds herself less and less able to spend time with Alex. She is struggling with her psychology thesis and is becoming increasingly depressed by her lack of significant progress. She confesses to the Keatons that she sometimes has the urge to quit, but Steven and Elyse encourage her to hang in there and keep working on it, much to Alex's chagrin. The day after she has broken yet another date with Alex to work on her thesis, Lauren complains to him that the project which once thrilled her has become incredibly boring. Having received a lukewarm response from her professor on what she has accomplished so far, Lauren finds the temptation to quit and spend more time with Alex too strong to resist. Alex happily assures her that she is making the right decision.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  12. Background image for Heartstrings  (1)
    7.9/10(128 votes)

    #11 - Heartstrings (1)

    S7:E5

    The Keaton family unites in crisis when Steven suffers a serious heart attack. While Alex and Andy discuss the upcoming Presidential race, Mallory and Jennifer prepare for another legendary shopping expedition. Moments later, Elyse returns home from jogging, but Steven lags behind, explaining that his run was slowed by a burning pain in his side. Steven dismisses the pain, assuming it was due to something he ate, while Alex kids him that the pain was caused by the guilt of being a Democrat.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  13. Background image for Heartstrings  (3)
    7.9/10(125 votes)

    #12 - Heartstrings (3)

    S7:E7

    Steven battles the physical and psychological aftershocks of his heart surgery. As the hours drag on during Steven's quadruple bypass operation, the Keaton crew grows exhausted in the hospital waiting room. Awakened by Skippy's typically goofy entrance, they all snap to attention when Dr. Harrison appears. He assures them that the surgery has gone well, but Steven must still be observed closely for the next few hours.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  14. Background image for Don't Go Changin'
    7.8/10(148 votes)

    #13 - Don't Go Changin'

    S4:E5

    Alex does some fancy footwork on the dance floor to impress Ellen when he thinks he is losing her because of their divergent interests. Alex feels he has to compete with Ellen's artsy friends for her attention and attempts to change himself to fit into her world.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown
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  15. Background image for My Tutor
    7.8/10(187 votes)

    #14 - My Tutor

    S4:E7

    Alex hires a tutor to help him with math, but his ""teacher"" turns out to be a 13-year-old genius who suddenly becomes more interested in Jennifer than in helping Alex. When Eugene, Alex's tutor, meets Jennifer he loses his concentration and Alex comes up with a scheme that will benefit both him and Eugene.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  16. Background image for Read It and Weep  (2)
    7.8/10(125 votes)

    #15 - Read It and Weep (2)

    S6:E20

    While Jennifer steels herself for a showdown with school authorities, Steven and Elyse prepare to back her up in her fight against the school board's book banning policy. Even Mallory gets into the act and shocks the family by falling in love with the forbidden ""Huckleberry Finn"", which she ends up reading aloud to Nick. Nothing is solved at the meeting with the school principal, Dr. Hewitt, the head of the school board and Jennifer's English teacher Mr. Flaherty when the Keaton's refuse to comply with the new school ruling. Jennifer is crushed by the fact that Flaherty, whom she respects and admires, will not stand up to Hewitt and the board even though he claims to be completely on her side.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  17. Background image for Return of the Native
    7.8/10(138 votes)

    #16 - Return of the Native

    S6:E25

    Cousin June returns to the Keaton household for a visit after a three year stay in London. All of the Keatons are eager to hear her tales of England, but they just can't seem to let her get a word in edgewise.

    Director:John Pasquin
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  18. Background image for Not An Affair to Remember
    7.6/10(186 votes)

    #17 - Not An Affair to Remember

    S2:E5

    Steven's assistant at the station is bright, talented, funny, witty...and in love with him. And it looks like Steven may be returning her affections. It becomes obvious that Steven's assistant, Stacey Hughes, is very much attracted to him. And after a rough evening at home, as brief fling begins to look better and better to him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  19. Background image for Birthday Boy
    7.6/10(208 votes)

    #18 - Birthday Boy

    S2:E11

    On his 18th birthday, Alex defies his mother and goes off with some of his buddies to celebrate at an out-of-town niteclub, and to his dismay, the irate Elyse shows up and confronts him.

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  20. Background image for Go Tigers
    7.6/10(177 votes)

    #19 - Go Tigers

    S2:E12

    Alex is both amazed and furious when a critical admissions interview at Princeton University is shattered by his hysterical sister Mallory, who feels her anger over discovering her boyfriend kissing another girl is more important than his college education. Alex is overjoyed at going to Princeton for the interview, but not too keen about taking his sister along so she can visit her boyfriend Jeff at the university. He drops Mallory off at Jeff's and heads for his important interview, only to be humiliated when he has to leave the meeting to comfort his weepy sister.

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  21. Background image for Help Wanted
    7.6/10(172 votes)

    #20 - Help Wanted

    S3:E12

    Because of Elyse's pregnancy, the family decides to get a housekeeper, so Alex hires the lovely Karen Nicholson, a totally incompetent young lady whom the family immediately adores but Steven insists she must be fired. Despite the fact that Karen has no domestic skills and is rapidly destroying every appliance in the house, the kids love her and Steven has a difficult time trying to fire her.

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  22. Background image for Remembrances of Things Past
    7.6/10(145 votes)

    #21 - Remembrances of Things Past

    S3:E23

    Steven takes a nostalgic trip to his hometown following the death of his father and, with the support of Elyse and the children, tries to prepare his mother for her new life in a special two-part episode. Good and bad memories of Steven's childhood (including flashbacks to his boyhood) are stirred up as he sorts thru family photos and heirlooms. But an on-going rivalry with his older brother Robert, and the unsettled feelings he has about his dad make it a difficult period of adjustment for everyone.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  23. Background image for Nothing But a Man
    7.6/10(128 votes)

    #22 - Nothing But a Man

    S4:E12

    Steven gets the promotion he has been waiting years for, but as the new regional manager of the station, he is required to put in long hours at the office, and soon realizes he has no time for his family. Although Elyse and the kids are happy about Steven's new position, they begin to miss the days where he would come home for dinner every nite and have time to take part in day-to-day activities.

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  24. Background image for Where's Poppa?
    7.6/10(139 votes)

    #23 - Where's Poppa?

    S4:E14

    Alex secretly invites Ellen's dad to Parent's Day Weekend at Leland College, thinking that she will be pleasantly surprised to see him, but what he doesn't know is that Ellen has no desire to see her father. Ellen can't forgive her father for not spending time with her when she was growing up, and although he wants to make amends she refuses to forgive and forget.

    Writer:Unknown
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  25. Background image for My Buddy
    7.6/10(125 votes)

    #24 - My Buddy

    S4:E21

    Steven has a very difficult time accepting that his youngest daughter, Jennifer,is growing up and no longer wants to ""pal around"" with him. As Jennifer grows and finds new interests, Steven feels rejected because she no longer spends time with him. The situation comes to a head when Steven insists on accompanying Jennifer on her girls-club outing, and she is mortified when he is the only male there.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  26. Background image for The Play's the Thing
    7.6/10(144 votes)

    #25 - The Play's the Thing

    S6:E16

    The Keaton kids are dismayed when the local playhouse agree to stage Steven's radical 60's college play, ""A Draft Card for the Burning"". Embarrassed by the script's laughably dated hippie lingo, they are not surprised when Elyse refuses to reprise her leading role as Sequola Free, the play's sexy activist/anthropology student.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writer:Unknown
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Best Episodes Summary

"The Real Thing (2)" is the best rated episode of "Family Ties". It scored 8.7/10 based on 215 votes. Directed by Will Mackenzie and written by Michael J. Weithorn, it aired on 10/3/1985. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Real Thing (1)".