8.0/1036 votes#1 - Thanksgiving
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 11/20/1979
Doug's father starts showing his age.
Director: Joanne Woodward
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1032 votes
#2 - 'Tis the Season
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 12/24/1979
A pre-Christmas argument with Willie nearly gives Doug a heart attack; Buddy invites her school's janitor to her house, where he quickly endears himself to everyone but Kate.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1037 votes
#3 - Jack of Hearts
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 1/14/1980
Buddy and Nancy find themselves in a love triangle; Annie dabbles in the occult.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/1050 votes
#4 - When the Bough Breaks
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 1/21/1980
Kate finds out she's pregnant; a friend of Buddy's, on vacation from her all-girls school, picks Willie as a seduction target.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/1035 votes
#5 - Hard Times
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 1/28/1980
Two friends of Buddy's who have been going steady for 3 years are having relationship problems -- and when she tries to help, the results aren't quite what she expected; Nancy is having trouble at work, which starts to affect even Timmy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1028 votes
#6 - Whispers
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 2/4/1980
Buddy's friendship with a teacher gives rise to rumors; Annie uses questionable tactics to get Willie to let her interview him for her school paper.
Director: Marshall Herskovitz
Writer: Ron Cowen
- 7.1/1033 votes
#7 - Play on Love
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 3/3/1980
Willie finds the director of his play more interesting than Rachel; Buddy insists on buying an old sports car, over Doug's objections.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1035 votes
#8 - Daylight Serenade
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 3/10/1980
Buddy has an ambiguous relationship with a nerdy schoolmate whom Kate is training for a piano recital; Nancy begs Annie to teach her how to roller-skate, so she can go to a party with a handsome fellow lawyer.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1034 votes
#9 - Such a Fine Line
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 3/17/1980
A schoolboy has a crush on Kate; Jeff, now an in-over-his-head rock manager, blows into town with his band.
Director: James Broderick
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1028 votes
#10 - The Ties That Bind
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 6/4/1980
Elaine resurfaces in Kate's life after being dumped by Fred for a younger woman. Meanwhile, Annie experiences abandonment issues, too.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1030 votes
#11 - Just Like Old Times
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 6/11/1980
Buddy tries to make everyone think she didn't get into any of the schools she applied to; Doug wants Annie to share his obsession with baseball.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1033 votes
#12 - Smarts
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 6/18/1980
Annie gets picked on by her classmates, for being too smart; Buddy, studying for her SATs, worries that she's not smart enough.
Director: James Broderick
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1038 votes
#13 - Letting Go
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 6/25/1980
Doug is upset when Buddy starts dating a 21-year-old; Annie is jealous of an old friend who has matured much faster than she has.
Director: James Broderick
Writer: Edward Zwick
The Best Episodes of Family Season 5
Every episode of Family Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Family Season 5!
The lives of the middle-class Lawrence family in Pasadena, California.
Genre:Drama
Network:ABC
Season 5 Ratings Summary
"Thanksgiving" is the best rated episode of "Family" season 5. It scored 8/10 based on 36 votes. Directed by Joanne Woodward and written by N/A, it aired on 11/20/1979. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "'Tis the Season".