This episode of Family deals with the value of traditions and whether traditions can become a stumbling block to good family relationships. Doug is the main focus of 'Tis the Season with Willie and Buddy also having prominent roles.
As the episode opens the Lawrences are preparing to celebrate Christmas which is just days away. Amidst the hustle and bustle Doug experiences some chest pains. Not wanting to disrupt the holiday spirit, he shrugs it off. However, he has a few more episodes of pain and only reluctantly sees a doctor without mentioning it to anyone.
In the meantime Willie is making plans to run off to Mexico with his girlfriend for the holidays. Willie has lots of excuses for not mentioning his plans to Doug and Kate, whom expect all the Lawrences to celebrate Christmas together, as they always have.
A secondary story involves Buddy befriending the elderly custodian at her high school. She invites him to the family home where he engages is a variety of fixer-upper projects. Kate is annoyed by his presence, but let's Buddy continue to befriend him.
It soon becomes apparent that Doug is almost obsessed with maintining Christmas traditions, while the others, especially Willie, are willing to set traditions aside. Before long Willie and Doug clash and Doug is struck with more chest pains which can no longer be hidden.
I thought this episode was quite good because it shows how even close families have to deal with changing expectations. And lack of clear, open communications can cause hard feelings.
As the episode opens the Lawrences are preparing to celebrate Christmas which is just days away. Amidst the hustle and bustle Doug experiences some chest pains. Not wanting to disrupt the holiday spirit, he shrugs it off. However, he has a few more episodes of pain and only reluctantly sees a doctor without mentioning it to anyone.
In the meantime Willie is making plans to run off to Mexico with his girlfriend for the holidays. Willie has lots of excuses for not mentioning his plans to Doug and Kate, whom expect all the Lawrences to celebrate Christmas together, as they always have.
A secondary story involves Buddy befriending the elderly custodian at her high school. She invites him to the family home where he engages is a variety of fixer-upper projects. Kate is annoyed by his presence, but let's Buddy continue to befriend him.
It soon becomes apparent that Doug is almost obsessed with maintining Christmas traditions, while the others, especially Willie, are willing to set traditions aside. Before long Willie and Doug clash and Doug is struck with more chest pains which can no longer be hidden.
I thought this episode was quite good because it shows how even close families have to deal with changing expectations. And lack of clear, open communications can cause hard feelings.
