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ladydayelle ([personal profile] ladydayelle) wrote2024-12-02 02:34 am

Day Two, Day Two

I had an action-packed filled day of TB screenings today so I am now just settling into watching a holiday themed something or other. The item that came up serendipitously was a Season Two episode of Perfect Strangers. In this episode, Larry and Balki’s plans to travel to their respective homes for Christmas are thwarted by a blizzard. This leads to them having to make do with celebrating with each other in Chicago. As usual, Balki, the resident make-doer, finds a Charlie Brown-esque Christmas tree and hangs up decorations, etc while Larry bemoans the fact that he won’t be the “Christmas Boy” at his family’s Christmas celebration. A fact made even more painful to him because his little sister Elaine will be the Christmas Girl. (Yes, Larry Appleton is a man in his 30s).

SO as this is Perfect Strangers, there is a minor morale to the episode and you’ve probably guessed that Larry learns the TMOC (True Meaning of Christmas) especially after the butt chomping Balki gives him as he points out how his family is in another country-not just another state.

I’ve always loved Perfect Strangers from when I was a kid and clearly given the day and time slot it occupied for many years (Fridays, usually in the 8 or 8:30pm spot), it was written for an audience that included a lot of kids and families.

They have other Christmas episodes-one in particular gives us insight into the backstory of Mr. Gorpley, Balki’s boss at the newspaper, however this episode is a special one because it’s the one where distant cousins Larry and Balki truly become family.