The Hub aired the two part episode from the final season involving Ron Howard (mustache and receding hairline in tow) and Donny Most's characters return from the Army. Did anybody else think in retrospect, Richie came across as a typically whiny Baby Boomer (following his personal whims and wants)? He knew full and well that he had personal obligations to Lori Beth, Richie Jr. and the baby on the way. If he wanted to purse a pipe dream of becoming a screenwriter (in a way, it was kind of Ron Howard's way of telling the audience that his going to be a big shot Hollywood director in real life), he should've done that before he got married had had kids.

The Hub aired the two part episode from the final season involving Ron Howard (mustache and receding hairline in tow) and Donny Most's characters return from the Army. Did anybody else think in retrospect, Richie came across as a typically whiny Baby Boomer (following his personal whims and wants)? He knew full and well that he had personal obligations to Lori Beth, Richie Jr. and the baby on the way. If he wanted to purse a pipe dream of becoming a screenwriter (in a way, it was kind of Ron Howard's way of telling the audience that his going to be a big shot Hollywood director in real life), he should've done that before he got married had had kids.

The thing is, he could have done that and had a chance in the fifth season. I do see your point though.

No, I don't think Richie came off as a whiny baby because I would hate it if my parents treated me like I was 15 years old. I still have a sister who treats me like I'm 12, I hate being the baby of the family.

That being said, I think this is one of those cases where when you want to do something, you should do it or you will regret it. And sometimes you have to take risks.

Welcome Home ranks right up there as my all-time favorite HD episode because I feel it gave the fans, series, characters, cast closure after 11 seasons. Richie comes home as a mature adult with wife and kid (and one on the way in tow)...we see his room for the first time since the 2nd season (basically an entire decade earlier)...Richie has a mustache symbolizing his maturity....he fights the knife-wheeling bum in the bar instead of the usual hero Fonzie...he punches Fonzie (an unheard of feat)...Marion breaks Richie's Howdy Doody lamp symbolizing the end of the freckled-face kid(Richie)...always Joanie's educational superior he tries to help Joanie with her collegiate math homework and Joanie's work fumbles Richie...the core 4 sing Blue Berry hill..... and he sticks up for Potsie (his original best bud) making sure that no one takes his Arnold's softball uniform.

I'll be honest, I dont think Richie came off as whiny but I got a bad vibe out of the episode. If it was me who wrote the episode I would have made the episodes light, funny and fluffy. I mean look at the first part. 20 mins. into the first episode, and Richie and Mr. C are fighting. 20 MINS!!! I mean we hadn't seen Richie and Ralph for 3 yrs. and you Richie and his father fighting, plus the fact Richie was in a bad mood most of the time (couldnt have soda at dinner, which I think is dumb btw, Richie punching The Fonz) and Ralph wasnt even in the 2nd part of the episode. I just think they could have had more funnier moments. It was Richie and Ralph after all.

I think this episode also taught us that we have to take risks and that sometimes we change our minds as to what we want as a career. When Richie left he wanted to be a journalist and when he came home he wanted to be a screenwriter.

isn't this why ron howard left hd in the first place because the show became too LIGHT and FLUFFY.i think he came back because the episode was more realistic.than some of the corny episodes there were.so i personally think the two episodes were well written yes there could have been more ralph like on the arnolds baseball team with the rest of the crew.