I have to say although the Welcome Home 2 part episode in which Richie, LB and Ralph all return to Milwaukee was late in the HD life and the show was on it's last legs by that point it still ranks as one of my all time favorite episodes in history.

The writers did an excellent job of providing closure on several HD related issues and it could have easily been the final of the 11 season run show and I for one would have been satisfied.

1. We see Richie's room for the 1st time since Season 2.
2. Ralph climbs up to Richie's room as he did at least once in the 1st season.
3. Richie says goodbye to Ralph and thanks him for 3 years in the Army together (off-screen).
4. Ralph repeats Zuluz joke from I believe Season 4
5. Richie does the unthinkable and punches Fonzie
6. Marion breaks the howdy doody lamp symbolizing the end of Richie as a kid and symbolizes his new life as a man
7. The core 4 sing Blueberry hill around the piano at Arnolds.
8. Richie mentions that Fonzie was like a brother to him (one of the reasons Chuck never made it past season 2).
9. Richie and LB have another child on the way
10. Richie and Potsie have a personal talk about Potsie's uniform and Richie promises Potsie that he will take care of the situation.
11. Richie tells his family that he loves them
12. Richie looks out to the audience with admiration.
13. Fonzie tells Richie that he loves him very much.
14. Ralph and Potsie argue about money (not shown in the syndicated version)
15. Fonzie tells Richie that LB has her heart set on living with him wherever he lives.
16. Richie moves on from wanting to be a journalism and matures into wanting more.
17. Richie has a one-time on screen conversation with Roger
18. Little Richie has the red hair just like his dad and we get to see Richie as a father on screen.
19. Richie has a mustache and looks more mature then before he left the show.
20. Joanie cries over how much she missed Richie.

great episode.

Well said. You are correct. They sewed up a lot of loose ends and did some things we ALL wanted to see for a long time. The writers did good on this one (FINALLY).

I thought that episode was good but not great. I didnt like the fact that Richie got very angry about his job prospects. I mean to me, it should have been a light and fluffy episode. I think considering the fact that Richie was gone for 4 years, I think the fans earned the right to have Richie and the gang together. I liked the scene of them singing Blueberry Hill at Arnold's. Stuff like that. Although I was shocked when Richie hit Fonzie. But one of the best lines of the show was when Richie actually beat up a bully who was picking on Fonzie and Fonzie goes "Shouldnt that be my job?"

I've never seen the episode but I'd like to find the script for it