I'm I the only one who found this development in the later seasons to be extremely disingenuous and unrealistic given Mike's (pre-religious "awakening" Kirk Cameron) prior history? I get that Mike had to mature somewhat and couldn't forever play mischievous slacker (especially w/o Boner around anymore to be his "partner in crime" so to speak), but there's no chance in hell that Mike would become a teacher (or would want to become something that he presumably hates the most) so quickly.

It just felt like a big insult to the audience's intelligence and just a way to stroke Kirk Cameron's ego. It was as if Kirk was trying way, way too hard to come across as a good role model (at the expense of anything entertaining) to young people regardless of whether or it it actually made logical and plausible sense. Perfect/flawless people on TV are boring!

I do think that GP wained as the series went on but remember Ben took over for Mike in getting into mischeif.

I do think that GP wained as the series went on but remember Ben took over for Mike in getting into mischeif.

Ben Seaver arguably suffered from "Beaver Cleaver Syndrome" as when he got older. In other words, the writers really didn't know how to write his character and not make him sort of a reincarnation of Mike so they kind of kept writing "Little boy misadventure" plots for him even though he was already in his teens.

I do think that GP wained as the series went on but remember Ben took over for Mike in getting into mischeif.

Jeremy Miller simply wasn't as good (or as charismatic and charming) as an actor in regards to playing that particular role as Kirk Cameron was. He just came across as (unintentionally) lurchy and awkward. I'm guessing that's in part why they brought in Leonardo DiCaprio as Luke to fill-in the "teen heartthrob" slot that the the now "grown-up" Kirk Cameron vacated.

Yeah, but Luke failed on the show. I guess he was supposed to fill that trouble maker character, yet you did have Ben and Chrissy. I kind of dont understand why Luke was brought in. Obviously, he didnt work out.

Yeah, but Luke failed on the show. I guess he was supposed to fill that trouble maker character, yet you did have Ben and Chrissy. I kind of dont understand why Luke was brought in. Obviously, he didnt work out.

I think that Luke was brought in because the show was getting a bit "stale" or long-in-the-tooth.

Ben Seaver arguably suffered from "Beaver Cleaver Syndrome" as when he got older. In other words, the writers really didn't know how to write his character and not make him sort of a reincarnation of Mike so they kind of kept writing "Little boy misadventure" plots for him even though he was already in his teens.

Except for the bunny suit episode, Beaver in the later seasons played his age and wasn't given little boy misadventures, the troubles he got in fit his age.