This was something I always wondered about because Rudy and Vanessa was 5 to 6 years apart so it would seem like they would not be together that much. For example, the episode when rudy and vanessa was living in the basement for constantly fighting-this made Vaneesa's character look a lttle foolish because she was arguing with her little sister instead of being out with friends-I just don't think they should have in a lot of scenes together since they were not in the same age bracket.

I think it makes sense for Rudy and Vanessa to have a lot of scenes together. They are the two youngest...they shared a bedroom...and they were sisters. My younger sister and I are 5 years apart, and we are numbers 4 and 5 out of the kids. We fought all the time (Much like the basement episode.) I relate to Vanessa being annoyed by her sister...believe me, having someone try to initiate an argument with you gets old (even if the kid is younger than you.) And it sucks when parents say you should "know better because you're older." As an adult, I watch that episode, and I still side with Vanessa. But as a parent...I find myself expecting the older child to ignore her little sis (imagine that) so I guess I understand a little better now why my parents did the same. My sister (age 21) called me the last time the basement episode was on, and actually apologized for acting that way towards me. I guess we've come a long way.

Originally posted by FactsFan
I think it makes sense for Rudy and Vanessa to have a lot of scenes together. They are the two youngest...they shared a bedroom...and they were sisters. My younger sister and I are 5 years apart, and we are numbers 4 and 5 out of the kids. We fought all the time (Much like the basement episode.) I relate to Vanessa being annoyed by her sister...believe me, having someone try to initiate an argument with you gets old (even if the kid is younger than you.) And it sucks when parents say you should "know better because you're older." As an adult, I watch that episode, and I still side with Vanessa. But as a parent...I find myself expecting the older child to ignore her little sis (imagine that) so I guess I understand a little better now why my parents did the same. My sister (age 21) called me the last time the basement episode was on, and actually apologized for acting that way towards me. I guess we've come a long way.


It wasn't anything wrong with being in some scenes together but not several-Vanessa's character should have been going out on dates especially when she was in high school-instead of arguing with her little sister

Originally posted by SOLOMON
It wasn't anything wrong with being in some scenes together but not several-Vanessa's character should have been going out on dates especially when she was in high school-instead of arguing with her little sister

Vanessa went out on dates all the time. I don't think it is realistic to expect that a teenager would be gone all the time simply because she has friends or dates. She was bound to be home at some point...and that is when they did those scenes between Rudy and Vanessa. I went on dates, and to the mall with my friends when I was in highschool...but my sister and I always found time to hang-out, talk, argue, etc. We lived in the same house...we had to see each other (like Rudy and Vanessa.)

Originally posted by FactsFan
Vanessa went out on dates all the time. I don't think it is realistic to expect that a teenager would be gone all the time simply because she has friends or dates. She was bound to be home at some point...and that is when they did those scenes between Rudy and Vanessa. I went on dates, and to the mall with my friends when I was in highschool...but my sister and I always found time to hang-out, talk, argue, etc. We lived in the same house...we had to see each other (like Rudy and Vanessa.)

You know what I think made the scenes with Vanessa and Rudy look silly, the fact that Rudy was so much shorter than Vanessa and it made her look more than 5 years younger than Vanessa. Now Denise was also Five years older than Vanessa but since they were around the same height it did not look as bad.

Facts Fan I agree with you. I side with Vanessa. Rudy was down right annoying and I was in the same predicament with having brother 5 and 6 years younger than me.

Remember the Fifth Season Opening? The one where they were dressed in tropical clothes. Vanessa looked taller than Cliff. My sister says that it is just the hairstyle, *wink*. But as you look at the other episodes, you can see that she is pretty tall. Look at seaons 2-8.

I agree with FactsFan. But the height difference definitely made you think they were farther apart in age than they were actually. It also did make the arguments seem silly too, then. But i do understand that despite that, they were sisters, so arguments are bound to happen.

Well, Denise wasnt there that much beucase she went to college and Theo was off doing other things and Sondra was with Elvin doing who knows what. Plus, Vanessa was hte kind of person who would get annoyed really fast and i think that Rudy knew that and she knew she could get away with it, like taking her hairbrush and doing what 5-13 year olds do

true