The tear-jerker episode:

The Pryors hold out hope that JJ's MIA status doesn't mean the worst.

Roxanne has to deal with a bunch of band members that show up to crash at Luke's. Rox gets Luke to go for co-managing the band (with an awful name such as "The Organization") because she's got the style knowledge, and he's got the musical knowledge.

Helen keeps have flashbacks to JJ's highlights in her life, plus the scenes of him getting ready to be shipped out to war.

Jack goes to Washington to find the real dirt on JJ's status. At the same time, there's a antiwar rally in Washington, and Chris annd Meg make plans to attend. Meg uses Jack's trip to hitch a ride, all the while planning on attending the rally. Jack wasn't pleased with Meg's deception once they get to Washington. Later, Jack finds out the news isn't good, and that he isn't willing to tell Helen of JJ's most probably death, and Meg is in on the deception and she never gets herself to the rally, leaving Chris out to dry.

Melanie invites Sam and also his family for Thanksgiving, but Sam is ashamed his own family's not-so-wealthy roots, and tells Melanie that they had other plans. Nathan gets wind of Sam's shame, and sets him straight. At Melanie's, Sam is introduced to Thurgood Marshall, and Sam professes to want to be an astronaut, justifying his Physics major in college.

Back at home Jack does his best to spin the news of JJ's MIA status in a positive light, but the bottom drops out of the floor when JJ's tape arrives and pretty much convinces Helen that Jack lied to her about JJ's chance of survival, and Helen weeps and blame Jack for JJ's participation in the war. Jack is sad and alone.

But, since this is a tear-jerker episode, it sets up JJ's return as he was able to get away from the bombed site, and even manages to bury one of his combat brethren, and leaves a jade rabbit behind, signifying his continued survival for now.

This show just keeps continuing to impress.

The scenes btwn Meg and Jack and Sam and Nathan were very well-done.

As depressing as Sunday nights are because the next day is Monday, this show gets me excited for Sundays.

I was really lookin forward to this episode from the previews, and it didn't disappoint. I thought there was great acting all the way around, especially by Helen. You could just feel her pain when she thought her son was dead.

When Jack said he would lie to Helen I knew that was a bad idea. Definitely backfired on him.

I really don't like Melanie. She's taken away Sam's friendship with Meg and now he alienates from his family. to Nathan for setting him straight. "Just know that you are not better than him"

You had to assume JJ was alive. His character is way too likable to kill off. The episode where the family gets word that he's alive and/or when he comes back will be great.

I thought at first they were setting up the "JJ is found on Christmas Eve tearfest" but they already let it be known he is alive. A little suspense for the viewers wouldn't have hurt. I liked it overall, despite the lesser role bandstand now plays. There are times this show transports me back to that time. Very well done.

Poor Helen, her character arc was relegated to a clip show.

Other than that, it was a great episode. I love this show more and more. It used to be an "also ran" show for me but now is one of my favorites. Sunday nights at 8pm is a logjam time slot for me, but this show has earned a spot in one of tuners on the main DirecTivo in the living room. (I grab Cold Case and Extreme Makeover:Home in the bedroom while Arrested Development gets recorded on the other tuner downstairs.)

They are doing a good job showing Beth's pregnancy. Instead of just a big belly, she actually looks fuller in the face, etc.

I was kind of surprised at how suddenly Sam seems to be ashamed of his family. That seemed to come out of nowhere. Also, the high-class background of Melanie-- had that been mentioned before? I was kind of surprised that her family was so well-off for the 1960's. Whoa, who knew Sam was dating Denise Huxtable!

Wow - what an emotionally-draining episode, even though you knew how they were going to end it. Great acting all around.

I like Nathan's character much more this time around - especially when he pointed out to Sam that he was being a bitch. Don't care for Sam's well-to-do girl either. I hope they hook him up w/ Meg before the show ends its run.

Does anyone else not care for Will? He seems so pointless.

It's been over a decade now, and I am still in love w/ Gail O'Grady.