Ep 14. Prodigal Son

In Everybody Loves Raymond season 4 episode 14 titled Prodigal Son, Raymond's younger brother Robert returns home after a six-month absence. Robert, a police officer, left abruptly without any explanation, leaving his family worried and confused.

As soon as Robert walks into the house, he is met with a mix of emotions from his family. His mother is thrilled to see him, while Raymond and his father are cautious about his return. They are all unsure of what to say to him after his sudden departure.

Raymond tries to have a conversation with Robert, but he is guarded, defensive, and unresponsive. It becomes clear that something significant happened while he was away, and he is not ready to talk about it.

Meanwhile, Marie tries to make up for lost time with Robert by cooking him all his favorite meals. She continually nags him to eat more food, causing him to become frustrated. His patience with her soon runs out, and he finally snaps, causing her to question her parenting skills.

As the family tries to adjust to Robert's return, they begin to notice that he is not the same person he was before he left. He is more irritable, distant, and prone to angry outbursts. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, causing concern among his family and friends.

Despite their best efforts to reach out to him, Robert pushes away those who are closest to him. Ray, who has always been the closest to his brother, is frustrated by Robert's silence and inability to open up to him. He decides to take matters into his own hands and confronts Robert, leading to a heated argument between the two brothers.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering if Raymond and Robert will be able to reconcile. It explores the difficulty of returning home after a long absence, dealing with past secrets, and the challenges of communication in families.