Ep 8. Mr. Right

In Family Ties season 4 episode 8, titled "Mr. Right," the Keaton family is in for some surprising news when Elyse's old flame, Richard, comes to town. Alex is immediately agitated by Richard's presence and is convinced that he's not as good of a match for Elyse as he is. Meanwhile, Mallory is enamored with Richard's suave and sophisticated demeanor and can't help but be attracted to him.

As Richard spends more time with the Keatons, he begins to make some major changes in their home. He installs a new security system and buys them a new car, all while charming his way into the hearts of the family. However, Alex remains skeptical of Richard's intentions and starts to investigate him. He enlists the help of his friend Skippy to dig up information on Richard's past, which turns up some surprising results.

While Alex is busy doing some sleuthing, Mallory and Richard grow increasingly close. Richard takes Mallory out to fancy dinners and shows her a side of life that she's never experienced before. She becomes infatuated with him and starts to imagine what her life would be like if they were together.

As the days go by, tensions rise between Alex and Richard. Alex becomes more convinced than ever that Richard is not who he says he is and begins to confront him about his past. Richard denies any wrongdoing and insists that he just wants to make Elyse happy. Alex isn't convinced and decides to take matters into his own hands.

Meanwhile, Elyse is blissfully unaware of the tension brewing in her home. She's excited to have Richard back in her life and is grateful for all the changes he's made in their home. However, as Alex's investigations continue, she starts to have her doubts about Richard as well.

As the episode comes to a close, tensions come to a head. Alex confronts Richard about his past in front of the whole family, which leads to a heated argument. Mallory is devastated by the revelation and struggles to come to terms with Richard's true identity. Elyse is torn between her past love and her family's wellbeing. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering what will happen next.