Ep 18. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Frank and Carol invite two dear friends, Mildred and Harry, to dinner. They make great preparations and are determined to impress their guests at all costs. The two couples have been lifelong friends and the last time they were together was at the Lambert's wedding. Suspense builds up as their friends are delayed due to a flat tire on their trip to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the Thomas children have their own plans. Dana has been given permission to have a few friends over, and Al has a crush on a boy who has asked her to go to a movie with him that night. Brendan just wants to be left alone to watch a monster movie.

Frank remembers that Harry has always wanted to try his fried chicken, so Carol sets out to make the most delicious fried chicken ever. However, Carol ends up burning the meal. As the evening progresses, the tension and comedy builds with typical Step by Step humor. Finally, Mildred and Harry arrive, and they bring with them a surprise guest – Harry's nephew, Tyrell. He is African American, and Carol and Frank are forced to confront their own prejudices head-on.

The episode highlights the importance of not prejudging people based on their appearance or race. Tyrell turns out to be a very nice person, and so the family is put to the test in order to make him feel welcome. While tempers flare and misunderstandings occur, Carol and Frank eventually realize that they are being unfair to Tyrell, and they make a concerted effort to be more welcoming and accepting.

Throughout the episode, each character struggles with their own personal prejudices, but ultimately they all learn a lesson about accepting people for who they are. Al learns that her crush is not as perfect as she thought, and Brendan learns that he is much braver than he ever thought he was. Dana, who initially resents that her own plans are disrupted, learns a lesson about the importance of family and being there for each other.

Overall, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? is a powerful episode with a relevant message that is still resonant today. It is an emotional portrayal of the importance of acceptance and creating an inclusive society. And as always, Step by Step does it with a great blend of humor, heart, and poignancy.