Ep 20. Close to Home

In the season 2 episode 20 of The Cosby Show, titled "Close to Home," the Huxtable family faces a crisis related to their eldest daughter Sondra. Sondra, who is attending Princeton University, returns to her family home with the news that she has dropped out of school, causing a major shock for her parents and siblings.

The episode opens with Sondra's unexpected arrival at the Huxtable residence. Her parents, Clair and Cliff, are overjoyed to see her, but Clair soon realizes that something is amiss when Sondra is hesitant to discuss her academic performance. When Sondra finally reveals that she has dropped out of school, Clair is initially incredulous, but quickly becomes angry and disappointed. She cannot understand why Sondra would throw away such a precious opportunity, and is also upset that Sondra did not consult her or Cliff before making such a drastic decision.

Cliff, on the other hand, is more sympathetic towards Sondra and tries to understand her reasoning. He recognizes that Sondra is an adult who has the right to make her own choices, but he is also worried about her future prospects without a college degree. He counsels Sondra to take some time to reflect on her decision, and to explore all the other options that may still be available to her.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Huxtable family also react in their own unique ways to Sondra's news. Theo, who is struggling with his own academic challenges, sees Sondra's dropout as a sign that perhaps college is not as important as everyone makes it out to be. He argues with Denise, who is staunchly pro-education, and convinces Vanessa to join his anti-college crusade. Rudy, too young to fully grasp the situation, is simply excited to have her big sister back at home.

As the episode progresses, the family members all try to grapple with their conflicting emotions about Sondra's situation. There are moments of raw honesty and anger, but also instances of compassion and understanding. Ultimately, the Huxtable family rallies around Sondra and offers her their love and support, even as they struggle to reconcile themselves to her decision.

Throughout the episode, there are numerous scenes of family members interacting with each other and engaging in witty banter. There is also a subplot involving Cliff's attempts to fix the family's broken washing machine, which leads to several amusing mishaps.

One of the highlights of the episode is a powerful speech given by Clair towards the end. In a moving monologue, she passionately defends the value of education and the importance of following through on one's commitments. She also acknowledges the difficulty of being a parent, particularly when one's children grow up and make choices that are beyond their control. The speech showcases the wonderful acting talents of Phylicia Rashad, who plays Clair with a grace and intelligence that elevates the entire show.

Overall, "Close to Home" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode that deals with themes of family, education, and responsibility. It shows the Huxtable family not only as a source of amusement and laughter, but also as a group of complex and loving individuals who are constantly navigating the challenges of life. It is a fitting addition to one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.