Rebel Without Night Driving Privileges Analysis

Teenage driving privileges cause a large amount of conflict in many families today, but in the sitcom Home Improvement, this problem is used to resolve a hidden issue and bring the family closer together. This television show is famous for using comedy to relate to the audience in order to execute an important lesson. In the episode “Rebel without Night Driving Privileges”, the mother, Jill, restricts her newly licensed son, Randy, from driving at night due to his older brother’s past night-driving accident. As a result, Jill learns that she should not compare her children to each other for they have their own needs, experiences, and maturity levels. While Home Improvement tackles many relatable issues, this particular episode highlights the need for families to teach the importance of communication, obedience, and avoiding comparison. The importance of communication in relationships is clearly presented in Home Improvement. In this particular episode, the parents, Jill and Tim, make a big mistake by not clearly discussing the driving restrictions for their son. …show more content…
Jill recalls her oldest son’s driving wreck and assumes that her next son will make the same mistake. This appeals to pathos as it has the ability to convict the motherly audience of making this mistake of judgment. This comparison of the two brothers is upsetting to the younger son because he feels like he is judged based off of his sibling’s mistake, a common problem which the audience with older siblings can relate to. Comparison really makes a bold presence in this episode and causes the mother to realize that it is not logical to compare her children to one another because they have their own maturity levels. This appeals to logos as this episode shows the importance of remembering that everyone is different; therefore it is logical that comparison should be avoided at all