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The Best Episodes of Life Goes On

Every episode of Life Goes On ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Life Goes On!

Binge this in 3d 11h•Peaking at 8.9/10

Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989, to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thatcher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 21 - Confessions
    8.9/10(17 votes)

    #1 - Confessions

    S3:E21

    Corky, somehow rendered mute by the accident, does not speak up until Becca bears her soul to him. Then Corky says that Tyler tried to swerve around a boy on a bike. Becca still feels guilty over Tyler's death as she and Jesse place flowers at Tyler's grave. Also, Paige and Michael get locked in a refrigerated room for wedding cake storage ( she was looking for a cake for her and Kenny' wedding.)

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Life Goes On Season 4 Episode 9 - Happy Holidays
    8.8/10(16 votes)

    #2 - Happy Holidays

    S4:E9

    The holidays take on a whole new meaning for Corky, who's celebrating his first Christmas as a married man-and now how the wishes of a wife and in-laws to consider.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 12 - Corky's Crush
    8.6/10(32 votes)

    #3 - Corky's Crush

    S1:E12

    Becca and Corky (in the same class somehow) do a classroom exercise in which paired students must pretend to be married for a week to investigate issues of marriage and family life. Becca is first paired with Lester Fishbein, then switches to Tyler. Neither works out terribly well. Corky, on the other hand, is paired with the new girl (Shannon Dougherty of 90210), upon whom he develops a crush. She only has eyes for the ubiquitous Russo, though, and Corky has to make peace with only being a friend. Meanwhile, Libby's parents hole up at the Thatchers' to continue their love feud. There's a great scene in which Sal Giordano encourages Corky that the right girl is out there.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 3 - The Baby-Sitter
    8.5/10(29 votes)

    #4 - The Baby-Sitter

    S1:E3

    Corky gets a babysitting job; his classmates barge in at the house where he is babysitting. The intrusive folks include Tyler, who regrets the whole thing, and ""Russo"", who is basically a jerk/nemesis.

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writer:Toni Graphia

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  5. Life Goes On Season 2 Episode 6 - Halloween
    8.5/10(25 votes)

    #5 - Halloween

    S2:E6

    Halloween scares up a bad time for all: Libby and Drew at Jerry's big party, Corky at the school masquerade, and Becca who is home alone. The horror movies she's watching start to get to her. The lights go out, an intruder breaks in- it turns out to be Tyler. Confusion abounds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 3 - Out of the Mainstream
    8.5/10(19 votes)

    #6 - Out of the Mainstream

    S3:E3

    Corky is nearly swamped when he tries to help Tyler's younger brother, who also has Down Syndrome, mainstream at Marshall High.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Life Goes On

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  7. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 17 - The Fairy Tale
    8.5/10(13 votes)

    #7 - The Fairy Tale

    S3:E17

    Libby writes a fairy tale about Corky, and Corky enters it in a contest. Libby then gets an offer to get it printed as a children's book, but in a rewritten form. Libby turns down the offer, staying true to the story which has so much to do with Corky. (Becca doesn't like this because she would have wanted the money for college.) At the beginning of each act in this episode there is fancy narration and illustration which fades into the scene in "" real life"". There was also a subplot with Paige, Michael and Kenny.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Life Goes On Season 4 Episode 6 - Windows
    8.5/10(17 votes)

    #8 - Windows

    S4:E6

    Amanda's angry parents vow to annul her marriage to Corky and try to regain custody of Amanda. They then run off to a motel, further angering the Swanson's, not to mention their attorney. Amanda's father also falsely tells Corky that Amanda wanted the annulment. Meanwhile, Becca and Jesse are mad at each other. Becca can't come to Jesse's first show at the gallery beacuse of Corky and Amanda, and his recent growing involvement with Jill. Jesse is mad in part because the art show did not go well. Becca and Jill face off; Jill says Becca is too much in control, and acts like the only one who can take care of Jesse, but she'll back out anyway. Jesse talks with Corky about their ""honeymoon"" and Corky makes Jesse happier by interpreting one of his paintings as a window. In the end, the Thatchers and Swanson's go to court, but the judge let's Amanda make the final decision: She will live with Corky. They get Paige's old loft above the garage, while Paige decides to move out.

    Director:Michael Nankin
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 2 - Corky for President
    8.3/10(33 votes)

    #9 - Corky for President

    S1:E2

    Corky runs for freshman class president with the help of an unpopular, smart student,Lester Fishbein. He has a crush on Rona and really believes that Rona likes him as well. Rona encourages him to run and Corky doesn't realize she's just joking with him.

    Director:Kim Friedman
    Writer:Toni Graphia

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  10. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 9 - Corky Witnesses a Crime
    8.3/10(25 votes)

    #10 - Corky Witnesses a Crime

    S1:E9

    Corky tries out for the football team. The footbal coach hits a student, one of his former players, and all the team stands up for the coach except Corky who is compelled to tell the truth. The coach claims that he was hit first. He cuts Corky from the team, but later when the team comes out with truth as well, Corky is allowed to keep trying out.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Life Goes On Season 2 Episode 17 - Corky's Travels
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #11 - Corky's Travels

    S2:E17

    Corky gets lost and wanders around the mean streets of Chicago. He meets a kindhearted, young hooker who gives him his first sexual experience-essentially a few long kisses. ( The episode is intentionally vague over whether they went further.) Corky is shadowed (and mystically guided) throughout the evening by a semi-mythic blues singer, the great Leon Redbone. Becca and Tyler spend a rainy, frustrated evening driving around Chicago looking for Corky, and end up smooching in the car. This episode was filmed mostly in black and white.

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 2 - Hello, Goodbye
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #12 - Hello, Goodbye

    S3:E2

    The Thatcher's rise from the ashes of the restaurant: exchange student Becca prepares to take wings for Paris; Paige and Corky go hunting for jobs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 5 - Sweet 16
    8.3/10(21 votes)

    #13 - Sweet 16

    S3:E5

    At 16, Becca retains her innocence-but maybe not for long. Throughout this episode Becca records herself and her birthday party on camcorder for Maxi, who is in Paris. When Corky buys Becca a great looking jacket for her birthday, it is with the new-found power of a checking account. Unfortunately, some bad kids at school find out that Corky has checks and fool him into giving them a $100 check to join the fictitional ""Plebian Club"". At the end, Becca is in front of the camcorder again with a robe on, then opens it to reveal her negligee ( which Maxi sent her as a birthday gift), asking, ""Is this hot or what?""

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 14 - The Room
    8.3/10(13 votes)

    #14 - The Room

    S3:E14

    Becca, Libby, and Paige have entered the ""man zone"". They tear down a wall in the Thatcher house to reveal another room, which is then redone (mainly by Paige) to be baby Nick's new room. Momentos from the old room lead to flashback-type scenes that reveal the changing roles of women in American society: Jesse and Becca as 60's hippies, Libby becoming a 50's Avon lady (with the Thatcher's as a 50's family), et al. Libby decides to leave Jerry's advertising firm to deal full-time with Nick. Paige discovers her true calling after finishing Nick's room-- she also wants to be a builder.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Life Goes On Season 4 Episode 17 - Life Goes On (and On and On)
    8.2/10(30 votes)

    #15 - Life Goes On (and On and On)

    S4:E17

    The series finale, it leaps 4 years into the future to see Becca and Jesse marry, and 10 years when Becca, now about 27 ( and still played by Kellie Martin) tells her son a story about what happened after graduating from high school. Corky doesn't graduate, but says, ""I'll be back."" Ray was the valedictorian of Becca's class. Jesse leaves for Europe, breaking Becca's heart, but returns four years later. It is not determined whether Becca's son was fathered by Jesse or not, but Becca expresses a desire to have Jesse's baby, saying that new treatments could make it possible. The question of who fathered this child is hard to answer as Becca says the final words of the series: "" I love you, Jesse.""

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 17 - It Ain't All It's Cracked up to Be
    8.1/10(25 votes)

    #16 - It Ain't All It's Cracked up to Be

    S1:E17

    Becca enters a Miss Teen contest and finds out that she is sharing a room with none other than Rona Lieberman. Scholarship money is at stake in this pageant. Becca gets know Rona a little better after Rona's mother shows up at the pageant drunk and makes a fool of Rona during her piano performance. Drew has problems with the new neighbors because their son has a band and plays loud music. Corky tries out for chorus but doesn't make it because he can't sing. Later the neighbor boy gives Corky his old set of drums and Corky seems to be quite talented at playing them. Drew and the neighbors make peace.

    Director:Kim Friedman
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 1 - Toast
    8.1/10(19 votes)

    #17 - Toast

    S3:E1

    The Thatcher's toast a third season by reopening their renovated grill, but their dreams go up in smoke. Corky is given more responsibility at the grill, specifically, cooking french fries. When they close one evening, he turns the fryers off, or so he thinkd, but in actuality, he turned the fryers up as high as they go, which was the cause of the fire. He finally tells Drew that he was the cause of the fire at the end of the episode.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 12 - Struck by Lightning
    8.1/10(12 votes)

    #18 - Struck by Lightning

    S3:E12

    The thatcher house is struck by lightening. As a result, Corky predicts the future, Arnold the semi-wonder dog runs away, Becca gets a major static problem in her hair, Drew becomes attracted to another woman, and Paige enchants the boss's son, Kenny Stollmark Jr. Nothing returns to normal until lightening strikes the house again.

    Director:Larry Shaw
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.0/10(45 votes)

    #19 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Corky tries to mainstream into the 9th grade, the same grade as Becca. Becca worries that Corky may stop her from getting to the boy she really wants, Tyler Benchfield, a star on the football team. Corky dreams of being King at the homecoming dance with Ron Lieberman. Corky is accused of cheating off Rona's paper but it was exactly the opposite. Tyler introduces the Thatchers to his brother Donny, who also has Down's Syndrome. Doubts arise arise over whether Corky should indeed mainstream as opposed to going into a special-ed program, or a private school (which the Thatcher's can't afford). But at a serious parent-principle meeting, Corky dispels all doubts by reciting ""The Raven"", the famous Edgar Allan Poe poem. Sub-plot: For Libby's 40th birthday, Drew buys her a heart-shaped ring that they can't afford. Paige moves home.

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writer:Toni Graphia

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  20. Life Goes On Season 3 Episode 10 - Triangles
    7.9/10(18 votes)

    #20 - Triangles

    S3:E10

    Corky takes a tumble for the new assistant manager; Becca is torn between Tyler and Jesse: Tyler says that he isn't over her; Becca can't break the news to him because deep inside, she wants to commit to Jesse. Becca helps Jesse search for the girl who infected him with HIV; when they come to the house where she lived, Becca learns that the girl has already died. Becca reveals how she feels about Jesse to him during a very low point in the cemetary.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 22 - The Spring Fling
    7.8/10(23 votes)

    #21 - The Spring Fling

    S1:E22

    Becca finally gets asked to the dance by Tyler. Only had already accepted an invitation with someone else. She breaks it off with the first guy, but then feels guilty and dances with him or something.

    Director:Larry Shaw
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Life Goes On Season 2 Episode 5 - The Banquet Room Renovation
    7.8/10(19 votes)

    #22 - The Banquet Room Renovation

    S2:E5

    Drew decides to turn the back room of the restaurant into a banquet room in hopes of bringing in more money. He gets funding from Farmer Jack on the condition that Drew use his son (Teddy) as a worker. Drew agrees. Drew and the kid develop a father/son like relationship. Corky is jealous and tries to help but causes more damage than good, which Drew blames on Teddy until Corky tells him the truth. Meanwhile, Libby, back at her old job tries to dig up a canine star for a gourmet dog-food commercial.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Life Goes On Season 2 Episode 2 - Corky and the Dolphins
    7.7/10(26 votes)

    #23 - Corky and the Dolphins

    S2:E2

    While in Hawaii, Corky goes dolphin-riding and Becca falls for a surfer. (Part 2 of 2)

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writer:Jule Selbo

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  24. Life Goes On Season 2 Episode 8 - La Dolce Becca
    7.7/10(23 votes)

    #24 - La Dolce Becca

    S2:E8

    Becca gets a crush on a French student and Maxi with this French guy's friend. They have high hope of getting in with this ""mature"" crowd. She and Maxi go to a bar with these boys and Maxi gets drunk. Becca tells her mom the next morning to get some help for Maxi's hangover. Becca's mom ends up telling Maxi's mother what happened after giving her word to Becca that it was just between them. Becca and Maxi get into a fight and Maxi is in with the mature crowd. Becca ditches school and gets grounded but has to go out that night when she recieves a call from Maxi because one of these guys had left her stranded. She gets caught sneaking back in the house. Side plot: A lady is choking in the restaurant, Corky runs to get Drew who gives the lady the Heimlich maneuver and the two of them become heros. Later the lady sues Drew for $ 25,000 because supposedly he broke one of her ribs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Life Goes On Season 1 Episode 16 - Corky Rebels
    7.6/10(24 votes)

    #25 - Corky Rebels

    S1:E16

    At 18, Corky wants out from under his parents' wings-- even if it just means taking the bus to school. Unfortunately, he ends up with the bad crowd. The height of this episode comes when ""bad boy"" Corky auditions for the community talent show with a hip-hop dance routine to "" Fight the Power"" from ""Do the Right Thing"", the Spike's Lee film. Eventually, after the rough kids with whom he's been hanging out turn on him, he mends his ways and does a tap dance routine with Becca (their ""standard"" act) in the show instead.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Confessions" is the best rated episode of "Life Goes On". It scored 8.9/10 based on 17 votes. Directed by Michael Lange and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/3/1992. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Happy Holidays".