It's shocking when a family friend, whom you've trusted for many years, does something to betray their trust. And so it is with the Keatons when they learn that a longtime friend, a co-worker of Steven's makes a pass at Mallory after he tells her, "Give Your Uncle Arthur a Kiss."
Steven's program director for WKS, Arthur Press — known affectionately to the family as "Uncle Arthur" — is helping manage the station's PBS pledge drive, but when he gets alone with Mallory, he is unable to control his impulses and hugs her a little too much. Later, when he tries to apologize for the earlier incident, he gives her an unwanted kiss. The whole situation leaves Mallory scared and confused on how she should handle the situation.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Dark Secret: When Mallory finally opens up to her mother about what happened between her and Arthur, Elyse reveals she had a similar situation happen to her when she was a teenager. She never told anyone because the man who assaulted her was a family friend and she was afraid of how others would react.
- Ephebophile: Arthur, who makes two passes at a 15-year-old Mallory.
- Forceful Kiss: During Arthur's second pass at Mallory, he gives her one of these. The fact that he gives one to her after having apologized for making her feel uncomfortable makes this all the more dickish. note
- Funny Background Event: Elyse can be seen grappling with Arthur while Steven gives his spiel appealing for pledges for PBS.
- Heel Realization: At least — when confronted by Steven and Elyse — he seems remorseful, realizing he hurt Mallory and likely destroyed a longtime friendship.
- I'm a Man; I Can't Help It: Implied when Arthur mentions that the reason he acted the way he did was due to his recent divorce making him go crazy and seeing how beautiful Mallory is. Steven and Elyse both refuse to accept Arthur's explanation, noting that many people get divorced or go through stressful, sometimes life-changing situations, but they don't go around kissing teen-aged girls.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Alex doesn't handle things very well and, truth be told, doesn't get what happened and that Mallory is scared and confused, but he sincerely asks her if she's okay after the second incident and knows that they need to tell Elyse what's happened.
- Mama Bear / Papa Wolf: Neither Elyse or Steven are amused to know that a good friend of theirs made a pass at their daughter. Elyse even physically assaults Arthur while the call in show is on the air. Backstage, Steven threatens to kill him.
- Moment of Weakness: Clearly, Arthur has problems with impulse control and behaving appropriately when he is alone with a pretty teenaged girl, as 15-year-old Mallory is. His actions destroy a friendship with nobody but himself to blame ... and unless he gets professional help, much more could come down the line: More broken relationships and perhaps major negative consequences to his career.
- Moral Event Horizon: In-universe, Steven seems to think that Arthur has reached this after learning what he did.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: The first incident down at the station might have been dismissed and nothing more made of it had Arthur just let this sleeping dog lie. (Indeed, in the next scene, Mallory seems to have forgotten about the episode and shows no outward signs of being uncomfortable with Arthur in the room as they and the others make final plans for the WKS telethon.) Instead, feeling the need to apologize, he gets Mallory alone again, ends up rationalizing his earlier actions as his "apology" and follows that up by kissing her against her will ... sowing the final seeds of the destruction of a longtime friendship.
- Pervy Patdown: Arthur gives Mallory a hug that not only lasts too long (and she's already uneasy about him asking for one, given that the things he's been saying have made her uncomfortable), includes him patting her on her rear end. What makes it worse: He comes off as a seemingly genial, all-around good guy ... which he may well have been, but for reasons perhaps even he doesn't know or even aware of he doesn't have impulse control, and it leads to his fall.
- Rejected Apology: Mallory refuses to accept Arthur's apology. Neither do her parents.
- Selective Obliviousness; When Mallory tells Alex what happened, he absolutely refuses to believe that Arthur would do such a thing and thinks that Mallory may have misinterpreted his actions; Mallory even thinks so afterwards until Arthur kisses her on the lips.
- Later averted, but clearly uncomfortable giving advice — perhaps it's still registering with him that it was Arthur who did these acts — he calls Elyse into the room, saying she would be better to handle this matter.
- "Shut Up" Kiss: Discussed. Alex tells Mallory about how he used to think that when a girl kissed him goodnight that it meant she loved him, but now thinks it's to shut him up.
- Squick: Alex's remark about Arthur giving Mallory a bath when she was a baby. Whether Alex was actually serious or just making an off-the-cuff, metaphoric remark — as though to explain that he was like family and that now Arthur's actions have crossed the line — is not known.
- This Is Unforgivable!: It is strongly implied that, in the very least, things will never be the same between Arthur and the Keatons, and most likely his actions destroyed a longtime friendship. Put in perspective: This is a man who spent the holidays and many other good times with the Keatons, and along with Steven and his staff had celebrated in and shared multiple professional successes. He was there for the Keatons when they didn't exactly have good times ... he was an all-around good guy and someone who could be counted on. Now this ... .
- Certainly, it is Mallory's reaction when Arthur tells her he's sorry for what he did and hopes she'll forgive him. When she doesn't accept, he turns his head and says, "Well, maybe someday ..." and then walks away.
- Tranquil Fury: Steven's anger in comparison to Elyse's is quite icily chill.Steven: Can you think of one reason why I shouldn't kill you?
- Very Special Episode: Tackles the topic of molestation.
- Viewers Like You: Steven's (typically over-the-top) appeal to viewers, a typical part of many PBS pledge drives ... all while oblivious as to Elyse trying to confront Arthur over his recent behavior toward Mallory.
- Wham Line: For, Steven, anyway, given that Elyse and the viewer knows already.Elyse: Steven, Arthur tried to seduce our daughter!Steven: (Beat, as Elyse's accusation registers with him, realizing he is on live television and camera zooming in quickly): We'll be right back!
