Family Season 3

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Family Season 3 is available on streaming right now. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Sada Thompson — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Family Season 3 is worth clearing space for. Family Season 3 takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Season 3 of Family includes 23 episodes. It aired from September 1977 to May 1978. This season stars Sada Thompson, James Broderick and Meredith Baxter. Sada Thompson and James Broderick lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 1977. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Family Season 3. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Sada Thompson is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.