Heartwarming / F is for Family

• Frank letting Bill watch a boxing match with him and his friends after their trials involving the color TV set.
• In the first episode, Kevin's Big Brother Instinct kick in at the right time, saving his little brother from his family's wrath even if he didn't do the crime in question.
• Frank calming Kevin down from his panic attack was pretty sweet. Even if he does wind up dropping him directly into the water he was so scared of anyways.
• Sue and Frank in 1958, talking about how their gonna be co-pilots and support each other. Kind of bittersweet considering none of their dreams ever came true, but still, you can see how much they love each other.
  • The Season 2 finale, after reconciling the two realize the kids are getting older and won't need them around as much now, both immediately suggest that the other can go finish their dream (Frank becoming a pilot, and Sue finishing college). Though, this turns out to be for naught when they have sex with damaged condoms which brings another baby to interrupt their plans.
• After Kevin has sex with Cutie Pie, he's horrified by what he's done, deeply confused since Cutie Pie blames him for statutory rape, and he's guilt ridden for betraying Vic's trust. While hiding from Vic in the basement, Kevin finally runs into Vic and breaks down in fear. Rather than get angry with him or shame him, Vic calms him down and saying he understands what Kevin's going through and respects Kevin's integrity on the matter.
• Maureen asking Bill to carry her home in episode 2.
• After getting into a fight at school, Bill is suspended and must get a form detailing the punishment signed by one of his parents. Bill is terrified of what Frank's reaction will be and voices his concerns to Kevin. Kevin takes the form and forges Frank's signature, telling Bill that he's been through the same thing and the school administration doesn't bother checking whether the parent's signature is authentic.
• Kevin's memories of his childhood. Especially when Frank tells him that he'll always love him, even if they don't get along great in the future.
• Pretty much anytime Frank and Kevin are actually getting along. The ending of "Saturday, Bloody Saturday", when they bond in "the Liar's Club" etc.
• After the Murphys drive the Fitzsimmons off their lawn:
  Frank: I've got the best family in this whole goddamn town! And don't you ever come back!
  Kevin: You really mean that about us?
  Frank: You're goddamn right I do!
• Frank's speech when he's being hold hostage by terrorists.
• The small but satisfactory acknowledgment at the beginning of season 3 that Greg finally got away from Ginny and is now living happily as an out gay man.
• At the end of "R is for Rosie", Rosie returns to the airport and tells Frank he now understands that being in charge really isn't easy and gets why Frank is so frustrated at work. Frank appreciates the sentiment and hugs him.
• When Bill realizes how hurt Jimmy is over his dad favoring Bill for his aggression during their hockey games, Bill gets himself ejected from the championship game so Jimmy can take his place as the team "rat".
• The relationship between Janet Vanderheim, the obese prostitute, and her son Quincy, who she's genuinely loving and supportive towards, despite her job. She often tells him how proud she is of his schoolwork, and even manages to get time off to attend P.T.A meetings, where she yells at the teacher for putting her son in the back of the class just because his name starts with a "Q".
  • The fact that International Touch, her pimp, gave her time off for the meeting, something most pimps wouldn't even consider.
• Kevin's entire relationship with Alice in season 4. After being put through the ringer in past seasons, he finally meets someone who is kind, smart, and supportive of him, motivating him in his music and to do better in school.
• Mr. Durkin shares his honest opinion about his students after Kevin admits all of his fears after his grandfather's funeral.
  "Kids, I want to tell you how much I hate your generation. I don't like your clothes, your haircuts, or your funky music. Kevin I've hated you the most. But if sitting through twenty-seven years of my own shattered dream to make a difference is what it took to get to this moment, Goddammit, it was all worth it."
• Kevin has a good time with Alice's dad, with the two getting to sing a duet together with their guitars.
• Smokey give some good, if a little ridiculous, advice to Frank about letting go of the past and to not worry about whatever box his father left him.
• In the final episode, Vic is seen covering his son's eyes at the daredevil show so he won't see anything traumatizing and enjoying his first Christmas with his son, where Vic Jr. can be seen contentedly chewing on a toy Corvette while his proud father watches. This is even MORE heartwarming when you remember in season 1, Vic revealed to Frank how lonely he is during Christmas, and how Vic felt it was for families. Now Vic's got a little family of his own. Awww...
• Frank and Kevin finally manage to have a good conversation without any arguing during a family outing to the bowling alley where Frank advises Kevin to stop chasing after Alice and just let the future unfold how it's meant to, using how his own first real relationship ended and how he and Sue had briefly broken up before getting back together as examples. Kevin takes the advice to heart and he later wins back Alice without even trying to.
  • The thing that convinces Alice to give Kevin another chance is seeing him singing to the babies in Sue's parenting class. Kevin is happy that he has an audience who likes his singing, even if they're just babies.
• Bob jumping to save Rosie's life and ending up paralyzed because of his actions. Rosie thanks Bob for saving his life, and Bob assures Rosie that he did it because he thinks Rosie is a good man, and that he will make a genuine effort to be a better friend to Rosie. That's quite a huge turnaround from Bob's behavior towards Rosie through most of the series.
• Vic is really dedicated to being a good father to Vic Jr, even and perhaps especially after he's left to raise his son alone. He tries seeking out good parental role models, but is also able to recognize cases of what not to do from watching his neighbors. It's Vic who suggests that Sue hold parenting classes after she helps him out with Vic Jr.
• Frank finally manages to move on from his traumatic past and is now doing his best to be a better father and husband to his family. Now letting go of his rage and cynicism, he politely greets Phillip when he gets home, promises to listen to Sue more often, hangs up a phone call to spare everyone from one of his cuss-filled tirades, and has a good laugh with everyone over one of Bill’s jokes at dinner. After nearly five seasons of his temper and inability to move on from the past fracturing his family, Frank finally decides that dwelling on his terrible childhood isn’t worth it, and decides to focus more on the future and raising his kids. And unlike the other times he’s made promises like this, this time, he’s making a sincere effort to stick by it.
• Right as Frank picks up the phone, Kevin covers Megan’s ears, showing his care for his baby sister.
• Frank willing to fight with Sue's dad and brother at Thanksgiving just so her lie won't be discovered. Even though Sue makes Frank lie about how he feels about Nixon, he's willing to play off of her and instigate with them for the holiday. Even with the lie is found out, Frank still tries to mediate. Even if he fumbles a little, he advocates for his brother-in-law. When Sue's brother and father rally to attack Frank and Sue's marriage, Frank tells them both off for Sue. Even through all that, he makes it a point to tell his mother-in-law he had a wonderful time with her, appreciated her story about the ducks, and made sure she knew he wasn't mad at her. That says a lot about Frank's love for his wife, and his growth in that he can make sure he doesn't completely blindly fire his rage off at people.

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