Good Times: Season 5
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Good Times Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
The Evans Get Involved (1)
Sep 21, 1977 · 30 min
When a young girl, Penny Gordon follows J.J. home, she quickly insinuates herself into the Evans household and makes up stories about her life, including forgetting to mention she
The Evans Get Involved (2)
Sep 21, 1977 · 30 min
Willona and the Evans children are convinced that Penny is being abused, but when Willona takes Penny to see a doctor about a broken arm, he refuses to believe she's being abused.
The Evans Get Involved (3)
Sep 28, 1977 · 30 min
Willona and the Evans kids are stunned to discover that Penny and her mother have moved. They are equally stunned when they discover Penny hiding the Evans apartment. Later, Penn
The Evans Get Involved (4)
Oct 5, 1977 · 30 min
Willona worries over whether or not she will be able to adopt Penny. Meanwhile, a well meaning, Bookman, tries to help out by telling the social worker, that he's married to Willo
Thelma Moves Out
Oct 12, 1977 · 30 min
Fed up with having no privacy and being burdened by two brothers, Thelma decides to move out and into an apartment that is shared by three other roommates.
Willona, the Fuzz
Oct 19, 1977 · 30 min
Willona is offered a new job but her morals force her to refuse it. However, when Penny has her heart set on figure skating lessons, Willona decides to set her morals and values a
Wheels
Nov 2, 1977 · 30 min
J.J. and his friends become partners in the ownership of car, a car that they foolishly bought from Bookman. However, the quality of the car is minor compared to the constant figh
Breaker, Breaker
Nov 9, 1977 · 30 min
Michael passes himself off as J.J. while using a CB radio and quickly discovers he's not the only one who's putting on an act. A girl he contacts who calls herself Fun Girl really
Bye, Bye, Bookman
Nov 16, 1977 · 30 min
The conditions in the building become to much for Willona, Penny and the Evans kids to bare so they decide to circulate a petition that would terminate Bookman as the superintendet
Thelma's Brief Encounter
Dec 7, 1977 · 30 min
Thelma begins dating a man named Lloyd Williams, however, suspicions run rampant between J.J., Willona and Michael who become convinced he's married. However, J.J. makes a discove
Requiem for a Wino
Dec 14, 1977 · 30 min
Fishbone, a wino, complains that he has no friends and quickly discovers he has many when a vagrant steals his wallet and is later killed in a car accident. Everyone assumes, Fish
Penny's Christmas
Dec 21, 1977 · 30 min
After getting her wallet stolen, Penny steals a necklace from a department store in a desperate attempt to try to get Willona a Christmas gift. However, Penny's attempts may lead
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Jan 4, 1978 · 30 min
Michael's apathetic behavior towards household chores and homework leads J.J. to put his foot down and to step in as a father figure. He really comes down hard when Michael and Pe
Willona's Mr. Right
Jan 11, 1978 · 30 min
Willona's old boyfriend arrives back in town and asks Willona her hand in marraige. However, Willona turns him down since his job would have her and Penny constantly moving. Mean
J.J. and the Boss' Daughter
Jan 18, 1978 · 30 min
J.J. is given a sexy assistant, one whom he makes a play for immediately. However, later when he learns that she's the boss's daughter, he continues to go out with her thinking th
Where There's Smoke
Jan 25, 1978 · 30 min
A hole has been burned into one of the couch cushions and J.J., Thelma and Michael each have their own versions of how it got there. However, Penny is the only person who knows th
I Had a Dream
Jan 30, 1978 · 30 min
J.J. wants a promotion at work but a co-worker convinces him that the promotion will only go to a white man. This leads J.J. to have a crazy dream where he gets to experience bein
The Boarder
Feb 6, 1978 · 30 min
To pick up extra money for the rent, J.J. decides to take in a boarder. However, little does he know the man he takes in, is placed their by the police department for his protecti
J.J.'s Condition
Feb 13, 1978 · 30 min
J.J.'s latest relationship with a woman, Barbara, who's currently married but plans on divorcing her husband, results with him coming down with an ulcer. The situation is compound
Willona, the Other Woman
Feb 27, 1978 · 30 min
Bookman's strange behavior leads his wife, Violet to become convinced that he's seeing another woman. However, appearances can be deceiving especially when Violet catches Willona
Something Old, Something New
Mar 13, 1978 · 30 min
Grandpa Evans visits and has plans of becoming rich thanks to his new invention. Meanwhile, Lena, Grandpa's fiancee gets tired of being ignored and decides to leave him.
Willona's New Job
Mar 20, 1978 · 30 min
Willona's boyfriend, Frank, continues his efforts to try to get her to marry him. Meanwhile, down at the boutique, Willona gets a promotion but Frank is determined to get her to t
Write On, Thelma
Mar 27, 1978 · 30 min
Thelma has written a full length play and is ecstatic when it is chosen to be produced as the local theater's latest production. Thelma quickly realizes a few changes to her manus
That's Entertainment, Evans Style
Apr 3, 1978 · 30 min
A child-care center in the neighborhood is scheduled to close due to lack of funds. To keep it open, the Evan's plan a show to raise money from the neighbors.