Barry Williams and Christopher Knight look back at the most engaging Brady Bunch plots

Time of India

6 days ago

Barry Williams
and
Christopher Knight
are going back in time on a nostalgic trip through The Brady Bunch, discussing which characters they think had the most engaging storylines on the iconic classic sitcom.
During the May 20, 2025, episode of their podcast The Real Brady Bros., the co-hosts and former co-stars responded to fan-submitted questions, one of which read: what Brady boy and what Brady girl had the most intriguing storylines throughout the run of the show?
Williams, 70, who acted as the older brother Greg Brady, didn't have any hesitation in selecting Jan Brady, played by Eve Plumb.
"Jan had the most compelling storylines, in my opinion, because Jan was more complex." Williams explained. "She was more upset. She was a middle child in the classical sense. And, you know, a little sisterly to Cindy, but in a way competitive with Marcia."
Williams continued to describe how Jan's inner conflicts and emotional depth gave her an edge.
"She always had a lot of angst, and I think that added some depth to the show," he said.
"Marcia was sort of the quintessential California beach girl—sweet and pretty and popular. And Cindy, you know, she was sort of… listening in, tattletale, not very smart for most seasons, character-wise. So Jan, I think, had really interesting kind of waters to walk."
Knight, 67, who portrayed middle brother Peter Brady, concurred with Williams' assessment and drew a connection between Jan and his own on-screen persona.
I think applying the same logic, Peter would have the same or a similar kind of scope," Knight said. "And I think the reason for that is it's fairly simple to define what the youngest is supposed to be and write sort of cliché to that—the tattletale—and the oldest—the leaders."
He went on to stress the narrative freedom afforded the middle children.
"Inasmuch as both Marcia and Greg had that leader role, Bobby and Cindy were the little kids who were adorable.
In the middle, there's no definition. You can go any number of ways."
The two actors attributed the "middle child syndrome" as bestowing Jan and Peter with their best arcs—teeming with development, drama, and searching for identity. As for the outer siblings, they had clearer roles, but writers could do more with the middle children, resulting in more richer and emotionally complex storylines.
The Real Brady Bros. podcast has become a fan favorite for its behind-the-scenes thoughts and emotional reminiscences about the lasting legacy of The Brady Bunch, and this episode provided another reminder of just how rich the show actually was on its sunny surface.