I was happy when David decided to go back to 1978 because he never would have fit in and been happy in 1986.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

I was glad he went back to 1978. It's like he said, they would've just treated him like a guinea pig for the rest of his life, and even though that was his family, he just never would've fit in.
the saddest thing in life is wasted talent

Even if the timeline went on, I'd bet his 1986 parents would've preferred he find peace in a place where he belongs.
Even more so if they somehow knew that meant going back to 1978.

No, I'm glad he made the choice to go back to 1978. If he stayed in 1986, he would never have any peace in his life.

He has made a trip to the woods right? He could say that he found it in the woods. Besides-no one would believe the truth. It's best to keep it to your self.
Conspiracy therories are cleverly thought out to evade the real truth
Jay

But at the end how woud have David explained that little creature from the ship be brought back with him. His brother saw the creature and smiled at the end, but I wonder what the parents would have thought about it?

Not at all, because David would never have had a normal life if he got off then. Better to go back to his own time and have a normal life.

Permission to hug?! - Abby
You never have to ask. - Gibbs

Yes, OP I wanted him to stay in 1986. Plus, his little brother was now a pretty cool big brother.
LOL @ PremRaj

I was really happy for David when he went back to 1978. He left the chaous of the 80's and goes back to the peaceful setting with his parents. I always felt the ending was so uplifting because he was able to back to his own time period where he knew he belonged.

yup!!!cause it was risky to go back and his family finally gets him back after 8yrs away but its also true he would have a hard time adjusting to 1986

I was sad and happy for him. Who would want such a great adventure to end? But all good things come to an end, and he was right - he didn't belong there.

It was sad for his parents but David made the right decision because he'd never get peace in that timeline. NASA would want to experiment on him further while he wouldn't fit in at school (his friends are all adults while he had few interests in common with the twelve-year-olds of 1986).
"I always pretend to root for Gryffindors but, secretly, I love my Slytherin boys."~ Karen, W&G

as a kid i assumed going back in time re-writes the future, and as an adult i think this was how the writers intended it to bethe seperate timelines thing seems a bit too complicated for a kids film not to mention kinda depressing.

I used to be really sad for his 1986 family when I watched this as a kid. But now I choose to believe their happiness is shortlived as David going back in time re-writes the future. It's a happier alternative than the idea that a seperate timeline is created. I wonder which version the writers intended to be the case.

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