When the American sitcom Growing Pains was first broadcast in China in the 1990s, it was the first window for many in the country into American middle-class life.
In the series, a doctor father, a journalist mother and four children live in a spacious suburban home with room for mistakes and second chances.
While the show lightly touched on serious social issues, it projected a picture of health, stability and security.
However, Chinese viewers have had a chance to rethink the show since state…