User Reviews

The Bundys take a stand against the telephone company when they are overcharged. Al fights back. Unfortunately, the loss of the telephone could be social death for Kelly and Peggy. Peggy's mom wants to talk to her every day and when she can't anymore. She decides to take action. Kelly's social life is evolved around the family telephone because we didn't all have cellular or mobile phones in 1987. So the Rhoades have the pleasure of taking messages for the Bundys until they can take no more. Al wants to stand his ground but the idea of Peggy's mother coming to stay might be the final straw that broke Al Bundy's back. It's not a bad episode but it's not one of my favorites.

This one has a pretty high rating here on IMDb, but I don't find it very funny: I think that the plot is kinda weak and the big laughs just aren't there.

Al isn't happy about a large phone bill, especially the $80 call to Canada that no-one is owning up to making. Al refuses to pay the bill, and as a result the phone is cut off, much to the dismay of Kelly.

Also bothering Al is a new crime light in the street, which shines directly in his face as he is trying to sleep.

The Bundys not having a phone is a rather mundane situation on which to hang an entire episode, and the whole thing about the crime light is just there in order to end the show with a cruel twist of fate for Al. It's certainly not one of the season's better episodes.

This second season has the show find his running speed, except for his beginning and ending. The numerous two-parts at the start breaks the tempo, all the more than one is good (the vacations) and the other a bit dull (the strip). Then, the season leaves with an terrible last show with lousy Peggy's relatives.

Beyond, it remains very funny: the cast is full of talent, the scripts are really comedy and pay attention to everything. It's very accurate on relationships, siblings feud and social awareness: the basic rule is that without money, you have nothing and be nothing as well.

In other words, everything has a price and the constant grunts of Al about his money and bills are a good lesson, said in funny and not moralistic way. Whereas in other shows, people live easy, spoiled lives, here, the focus is on the basic step: the buying power and where it comes from, that's to say from your work, meaning from what the boss wants to pay you. To illustrate this subtle capitalist critic, the best show would be (2.7) For Whom the Bell Tolls or (2.16) Master the Possibilities.

The other highlights of this season would be (2.14) Guys and Dolls (to see why Al lives in the windy city), (2.18) The Great Escape (to see a cool one with the kids) and 2.10 (beard), 2.12 (babe), 2.19 (impotence) and 2.21 (racetrack) for strong performances of Steve and Marcie.