Ep 12. Bad to the Bone

Becker season 5 episode 12, titled "Bad to the Bone," follows Dr. John Becker, a grumpy and opinionated doctor who runs a small practice in the Bronx. The episode begins with Becker treating a patient, Mrs. Nadelman, who complains of severe back pain. After examining her, Becker suggests that her pain is a result of her weight. Mrs. Nadelman is offended and storms out of the clinic.

Later, Becker is confronted by his neighbor, Chris, who tells him that Mrs. Nadelman has filed a complaint against him for being insensitive. Becker is angry and insists that he was only being honest with Mrs. Nadelman. Chris suggests that Becker attend an anger management class to help him deal with his anger and communication issues.

Reluctantly, Becker agrees to attend the class but is skeptical about its effectiveness. At the class, he meets a group of people who are struggling with their own anger issues and are trying to find ways to cope with them. Becker initially resents being there but eventually starts to open up about his own issues and even starts to make progress.

Meanwhile, at the clinic, Linda, Becker's nurse, is dealing with her own problem. She has a crush on one of the patients, Mr. Pinkus, but is too shy to tell him. She confides in Margaret, the clinic's receptionist, who encourages her to take a chance and tell Mr. Pinkus how she feels.

After some hesitation, Linda gathers the courage to ask Mr. Pinkus out on a date. To her surprise, he agrees, and they make plans to go out that night. However, Linda starts to feel insecure and worries that Mr. Pinkus won't like her. Margaret helps Linda prepare for the date, giving her a makeover and offering her encouragement.

Back at the anger management class, Becker is making progress but still struggling to control his anger. One day, he gets into an argument with one of the other members of the class, which escalates quickly. However, Becker manages to keep his composure and diffuse the situation without resorting to anger.

Later that night, Linda and Mr. Pinkus have a great time on their date. However, as they say goodnight, Mr. Pinkus reveals that he is moving to another city and won't be able to see Linda again. Linda is heartbroken, but Margaret helps her see that it was still a great experience and that she should be proud of herself for taking a chance.

In the end, Becker graduates from the anger management program and feels more in control of his emotions. Linda learns to be more confident and take risks, and Margaret gets to be the supportive friend and mentor that she always is. "Bad to the Bone" is a touching and humorous episode that reminds us all to confront our own shortcomings and strive for personal growth.