Ep 17. Thank You for Not Smoking

Becker season 5 episode 17, titled Thank You for Not Smoking, follows the daily life of Dr. John Becker, a grumpy and opinionated general practitioner, and his colleagues at their small medical practice in the Bronx, New York. In this particular episode, Becker's distaste for smokers is put to the test when he tries to help one of his patients quit his long-time habit.

The episode begins with Becker experiencing his usual disgruntled attitude towards smokers while on a cigarette break with his friend and receptionist, Linda. He is startled when he sees a teenage boy smoking and confronts him in a typical Becker fashion. After the encounter, he learns that the boy is actually the son of one of his patients, Dana, who is quickly approaching the due date of her pregnancy.

Later, when Dana comes in for her appointment, she confesses to Becker that she's been smoking throughout her pregnancy despite her previous efforts to quit. Becker, who has a particular disdain for pregnant smokers, initially tries to scold her but eventually gives in to her plea for help in quitting. Becker attempts to convince Dana that it is never too late to quit and offers her a pamphlet for a local anti-smoking group. However, it quickly becomes clear that the pamphlet is not enough.

Dana's husband, Gene, is also struggling to quit smoking, and Becker decides to take matters into his own hands by suggesting they both try nicotine patches. But when he later realizes that they both didn't take his advice, he confronts them with a tirade, which ultimately results in them being both fed up and walking out of the practice.

Despite his frustration, Becker starts to feel guilty and takes it upon himself to track down Dana and apologize for going too far. He discovers that Dana had been in labor and was on her way to the hospital, but her water broke in the middle of the street. Becker rushes Dana and Gene to the hospital and calms them down enough to focus on the birth of their child.

The episode ends with Becker feeling humbled and guilty for his earlier outburst, but also grateful to have been able to help Dana at a crucial moment. In typical Becker fashion, he still shows disdain towards smokers but has a newfound understanding of the challenges they face in quitting.

Overall, Thank You for Not Smoking is a heartfelt and relatable episode that touches on the difficulties of quitting smoking and the complicated relationship that people have with their vices. The episode also explores Becker's character development, showcasing his struggles to connect with his patients while still maintaining his gruff exterior.