Ep 7. For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls is the seventh episode from the second season of the classic sitcom Married...with Children. The episode was first aired on December 16, 1987, on Fox Network.

The episode revolves around the Bundys' plans for Christmas. Al Bundy, the head of the Bundy family, was looking forward to spending Christmas at home watching football, drinking beer, and eating junk food. On the other hand, his wife Peggy, daughter Kelly, and son Bud were keen on having a traditional old-fashioned Christmas with a tree, gifts, and carols.

To avoid spending money on a tree, Al convinces his family to go to the forest and cut down a Christmas tree themselves. After several attempts, the Bundy family finally finds a tree, but it turns out to be the Mayor's tree. They nevertheless decide to steal it and bring it home.

As the Bundys start decorating the tree, they discover that it was infested with beetles. Meanwhile, Marcy, the Bundys' neighbor, arrives with a bell from the local church. She asks the Bundys to house the bell temporarily since her house was broken into, and she is afraid that the robbers may come back for the bell.

The Bundys agree to keep the bell, and Al forbids anyone from ringing it. Peggy, Kelly, and Bud are fascinated by the bell and cannot resist ringing it. Al finally gives in and decides to ring the bell himself, which leads to a series of unfortunate events.

The bell causes the Bundys to remember some of their worst Christmas memories. Al recalls the time when his parents abandoned him on Christmas day, Peggy remembers the year when she got a perm for Christmas, and Bud reveals the time when he got his tongue stuck to a frozen pole while trying to impress a girl.

Meanwhile, Marcy's husband, Steve, becomes concerned about the whereabouts of the bell and tries to convince the Bundys to give it back to the church. He even offers to pay for damages caused by the beetles' infestation on the Mayor's tree.

As the episode progresses, the Bundys realize the true meaning of Christmas and end up spending it together as a family, watching football, eating junk food, and exchanging gifts.

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a hilarious and heartwarming episode that showcases the dysfunctional yet lovable Bundy family's dynamics. The episode highlights the importance of family traditions and togetherness during the holidays. The episode's witty humor and relatable characters make it a classic for fans of the show and an excellent introduction for new viewers.