Ep 12. It's a Bundyful Life (2)

It's a Bundyful Life Part 2 is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Married...with Children. In this episode, a guardian angel gives Al Bundy a glimpse of what his life would have been like if he had never been born. The alternate reality Al discovers is one where he never existed and his family was ultimately happier for it. Initially, Al is pleased to see how well Peggy, Kelly, and Bud are doing in his absence, but he quickly realizes that their success has come at a high price and decides to fight to get his old life back.

The episode opens with Al being told by a guardian angel that he never existed. He quickly realizes the implications of this and begins to fear for his own life. He is taken to a world where his wife Peggy is working hard as a waitress in a diner, his daughter Kelly is a successful businesswoman, and his son Bud is a football star. However, Al is not present in any of their lives, and each of their lives are drastically different from what they were with Al in their lives. Peggy is worn out and never has time to make any food other than canned or frozen, Kelly is a businesswoman who never found the time to marry, and Bud is a football star who never went to college.

Surprisingly, Al sees how happy his family is without him. He is pleased to see Peggy is no longer a housewife, taking cooking lessons or redecorating, but instead working hard in her job and not being lazy like she was when Al was around. Kelly is no longer the ditzy teenage girl she used to be with Al around, and Bud is a successful football star but is not at all convinced anyone likes him.

However, Al soon realizes the consequences of his absence. He sees that Peggy is a single mother tired of living a hard life of working hard and not being able to provide her kids with a good home and proper meals; Kelly still has nobody important in her life, and is lacking a mother figure with Peggy still working all day, and Bud is left with only his coach to look after him, as his father is not there. Seeing how much better life could have been for his family without him, Al is deeply conflicted and begins to wish he had never gone to that bridge to end it all.

The angel gives Al a chance to get back his old life, and Al eagerly accepts. However, when he returns to the present day, nothing seems to have changed. He watches as Peggy sleeps, Bud is asleep on the couch, and Kelly is talking to her mother. He realizes that he has to fight for his place in his family and make their lives better, despite the hardships. Al steps into the present day and declares that he's not leaving his family and accepts his reality for what it is. The episode ends with Al realizing that his family needs him, and he needs them, no matter how difficult things get.

This episode is a classic example of the Married...with Children style of comedy, showing how even the most dysfunctional family can come together and love one another in their own unique way. It's a Bundyful Life (2) covers a lot of ground, showcasing how people's lives can drastically change with the removal of one important person. The family dynamics are explored in detail, with Al's absence leaving a void in each of his family members' lives. The episode ends with a heartwarming message that family is everything, which makes it a perfect Christmas special.