Ep 17. The Incredible Bulk

The Bernie Mac Show season 2 episode 17 titled "The Incredible Bulk" revolves around Bernie's struggles to keep his promises to his family while balancing his career obligations.

The episode begins with Bernie getting into an accident while driving his vintage car with his friend's daughter, Rhonda. After the crash, Bernie scolds Rhonda for leaving the car to call for help and damaging the car even further. Rhonda, who is struggling with her weight, feels humiliated and decides to punish herself by not eating.

Meanwhile, Bernie's nephew, Jordan, is having trouble keeping up with his football team's training schedule. When Bernie explains to Jordan the importance of keeping his word and fulfilling his commitments, Jordan reminds Bernie of his own struggle to keep his promises and how he often makes excuses for not being able to make it to important events in his family's lives.

In an effort to make amends and keep his promise to Jordan, Bernie takes him to the gym. There, Bernie gets into a bet about lifting weights with the gym owner, who is unimpressed with Bernie's physique. In an attempt to prove himself, Bernie overexerts himself and ends up being unable to move his arms.

With Bernie out of commission, he relies on his wife Wanda to take care of him as well as the family's obligations. Wanda takes on the challenge but quickly becomes overwhelmed with the amount of tasks she has to manage. Meanwhile, Rhonda's self-punishment starts to take a toll on her health, and she faints during her school's basketball game.

As Bernie recovers and Jordan learns about Rhonda's situation, they both realize the importance of staying accountable and fulfilling their promises. However, Bernie also realizes that he needs to prioritize his health and family over his work obligations.

In the end, Bernie learns a valuable lesson about balancing his commitments and taking care of himself and his loved ones. The episode showcases the importance of accountability and fulfilling promises while highlighting the consequences of overworking and neglecting one's health and family.