Recap / Married With Children S 8 E 16 How Green Was My Apple

The Bundys and the D'Arcys get into a property line dispute that escalates into a prank war.

This episode contains examples of:

• Blatant Lies: Danny Bonaduce and Gary Coleman claim to not be who they are, no matter how clear it is.
• Escalating War: Granted, the war doesn't start out small with both sides commandeering others property; it ends with both sides having their houses ruined.
• Evil Laugh: Al after jacking up the D'Arcy house.
• Exact Words: Jefferson assures Al that he won't have to worry about a toll in the driveway anymore. Marcy immediately blows up the driveway.
• For Want Of A Nail: If Jefferson had reimbursed Al for the apple (even though it was rightfully his), both parties wouldn't have had their houses destroyed.
• Harmless Electrocution: Marcy being electrocuted by the severed phone line in the hot tub is treated as a minor inconvenience and she's fine by the next scene.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Some back-and-forth. Marcy and Jefferson celebrate winning the property dispute, but Al uses that exact result to legally claim a chunk of their backyard. Marcy and Jefferson respond by setting up a toll booth in Al's driveway.
• Hollywood Law: This episode runs off the premise that anything on another person's property belongs to them.
• Hypocrite Has a Point: While Al is called out for mooching off the D'Arcys, his assessment of Jefferson's station in life is entirely correct.
  Al: Excuse me, you don't have any property. Your wife has property, some of which is you.
• Ignored Aesop: Lampshaded
  Al: There's probably a lesson to be learned from all this, but I'll be damned if I know what it is.
• Instantly Proven Wrong: After the surveyor stresses to Peg that he was absolutely not "the little Partridge boy" and has no idea what she's talking about, co-star Dave Madden walks in to tell him they have to get going to a gig in Pittsburgh. Danny reluctantly picks up a guitar and heads outside, after which we hear "a psychedelic bus" starting up.
• Ironic Echo: When Marcy expresses frustration over the Bundys taking over part of her backyard, Al reminds her what she said when declaring victory over getting the apple tree: "What's our'n is our'n, and what's your'n is your'n."
• Motive Decay: Once the D'Arcys commandeer Al's driveway, it's clear the war is not about the apple anymore.
• Old Shame: Danny Bonaduce and Gary Coleman apparently view their Star-Making Role as this, as they deny vehemently who they are.
• Politically Incorrect Villain: Marcy shows a lot of racism towards Indigenous people in this episode calling the Bundy's behavior "aboriginal" and flat out admits she's happy the Native Americans were massacred.
• Property Line: This is what starts the whole fight; once Al jacks the D'Arcy's house, though, neither side uses the property line rule to justify their actions.
• Shout-Out: With the TV cut off, Al and Peg had Kelly and Bud recreate assorted shows to fill the time. Peg did not appreciate the kids' attempt to recreate Martin. They later do COPS (1989), with Buck as a drug dealer.
• Special Guest: Danny Bonaduce and Gary Coleman appear working as a surveyor and code inspector respectively. Hilariously, both deny who they are.
• Take That!: Al further irritates Gary Coleman into fining Marcy and Jefferson by alluding to Ted Danson's infamous blackface stunt at a Friars Club roast a few months earlier.
  Al: They might not let you in because the only black person they respect is Ted Danson.
  Gary: Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Bundy?!
• A Taste Of His Own Medicine: Jefferson responds to the backyard nonsense by cutting off the Bundys' cable TV, devastating Peg. Al retaliates by cutting the D'Arcy phone line (which ends up falling in the jacuzzi and electrocuting Marcy).
• Tranquil Fury: After Al jacks up the D'Arcy house and causes some chaos, Jefferson quite calmly reaches for the phone and calls an old friend to ask up arranging a rocket attack.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Marcy over Peg participating in Al's nonsense.
• Worthy Opponent: Stuck with a massive fine, Jefferson concedes that Al is indeed quite the worthy adversary, albeit only saying so right before Marcy blows up the Bundys' driveway.
• You're Insane!: In the face of a steep toll in his own driveway.
  Al: $1,500?! Are you crazy?!
  Jefferson: [cocking a shotgun] Who you callin' crazy, punk?
  Al: [beat] Your wife.