4 out of 5

Directors: Various TV people

Ah, boy, this was such an inspiring show. Even by todays standards, Married With Children started with surprising zest, mixing the family comedy with the kind of cynicism and bile that is rarely seen in such a pure form spread over a whole show – normally you have your one bitter or sad character. Here? Everyones tainted. While Season 1 was still getting its footing somewhat (Al & Peggy probably sleep together more this season than they would the entire rest of the shows run), the format was put down in stone and the characters just meshed in a really strange way. How do you watch these people who hate each other? And in my mind, its because its married with this inevitability – embodied in every shrug of Als shoulders or insult slung from family member to family member – that made it seem that much more real and understandable. Were not laughing AT these people, but WITH them, in an odd way. Theres some mugging that happens in this first season, and some weak plot elements (not weak, just not natural) – elements that would pop up in later seasons – but otherwise you get the roots of the greatness in the works.