Two and a Half Men was as much an exploration of character as it was a comedy. Whilst some characters grew as the series progressed, others remained fixed in the same cycle of problems. Charlie's failure to address his drinking and womanizing, and Alan's reluctance to branch out on his own, were recurring themes throughout the series and afforded numerous comedic moments - and no shortage of arguments.
The series' run of 12 seasons allowed ample time for the writers to explore multiple angles, and in many cases, to push the limits of what could be shown on television. What resulted was an entertaining, never-gets-old portrayal of two men who live in moderate disharmony.
10 Danny Isn't Happy
When Alan and Walden pretend to be in a homosexual relationship, one of the people who believe them is Danny, a lesbian who visits the beach house with her girlfriend, Kiki. Danny bears a strong resemblance to his ex-wife, Bridget. Walden eventually confesses that he is not really gay, and Danny feels sympathetic towards him.
When Walden and Danny return inside and see Alan kissing Kiki, Danny punches Alan in the face not once, but three times, leaving him writhing in pain and without any confusion as to what Danny thinks of him. Violence is never the answer!
9 Steven Tyler Takes On Charlie
Sad about how things ended with Mia, and feeling frustrated with Alan for Alan's perceived ingratitude and stupidity, Charlie sinks into a deep depression. Charlie begins to project all of his problems onto Alan, finding fault in him for everything. Eventually, Alan comes to the realization that Charlie is using him as an excuse to avoid dealing with his own problems.
Charlie's neighbor, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, annoys Charlie with his loud singing. The two argue with one another. Charlie eventually takes his frustrations with his own life out on Steven Tyler, only to lose a fight in a humiliating manner.
8 Bite Me
Charlie is annoyed by his mother, Evelyn, and Alan is frustrated by Judith. They take their frustrations out on each other in a series of mean-spirited gestures, such as when Charlie rubs Alan's meat patty underneath his sweaty armpits and spits in Alan's food, or when Alan licks Charlie's utensils.
Fortunately for Alan and Charlie, friendly stalker Rose is around to help them sort out their complicated relationship. She tells Charlie that he and Alan could benefit from talking out their problems. Charlie disagrees and says that's not necessary. As he takes the spat on burger patty to Alan, he says, "Choke on it, princess." Alan replies, "Bite me," adding a cuss word, indicating that the feud was far from over.
7 Judith Kicks Herb To The Curb
When Alan arrives to pick up Jake from Judith's house, he is delighted to hear that Judith and Herb have been fighting. Things worsen between them when Herb takes Charlie's advice and finds himself kicked out of Judith's house. Alan, reveling in schadenfreude but also seeing an opportunity to sleep with Judith, goes to Judith's house and "consoles" her.
Herb tries his best to imitate Charlie's way with women but fails humiliatingly. It is revealed later that Judith is pregnant, and Herb and Judith reconcile. Judith and Herb's relationship was always filled with tension, however. They eventually divorce, after Herb has an affair with his receptionist.
6 The Divorce Lawyer
Charlie is a serial womanizer and always looking for his next fling. Some of his flings end badly, though, such as when he began sleeping with Alan's divorce lawyer, Laura. Initially, it's a casual thing for them both. However, things sour when Charlie tires of the fling and refuses to sleep with Laura when she insists that he does, and the two parts ways bitterly.
Unsurprisingly, Laura is passive-aggressive and unprofessional, and Alan fires her. Laura tells Alan to ask Charlie to explain what has happened. When Alan realizes that Charlie slept with his divorce lawyer, he confronts Charlie, who absconds off the balcony. Alan waits for Charlie and then confronts him when he finally returns home.
5 The Reduction
When Charlie's girlfriend, Chelsea, complains of back pain, Alan suggests that she gets breast reduction surgery. As a chiropractor, Alan is likely to have a good understanding of the cause of the back pain. However, Charlie doesn't agree with Alan's recommendation.
Charlie becomes furious with Alan. "What are you doing sticking your nose into my fiancee's breasts?" He says. As Alan insists that he was just trying to help, Charlie says that the only reduction in the house should be Alan moving out. Consequently, Alan spends some awkward time at mother Evelyn's house, as Charlie comes to terms with the idea of Chelsea getting surgery.
4 Jake's Public Humiliation
At the cinema, Jake and Charlie get into a disagreement about food. They continue their bickering, even after the movie has ended and the trio has gone to an ice cream parlor. At the parlor, Jake is mortified when the disagreement between Charlie and Alan is witnessed by some of his schoolmates.
Judith calls and says that Jake doesn't want to spend time at Charlie and Alan's house on the weekends anymore. This prompts Alan and Charlie to evaluate their brotherly relationships and the shortcomings therein. Alan and Charlie go to Judith's house, but Charlie doesn't feel that he owes Jake an apology, and the situation worsens. Judith intercedes and forces Jake to go with Alan and Charlie - but he drives off without them.
3 Pale & Unrefined
When Lyndsay says that she doesn't feel like going to the opera, contrite Zoey says that the opera isn't for everyone. "It requires a refined taste and a certain amount of education," she says snottily, infuriating Lyndsay, who says that she has an Arts degree. When things further sour, everything becomes a competition between them as they both strive to be the prima donna in the household.
Lyndsay and Zoey have another showdown. "Bite my pale, unrefined ass!" Lyndsay screams at Zoey. This prompts Zoey to throw more insults at Lyndsay, and it seems as though the chance of friendship between the pair is permanently dashed. However, they later talk about their disagreement over wine - not without a few snide insults from Zoey - and the relationship is mended.
2 Cinnamon Buns
When Alan discovers that Lyndsey once starred in a pornographic film as "Cinnamon Buns", he has a discussion with her. Deciding that honesty is the best policy, Alan admits to all of the bad things that he's done in the past, which are far worse than anything that Lyndsey has done. She is appalled after hearing Alan's long list of dubious behavior and breaks up with him.
Meanwhile, housemate Walden is having a party. Alan decides to do away with his sorrows and joins in the fun. Lyndsey, having calmed down, arrives just as Alan is surrounded by beautiful, scantily clad women. Fortunately, Walden throws Alan off the balcony and tells Lyndsey that Alan isn't at home, saving him from having to do some more explaining. However, Alan ruins everything again the next day when he confesses to Lyndsey that he actually was at home.
1 The $38 Owed Dollars
Although it's usually Charlie helping out Alan, who is known for 'forgetting his wallet', Alan loans Charlie $38. Charlie promises to repay the debt the following morning, but that doesn't happen. Alan watches as Charlie tips Berta $75 in addition to paying her for her hours worked. Alan asks Charlie for his $38 back again, but because he doesn't have change for $100, he doesn't get his$38.
Later, Alan steals the gas from Charlie's car. Charlie's car runs out of fuel, and he arrives home furious, tired, and stressed. After smelling the fuel on Alan, he realizes that Alan stole his fuel and says that the petrol nullifies the debt - but Alan, parsimonious as ever, says that Charlie only had $13.22 worth of fuel in his car and hence Charlie still owes him money. Charlie, incensed, kicks Alan out and has the locks changed.
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June 25, 2021 at 12:00AM
