History Heartwarming / MarriedWithChildren

* Peggy asking the kids to teach her about sports so that she can watch games with Al and understand what's going on, instead of him ignoring her.

* Al and Marcy have a bonding moment in "Hot Off The Grill" late in the episode, as Marcy spends the whole time feeling miserable over the death of her aunt, which Steve doesn't console her for due to his hatred of said aunt. It makes for a contrast to Al's usually antagonistic attitude towards Marcy.

* After the show had ended, Creator/EdONeill (Al) visited on the set where Creator/ChristinaApplegate (Kelly) was filming an episode of ''Jesse'' without her knowing, pretending to be someone who opened the door for her in the scene. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVygOBHV3HY "Where have you been, young lady?!"]] The surprise nearly brought Christina to [[TearsOfJoy tears]].

* Al and Marcy bonding in "At The Zoo" over Steve's laziness. It's especially sweet given how Al while Al bounces back and forth between being friendly and antagonistic towards Steve, he's consistently antagonistic towards Marcy but is willing to dole out sympathy as he understands her situation.

* You know, for a family of malcontents, Bud and Kelly were surprisingly obedient and loving towards their parents. Whenever one of the parents was in trouble and the other seemed blase' about helping them, Kelly or Bud would always ask "What about mom?" or "What about dad?" Or whenever Al was wheelchair bound it was always Kelly or Bud pushing him or feeding him or getting him his juice. Or when Peggy thought that Al was cheating on her with the Shoe Groupie, the look of the kids faces show that they were mad at their father on their mother's behalf.

* You know, for a family of malcontents, Bud and Kelly were surprisingly obedient and loving towards their parents. Whenever one of the parents was in trouble and the other seemed blas' about helping them, Kelly or Bud would always ask "What about mom?" or "What about dad?" Or whenever Al was wheelchair bound it was always Kelly or Bud pushing him or feeding him or getting him his juice. Or when Peggy thought that Al was cheating on her with the Shoe Groupie, the look of the kids faces show that they were mad at Allen on their mother's behalf.

* Marcy and Steve Rhoades's relationship, was actually surprisingly ideal in the early seasons. It was based around compromise, understanding, and being happy with each other. If not for the Bundy's corruption, they almost certainly would've had a long happy marriage.

You probably wouldn't expect this show to have heart-warming moments, considering how much BlackComedy and KafkaComedy it has (it ''was'' written as a TakeThat against the 1980s sitcoms that were warm and wholesome, which is why its original title was, ''Not The Cosbys''). However, there are moments that show that the Bundys do care about each other, despite being miserable and wanting nothing more than to either kill each other or leave and strike out on their own under an assumed identity.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to tell Peg that he's not as good a man as she thinks he is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend any of his money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry any woman he wants, but someone like Peg, a middle-aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick him out on his ass, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* Marcy and Steve Rhoades's relationship, was actually surprisingly ideal in the early seasons. It was based around compromise, understanding, and being happy for each other. If not for the Bundy's corruption they almost certainly would've had a long happy marriage.

* From "She's Having a Baby: Part 2"[[note]]During the Peggy pregnancy storyline at the start of Season 6[[/note]], she brings up how a wave machine can be relaxing for the baby in the womb. But Al had his eyes on a new socket set he saw advertised. Since he only has enough money for one or the other, Peg assumes toward the end that he bought it. Instead, he comes home with the wave machine.
* From "Rites of Passage": Bud's 18th birthday is shaping up to be pathetic. No girls want to spend time with him, his sister gives him a present that mocks him and his Mom is planning a party fit for a six year old, complete with a horse and a clown (the latter of whom turns out to be a psycho who stabs stuffed animals). After Peg, Kelly and Marcy leave the room Al tells Bud how they're ''really'' gonna spend his birthday: Al's gonna continue a longstanding Bundy tradition and take Bud to the nudie bar, where Al cheats dancers out of tips and starts a massive bar fight. At the end of the episode, Al and Bud are broke, bruised and battered but have finally had a great father-son moment. Al is especially proud of his boy for how well he fought, including cheating as a CombatPragmatist by bashing a chair over the head of a guy who offered the "rookie" a free shot.

* When Al finds Marcy at his bar and, rather than snark at her as per usual when shes at her lowest point, he has a cmforting and unusually mature talk with her. About how alike they really are.

** Also during that episode, Al has been invited to speak at the dance to present an award. Instead, he uses to the opportunity to go on a lengthy tirade against marriage. However, after spotting a teacher repeatedly hitting on Peg, Al hits him in the head with the microphone.

* In an episode where a Peeping Tom has been making his way through the neighborhood, spying on everyone--''twice''--except for Peggy, leaving her feeling undesirable. Al tries to restore her self-esteem by disguising himself as the peeper. Unfortunately, it gets him caught and beat up by the enraged group of vigilante women who've been victimized by the guy. After Al gets out of the hospital, Peggy sweetly thanks him for trying to make her feel better.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to tell Peg that he's not as good a man as she thinks he is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend any of his money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry any woman he wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick him out on his ass, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to tell Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend any of his money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry any woman he wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick him out on his ass, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* When a gay man shows up on Al's doorstep to complain that his husband is running around with Peg, Al is initially taken aback, but ultimately has a perfectly nice conversation with the man and the two spend a pleasant evening together. Al even becomes genuinely angry on the man's behalf and tells his husband off--"You've got a terrific guy at home waiting for you!"
* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to talk to Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend his money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry any woman he wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick him out on his ass, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to talk to Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry anyone he wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick his ass and kick him out, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to talk to Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll make her be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry anyone who wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick his ass and kick him out, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to talk to Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll maker be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry anyone who wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick his ass and kick him out, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* After the show had ended, Ed O'Neill (Al) visited on the set where Christina Applegate (Kelly) was filming an episode of ''Jesse'' without her knowing, pretending to be someone who opened the door for her in the scene. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVygOBHV3HY "Where have you been, young lady?!"]] The surprise nearly brought Christina to [[TearsOfJoy tears]].

* Then ending of the Season 6 "pregnancy" arc, in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72h-izRDNpg "Al Bundy: Shoe Dick."]] A meta-example: Al wakes up after [[spoiler: a season-long dream. As noted elsewhere, RealLifeWritesThePlot in that Katey Sagal had been pregnant and the pregnancy was written in, then she had a late-term miscarriage. When Al wakes up and finds out she's not pregnant]] Peggy comes out of the bathroom and beams at Al. She says "You had $50,000, and yet you still came home to me. That shows you really do love me." They then proceed to banter cutely, and Peg snuggles up to Al, who puts an arm around her. As a viewer, you get the feeling that it's the actors, not just the characters, and Ed O'Neill is showing Katey Sagal some warmth after a very difficult loss.

* In the final episode of "Breaking up is Easy to Do," after Al goes back to his apartment, miserable at the fact that he's too old (and poor) to attract younger prettier women like he always wanted, Kelly and Bud are happy that Peggy now has a rich boyfriend, and a likely eventual stepfather. However, when he tells them he'll make them get jobs so they won't spend his money, they try to talk to Peg that he's not a good man as she thinks she is. However, Peg doesn't really care since she will get to be a rich man's TrophyWife like she always wanted, but then he says that he'll maker be a regular HouseWife, since he won't allow her to spend money on a maid. When Peg tries to discuss this with him, he says that as a wealthy man, he basically can marry anyone who wants, but someone like Peg, a middle aged woman with no skills, will die alone when her looks finally fade. Bud and Kelly promptly kick his ass and kick him out, showing that for all her flaws, they still love their mother. At the very end, Peg and Al decide to make amends and patch things up.

* When a gay man shows up on Al's doorstep to complain that his husband is running around with Peg, Al is initially taken aback, but ultimately has a perfectly nice conversation with the man and the two spend a pleasant evening together. Al even becomes genuinely angry on the man's behalf and tells his husband off--"You've got a terrific guy at home waiting for you!"

* When a gay man shows up on Al's doorstep to complain that his husband is running around with Peg, Al is taken aback, but ultimately has a perfectly nice conversation with him, even becoming genuinely angry on his behalf and telling the other guy off--"You've got a terrific guy at home waiting for you!"

* Even as terrible a mother she usually is, Peg has moments of being loving towards her children. One episode has her mentioning how both she and Kelly cried on the latter's first day of school (which was soon relieved when Kelly discovered boys and Peg discovered daytime television) due to how much they would miss each other.

* A little moment in "Sue Casa". Al and Peggy are in the house when they hear the sound of a car crash. Peggy goes to look out the window and is visibly and genuinely relieved that the kids are okay.

* There's a quick one in "A Taxing Problem". Al can't bring himself to cut off Peg's hair, even though [[ItMakesSenseInContext doing so will get him the money he needs to get out of trouble with the IRS.]]

* From "So This Is How [[Music/FrankSinatra Sinatra]] Felt": Jessica Hahn[[note]]a model and actress best known for her sex scandal with televangelist, Jim Bakker, in the 1980s. Hahn was also the wife of ''MarriedWithChildren'' co-creator, Ron Leavitt, until Leavitt died in 2008[[/note]] made a guest appearance as an amazingly hot "shoe groupie" who was obsessed with Al and wanted nothing more than to have amazing sex with him. Al says no. Repeatedly, but he doesn't understand why. When he tells Peg about it, she says, "It's because you really do love me". His response? "[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Oh my God]], that ''is'' it!"