Ep 17. Instant Karma

In Mad About You season 2 episode 17 titled "Instant Karma," Paul and Jamie Buchman, a married couple living in New York City, are faced with the consequences of their actions.

The episode begins with Paul accidentally breaking a cherished statue of Jamie's late aunt. In an attempt to hide the mishap, Paul sneaks the statue outside to fix it but is caught in the act by a nosy neighbor. As the neighbor demands an explanation for Paul's behavior, Jamie comes to the rescue, pretending that Paul is an eccentric artist who is repairing the statue as part of his latest work.

Later, at their friends' apartment, Jamie and Paul engage in a feisty argument over their behavior at a recent dinner party. Jamie is upset that Paul was distant and uninterested in the conversation while Paul is frustrated that Jamie talked too much and dominated the evening. As their argument heats up, they make a wager that whoever wins their argument will also win a $50 donation to their favorite charity.

The next day, things take a strange turn for the Buchmans. Jamie's boss informs her that they will be holding a charity auction that day, and the prize for the highest bidder is a single day's worth of karma - their good deeds matched by the universe in return. Jamie and Paul are skeptical of the idea, but when their argument comes to a stalemate, they decide to bid on the karma and let the universe decide who was right.

The rest of the episode follows the couple through their day of good deeds, as they try to outdo each other in random acts of kindness. Jamie helps an elderly woman cross the street and donates money to a charity, while Paul buys a homeless man lunch and helps a young boy recover his lost toy.

As the day comes to an end, Jamie and Paul anxiously await the results of the karma auction. The winner is announced and to their surprise, they learn that the person who bid the highest amount was the nosy neighbor who caught Paul repairing the statue. The neighbor, it turns out, was moved by Paul's explanation of his actions and decided to make a selfless donation in honor of the Buchmans.

In the end, Jamie and Paul learn that karma isn't something that can be bought or won in a contest. They realize that their behavior towards each other and the people in their lives is what truly matters, and that every day is an opportunity to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Mad About You season 2 episode 17, "Instant Karma," is a heartwarming and comedic exploration of the power of good deeds and the importance of treating those around us with kindness and understanding.