All In The Family

During this conversation, Archie opens up to Mike by revealing a childhood nickname and talking about his father. By the end of the episode Mike develops a better understanding of Archie and how many of his views were formed.



Archie and Mike are the only characters shown in this episode and the interaction between them makes this episode great. The episode has its usual hysterical moments, but it also reveals a vulnerable side of Archie's character that is rarely shown. Carroll O’Connor’s performance during the final scene is very riveting, and as in most of the episodes of this series, the writing is superb.

This episode is one of the best of the series, and among my personal favorites because of the humanism between Archie and Meathead. Mike finally grasps a little better what makes Archie the way he is, and we the audience see some genuine compassion from Mike because of this insight.



While locked inside a storage room together, Archie and Mike pound a bottle of liquor. As the booze takes effect, the typical exchanges follow, with Mike growing frustrated at Archie's general lack of sensitivity towards him, as well as Archie's prejiduces towards other races. The dialogue reaches a climax when, in disgust Meathead asks him if he realizes how horrible he is for using a racial slur when he was a kid, and Archie responds that it was the only word that he knew because his father used it. Mike proceeds to tell him that his own father used such terms, and that their fathers were wrong. Archie retorts with an emotional monologue that is sincere as it is heart-wrenching, showing his deep respect for his father, who at times we find out, was borderline abusive towards him.



Archie passes out shortly after giving us this revelation, and Mike does a fantastic job of conveying his stirred soul with his facial expressions. We witness his newfound understanding of Archie in the final minute of this episode with a compassionate gesture from Mike: he covers Archie up with the only blanket on hand, and whispers, "Goodnight, Shoebootie" [the nickname the kids used to tease Archie].