It’s no secret that All In The Family is still considered one of the best and most clever sitcoms ever to have graced the television screen. The Bunker home set the stage for multiple punch-ups about important social and political issues taking place in modern America at the time, seen mainly through the lens of Archie Bunker’s outdated viewpoint.
HE SOFTENED HIS STANCE ON FEMINISM
Archie started out believing that a woman’s place is in the home, tending to her husband. This put him in direct conflict with nearly every female character on the show, such as his co-worker Irene Lorenzo and his own daughter Gloria. He was no fan of female politicians, nor did he have much good to say about ’70s twenty-somethings.
Eventually, Archie would learn to appreciate the inherent strengths of the female sex, especially when he and Edith took over guardianship of young Stephanie Mills, who wasn’t afraid to reach for the stars.
HE GAVE A EULOGY AT A JEWISH FUNERAL
Archie’s stance on the Jewish faith flip-flopped between showing them respect for their ability to handle money, and condemning them as outsiders who needed to be shunned. He even went into business with a Jewish inventor shortly before he died. Archie’s stance really took a turn following the death of his pal Stretch Cunningham, who hid his Jewish ethnicity for years.
When Archie showed up to the funeral to deliver a eulogy, he had no idea it would be a Jewish affair. Donning a yarmulke, Archie delivered a hilariously awful speech (complete with Jewish jokes) before paying his respects not only to Stretch, but to Jewish culture as well.
HE ACCEPTED HOMOSEXUALS (SORT OF)
As a hardcore Episcopalian Christian, Archie took literal Biblical interpretation of homosexuality to the extreme. While he didn’t hate homosexuals per say, he had little tolerance for their behavior and didn’t hesitate to warn them that he believed they’d all go to Hell unless they mended their ways.
Archie was forced to reconsider his stance on homosexuals when Edith’s cousin Liz died, and they met her partner Veronica. The two had been hiding their lesbian status due to fear of losing their teaching jobs. When Archie found out, he first threatened to expose Veronica and cost her her job, before Edith interjected and gave him some sage advice on matters of kindness and love. It was enough for Archie to back down and accept Veronica’s sexual orientation, even if he wished she could go out and find a guy to be with, instead.
HE RE-THOUGHT VIETNAM
America continues to remain divided on both the effectiveness and morality of the Vietnam War, but Archie saw it black and white, at least until Mike’s friend David joined them for Christmas dinner. When Archie learned that David was a draft dodger wanted by the FBI, he flew into a rage.
HE BECAME A DAD ALL OVER AGAIN
After Gloria, Mike and Joey left the house to move to California, the Bunker house was left empty, but only for a short time. Their little niece Stephanie came to live with them after her alcoholic father, Floyd, dumped her on their doorstep.
Realizing that Stephanie would be better off with them, Archie effectively became a father figure to her. Naturally, this meant Archie had to curb some of his more extreme viewpoints, even if Stephanie was witty enough to pick on them.
HE BECAME A BUSINESS OWNER
Edith once chastised Mike Stivic for being too hard on Archie, as she believed he was jealous of Mike’s education and success. Indeed, Archie spent many years as an unhappy worker on the loading docks, lamenting the fact that he’d always be taking orders from the Boss instead of being one himself.
When Kelsey decided to sell off his bar after suffering a minor heart attack, Archie risked everything to buy it. He mortgaged his house (without Edith’s consent) to get the down-payment money to buy Kelsey’s bar. It proved to be a rough start that almost destroyed him, but eventually, he got the hang of it and turned the bar into Archie’s Place.
HE RESISTED TEMPTATION
Archie wasn’t too pleased when Edith got a volunteer job at the Sunshine Home taking care of elderly folks. His jealousy and feelings of neglect soon set his eyes on a pretty waitress who just happened to have a thing for Archie. When Edith headed out once more to the Sunshine Home, Archie decided to call up the waitress and head over to her house for a visit.
It was a moment of weakness that Archie almost succumbed to. After kissing his new flame, he quickly put the brakes on and told her that it would be best if he left. When Edith found out, she was devastated, forcing Archie to pull double-time to show her that she was the only woman for him.
HE EMBRACED OTHER RACES
While Bunker was never truly a vicious racist, his bad upbringing made him a relic in the era of the civil rights movement. His penchant for sticking to ridiculous, uneducated racial stereotypes was countered by his willingness to put them aside for particular people he liked, such as next-door neighbor Lionel Jefferson.
Over the course of the series, Archie would relax his bigoted views towards other cultures in favor of sticking up for them when the moment called for it. He even got a blood transfusion from a black donor, which gave him the courage to stand up to the local KKK.
HE ACCEPTED MIKE
Archie and Mike’s relationship was the literal definition of oil and water. Two loud, opinionated men from completely opposite ideological sides were suddenly thrown together with Gloria in the middle. Archie’s hatred of Mike soon turned into a family rivalry where the two could enjoy time together in between all the fighting.
The Season Eight episode “Mike And Gloria Head West” saw the departure of Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner from the show. It ended with Archie expressing sorrow at Mike’s absence after showing him father/son affection for the first real time in their relationship.
HE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE EDITH
Archie didn’t always treat Edith nicely (to put it mildly). Early seasons found him more annoyed with her than anything else, frequently telling her to “stifle herself.” Several major incidents (including Archie nearly having an affair) ended up changing their relationship for the better. Archie learned to appreciate Edith more, and show his affection for her more openly.
Despite his change in tune, he was still quick to show annoyance and discomfort whenever Edith rambled on about a story, changed her mind, or (most notoriously), chose to sing.
