All In The Family: 5 Reasons The Show Has Aged Well (& 5 Reasons Why It Hasn’t)
All In The Family was ahead of its time in a lot of ways. But some of it hasn’t aged so well.
All In The Family broke ground at a pivotal moment in American history. The civil rights movement was in full swing, and equality of race, creed and sex had become dinner table issues. Arriving on the back of the Vietnam war and a chasm-sized generation gap between parents and progressive kids, the show said out loud what everyone was thinking.
Whether Liberal or Conservative, white or black, Theist or Atheist, All In The Family has done more to push dialogue than any other sitcom in history. That being said, here’s 5 ways the show has aged well over the years, and 5 ways it has dwindled.
AGED WELL: THE COMEDY
First-time All In The Family viewers will undoubtedly be shocked at just how open and unapologetic the comedy is. Racial stereotypes, slurs directed against sexes and sexual orientations, and bare-knuckle political pit-fights are par for the course. Amidst all this outrageous content is some of the best comedy ever committed to television, thanks largely to its characters.
From ill-advised bigot Archie Bunker and his adorable (yet dimwitted) wife Edith, to their nu-feminist daughter Gloria and her hippy progressive husband Mike, the character’s interactions are nothing short of hilarious, thanks largely to their ability to play up the subject matter and make light of it.
NOT AGED WELL: THE DELIVERY
Through no fault of its own, All In The Family would have serious trouble flying in today’s ultra-politically correct world. As attempts to shut down open dialogue and discussion continue unabated, America becomes more divided and tribal in nature. All In The Family recognized the danger of such a social climate, and dragged important issues into the spotlight, kicking and screaming all the way.
Unfortunately, many would find the content unpalatable in an age where almost every serious topic is considered off-limits. The show succeeded in demonstrating how easy (and healthy) it is to talk about important matters, instead of hiding from them. Our society has become sick in its absence.
AGED WELL: THE THEMES
All In The Family’s core values are still there, and none of them are locked in a specific decade. The show focuses on doing the right thing unto your fellow neighbor, regardless of who they are, and each story attempted to drive that point home a little more.
From racial unity, to equal rights and the sharing of a common goal despite disagreements, All In The Family was a show about human solidarity, rather than divisiveness.
NOT AGED WELL: THE POLITICAL CLIMATE
Politics can change in the blink of an eye, and the political climate of the 1970s is a vastly different beast than the one we’ve seen in the last 30 years. While progressive ideals were at the forefront of the show’s message, they have been corrupted in recent years by a tribal mindset that has given rise to radicalism.
First-time viewers might be surprised at just how many of the ideals of All In The Family clash directly with what is considered acceptable in our current social and political spheres, including abortion, feminism and race relations.
AGED WELL: ARCHIE BUNKER
It never gets old watching Archie Bunker provide a human platform for many important topics. He’s the canvas upon which the writers worked with to explore an issue, dissect it from both sides, and come to some sort of conclusion.
Bunker himself is hilarious to watch. For all his faults, his bigotry and his hard-headedness, deep down he’s a good man with solid values who simply needs to be reminded of it from time to time.
NOT AGED WELL: CERTAIN JOKES
The show was developed for a very different (some would say more innocent) audience, and that means some of the jokes in the show can be a bit cringe-worthy. For all their corniness, they are each a window into what life was like the in 1970s, and how people saw the world.
Nevertheless, today’s viewers might be left scratching their heads (or rolling their eyes) at characters like Frank Lorenzo, who simply haven’t aged well. One can even spot the discomfort on the co-star’s faces, at certain times.
AGED WELL: THE PERFORMANCES
With so much raw emotion thrown into practically every episode, it’s a wonder the stars didn’t suffer exhaustion. A never-ending cascade of screaming matches, physical comedy and rapid-fire lines means that timing is key, above all else.
All In The Family managed to take a scorching hot potato and pass it around without a single fumble, proving just how masterful the writing was, and how talented the actors were in bringing it to life.
NOT AGED WELL: MIKE STIVIC
The “Meathead” was intended to be the polar opposite voice of reason in contrast to Archie Bunker’s ignorant ways. However, the character hasn’t aged well over the years. Some of Mike’s progressive beliefs have turned out to be wrong, as was the handling of his character
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It all came crashing down when Sally Struthers’ short-lived sitcom Gloria revealed that Mike had abandoned his wife and child and ran off with another woman to live in a convent. This singular move destroyed Mike’s credibility as a husband, a father, and a soapbox.
AGED WELL: EDITH BUNKER
Edith is the grandmother that everyone wished they had. She’s above reproach, faultless and a beautiful human being who acts as the best possible counterweight to Archie Bunker’s difficult personality traits. She may not light up a math class, but she’d lift your spirits on the worst of days.
For that reason, Edith is timeless, and constantly relevant. Her goodness is what eventually turns Archie around on many issues, from race relations to views on homosexuality.
NOT AGED WELL: THE LATER SEASONS
While there are some laughs to be had in Seasons 8 and 9 of the show, they’re a far cry from the sheer, hilarious madness of the early ones. The show truly hit its stride in Seasons 3-5, before the narrative shifted to push Mike and Gloria out of the Bunker home.
The introduction of Stephanie in Season 9 robbed the show of its main killer asset – the rivalry between Archie and Mike. Without it, All In The Family was forced to find new situations for Archie to deal with, sans the hot-headed debates he enjoyed with his son-in-law.
