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.
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.
NOT AGED WELL: THE DELIVERY
Through no fault of its own, All In The Family will 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.
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 attempts to drive that point home a little more.
NOT AGED WELL: THE POLITICAL CLIMATE
Politics can change in the blink of an eye, and the political climate of the 1970s is a greatly 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.
AGED WELL: ARCHIE BUNKER
It never gets old watching Archie Bunker provides 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.
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 in the 1970s, and how people saw the world.
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.
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 arc.
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 her spirits on the worst of days.
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 shifting 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.
