After watching a few seasons of All In The Family, many viewers find themselves both impressed and shocked by what they see. The series is praised for its quality and also noted for tackling taboo subjects—topics that remain just as relevant today. It’s easy to think, “They would never air this today.”
Some might give flak for this opinion, but Archie Bunker is often regarded as one of the best characters ever created on television. Archie, a man from a different era and steeped in outdated views, is portrayed with remarkable nuance by Carroll O’Connor. The writers originally intended Archie to be the butt of the joke and Meathead to be the sympathetic character. However, whether intentional or not—and thanks largely to Carroll O’Connor’s performance—Archie became a character many people loved. Although he is a bigot, he often means well, and as the series progresses, it becomes clear he is a product of his time rather than a malicious racist. He is stubborn, but capable of change. And at times, intentionally or not, Archie even ends up being right about certain things.
Michael “Meathead” Stivic, meanwhile, is presented as the enlightened character the audience is meant to side with. Yet some viewers find Meathead irritating and see him as just as flawed as Archie. Jean Stapleton’s Edith Bunker, who tries to maintain peace in the household, is widely appreciated, as is Sally Struthers’ portrayal of Gloria Stivic.
On another note, when comparing the original series to the All In The Family specials featuring Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei, many notice a significant difference in performance and tone. Harrelson doesn’t capture the nuance Carroll O’Connor brought to Archie, and while Marisa Tomei performs well, her portrayal feels too polished for Edith. The actors playing Meathead and Gloria come across as stiff, and the overall production feels off, failing to carry the same seriousness toward the subject matter as the original.
