Ep 17. Archie Goes Too Far

Archie Bunker is a blue-collar worker who lives in Queens, New York, with his wife Edith and their daughter Gloria. In season 3 episode 17, "Archie Goes Too Far," Archie finds himself in hot water when he makes a series of racially insensitive comments about a guest who is staying in his home.

The guest in question is a friend of Gloria's from college named Michael, who is African American. Michael is staying with the Bunkers while he looks for an apartment in the area. From the moment he arrives, Archie is uncomfortable around him, but doesn't say anything until he mistakenly believes that Michael has stolen $300 from his wallet.

Archie confronts Michael about the money, accusing him of being a thief and using racial slurs. Michael denies the accusation, pointing out that he has no need for the money since he's staying at the Bunkers' home for free. Nevertheless, Archie refuses to believe him and demands that he leave his home immediately.

Gloria is horrified by her father's behavior and tries to reason with him, but he won't listen. Edith is also upset by what she hears, but is hesitant to get involved. Meanwhile, Michael is hurt and angry at the way he's been treated and decides to leave the house.

As the situation escalates, Archie's cousin Maude arrives on the scene and tries to mediate between everyone. Maude is a liberal feminist who often clashes with Archie's conservative views, but in this case, she tries to be a peacemaker. She reminds Archie that Michael is a guest in his home and deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of his race.

Archie eventually realizes the error of his ways and apologizes to Michael. He admits that he was wrong to accuse him of stealing and that his behavior was unacceptable. Michael accepts his apology, but says that he's still hurt by what happened.

The episode ends with Archie feeling guilty for what he's done and questioning his own prejudices. He reflects on the fact that he's been raised to think a certain way, but that it's time for him to start questioning those beliefs and trying to do better.

Overall, "Archie Goes Too Far" is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that deals with issues of race and prejudice in a nuanced way. It shows how even well-meaning people can have blind spots when it comes to these issues and how important it is to listen to others and be willing to change.