Ep 2. Archie's Brief Encounter (2)

Archie's Brief Encounter (2) is the second episode of the seventh season of All in the Family, a groundbreaking sitcom that aired from 1971 to 1979. The show focuses on the lives of the Bunker family, specifically Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor), his wife Edith (played by Jean Stapleton), their daughter Gloria (played by Sally Struthers), and their son-in-law Mike (played by Rob Reiner).

In this episode, Archie has a chance encounter with an old flame named Joan Diamond (played by Anne Meara) while he is out shopping with Edith. Joan is a successful businesswoman who is now divorced and looking to catch up with Archie. Despite Edith's protests, Archie agrees to meet up with Joan for a drink, and they spend the evening reminiscing about old times.

Meanwhile, back at the Bunker household, Gloria and Mike are trying to come up with a plan to make sure that Archie doesn't cheat on Edith while he is out with Joan. Gloria suggests that they hire a private detective to follow Archie, but Mike thinks that this is going too far. Instead, they call their friend Lionel (played by Mike Evans) to ask him to keep an eye on Archie.

Lionel takes his job seriously and follows Archie and Joan throughout the night. However, when he reports back to Gloria and Mike, he tells them that he didn't see anything suspicious - Archie and Joan were just catching up and reminiscing about old times. Gloria is relieved, but Mike is still worried about Archie's fidelity.

The episode ends with Archie returning home to Edith, who is upset with him for spending time with Joan. Archie tries to explain that it was just a harmless meeting and that he has always been faithful to Edith. In the end, they make up and decide to put the incident behind them.

All in the Family was a groundbreaking show that tackled social and political issues such as racism, feminism, and homosexuality. This particular episode deals with the issue of infidelity and the temptation that comes with reconnecting with an old flame. Despite the serious subject matter, the show maintains its trademark sense of humor and wit, making it a classic example of the sitcom genre.