User Reviews

I reviewed this series recently and mentioned that I only saw one episode that really was outstanding...and the rest a neutered, boring sort of "All in the Family"-like show. Well, I just saw "The Incident" and must admit that it, too, was exceptional...though in general I am NOT a fan of the program.

Archie and Mrs. Canby, his black housekeeper, go to the market together. In an ironic twist, some folks at the store are not happy as they think Canby and Archie are a couple...and Archie gets to see first-hand what prejudices are like. But it gets worse...one of Archie's friends (the head of the local lodge*) sees them there and instead of just staring he becomes vulgar and insulting...such that Archie eventually ends up slugging the guy. The man CLEARLY deserved it and Archie learns later that this jerk wants to pitch Archie out of the lodge unless he apologizes. Archie is willing but after hearing Mrs. Canby talking about her childhood and the horrible things she endured, he struggles with what to do next.

Overall, this is a very touching episode. Not funny...but very touching. It also helps to explain Archie's odd change in attitude towards minorities in "Archie Bunker's Place". Well done and timeless.

*This is not a major complaint, but it seemed odd that Archie is worried about remaining in his lodge considering the show never mentioned it before. Suddenly Archie is and has always been members of some fraternal organization!

Very good episode overall but am wondering about some things: did the neighborhood NOT have another market that Arch, Ms. Canby and Veronica could patronize? If so, Ms. Canby (preferably with Arch's backing) should have gotten the African American community to start a boycott of the market until Gordy got fired - after all, the $ matters no matter the skin color of whomever is presenting it - all lives matter - period. I thought that this Gordy person was the same one that was on the AITF episodes called Archie Joins the KKK but I saw they had different last names. Gordy actually could have pressed charges on Arch for assault even though he provoked it and/or banned him from the market - athough he did have it coming for besmirking Edith's memory after she had only passed on a few months prior. The other poster might not have realized this but Arch was actually a lodge member for many years on AITF, and Barney threatened to kick him out for declining to do a minstrel show when Gloria was overdue to give birth. Barney also cited the life insurance and burial benefits he'd forfeit - wonder if they included Edith? If so, would they now dare to exhume Edith? Even though Arch had a lot of friends in that lodge, he could do better than them and he didn't need that lodge.