Archie: I wouldn't know, Edith, the artist didn't sign it.
By its title, "Archie is Branded" could be a laugh-a-minute episode about someone mistaking Archie for someone else. Even by painting a symbol on the door to "brand" Archie could make, on the superficial surface, for a funny episode.
This episode — although it has its comedic moments — is not a laugh-a-minute comedy riot, however. The only rioting that could come is the imminent danger the Bunkers' neighborhood faces as relations between a Jewish activist group and a neo-Nazi hate group, which are about to come to blows after it is revealed that a neighbor, a prominent community leader, is Jewish.
One morning Archie gets up, goes to his front door to get the newspaper and is shocked to discover that someone has painted a swastika on his front door. Unaware that a neighbor — David Bloom, a Jewish man serving on the school board, whose opinions had caused considerable and bitter community debate, and deeply upset several supremacist groups — was actually the one targeted, Archie thinks at first it was juveniles. Then, Edith finds an anonymously written note from the group claiming responsibility. Just then, a visitor from a Hebrew vigilante group comes to the Bunkers, announcing he has a plan for retaliation.
That man is Paul Benjamin (Gregory Sierra), from the Hebrew Defense Association, which Mike wants nothing to do with. Paul wants the Bunkers to buy into a plot to (literally) fight back against the Nazi group, tit for tat. Archie is immediately taken with the charismatic leader and his reactionary tactics. A heated argument ensues, with Archie buying into Paul's plan and Mike arguing fruitlessly that violence will only bring about more problems. In the end, one of Paul's friends comes to the door, informing him that the Nazi group have now realized they had painted the swastika on the wrong house and now have the intended house targeted. Paul bids the Bunkers "Shalom!" and goes off on his way, plan in hand.
Archie, Edith, Mike and Gloria try to relax after their visitor leaves, and discuss the meaning of the word "shalom" (in this case, "peace," "hello" or "goodbye"). Unaware that this "Shalom!" has a much different meaning ... his last words.
There is a loud explosion outside the house ... and everyone rushes to the door to see what happened. Suffice it to say, it is one of the most stunning endings of all of the All in the Family episodes ... and in television.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Delayed Reaction: When Archie first opens the door, he is too busy grumbling about Edith not having brought the Sunday paper inside and leaving him to do it to notice the swastika painted on the door. It isn't until he returns with the paper, closes the door, and starts unfolding the paper to read it that he realises something is very wrong.
- Downer Ending: The surprise ending ... and for Paul, an ending he never thought would happen to him, and except for perhaps that one split second before succumbing to the violent explosion, never knew it happened to him.
- Expy: The Hebrew Defense Association is a fictionalized version of the Jewish Defense League.
- Fade to Black: No applause ... just Archie's genuinely stunned and horrified look as he tries to make sense of the aftermath of the car explosion. note
- Foreshadowing: Munson bars Archie from driving his cab after seeing the swastika, fearing that Archie could get blown in the car. Guess what happens at the end of the episode?
- Karmic Death: The violent fate Paul suffers — being blown to bits as a bomb goes off in his car — as it's strongly implied his group had planned a similar violent fate for members of the neo-Nazi group causing trouble in the neighborhood.
- Mood Whiplash: This was one of those episodes where the writers and Norman Lear — and the superb acting of everyone — never let you forget this was AItF. From the swastika being painted on the front door to a paranoid Archie receiving a small package he mistakes for a time bomb (they were only cigars), to his hasty attempt to cover up the swastika (and the ever-convenient Boy Scout pointing out the flag was hung incorrectly) to a frank discussion on violence vs. self defense between Mike and Paul, to the family having their fun discussions ... there already was a lot of thoughtful drama mixed in with the usual comedy. But then comes the real kicker: the ending, where Paul is killed when a car bomb goes off.
- Noble Bigot: This episode underlines the idea that, despite his bigotry, Archie has nothing in common with actual Nazis, against whom he makes common cause with Jewish militants.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: The message Paul tries to preach onto the Bunkers — that the only response to the Nazi hate group's actions is violence. Archie sides with Paul, with Mike and Gloria vehemently against. The predictable debate ensues.
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Real-Life Relative: The Boy Scout was played by Jean Stapleton's son, John Putch. - Scout-Out: At one point, Archie hangs an American flag over the swastika (to conceal it until the police show up), but a young boy — conveniently wearing a Scouting uniform — shows up to tell him the flag was hanging incorrectly. note The name of the Scouting group the boy is part of is not identified, but his uniform (green, with a yellow kerchief) is very similar to the Boy Scout uniform.
- Silent Credits
- Stuff Blowing Up: Such as, the activist's car parked outside the Bunker house.
- Wham Line: The ending:Archie: (shaken) Holy gee! That's Paul. They blew him up in his car!
- Wham Shot: The ending. As everyone is trying to relax and hopefully restore order in their household, there is a loud, powerful explosion outside the house ... and they know immediately what happened.
