Today’s lady is Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker, who remains one of the most comforting faces on TV ever, imo. I think her character might even hold up more than the others who have become unintelligible to modern viewers. The story where she almost got raped remains one of the boldest statements against rape culture victim-blaming on TV. And writing that last line makes me also think of the Beverly LaSalle character. Beverly identified as a man and a transvestite/female impersonator. If the show were written today I suspect she might have been a trans woman. Regardless, Beverly dies as a result of a hate crime and it shakes Edith’s faith in God to the point of renouncing Christianity, because Edith adored and was very proud of Beverly, who she considered like family. (Archie’s attempt at sympathy comes in the form of a familiar victim-blaming transphobia. No, Archie Bunker was not an example of ironic or hipster bigotry!) The episode also includes Mike and Archie fighting over toys for little boys that teach “the manly art of violence” and Mike the atheist, who’ll proclaim God doesn’t exist to Archie, being the one to show Edith how to not give up on God. I went back and watched the two-parter and I admit it, I laughed and cried. Plus my brother and I still can’t imagine a grace that doesn’t include, “E. Bunker here.”

Today’s lady is Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker, who remains one of the most comforting faces on TV ever, imo. I think her character might even hold up more than the others who have become unintelligible to modern viewers.

The story where she almost got raped remains one of the boldest statements against rape culture victim-blaming on TV. And writing that last line makes me also think of the Beverly LaSalle character. Beverly identified as a man and a transvestite/female impersonator. If the show were written today I suspect she might have been a trans woman.

Regardless, Beverly dies as a result of a hate crime and it shakes Edith’s faith in God to the point of renouncing Christianity, because Edith adored and was very proud of Beverly, who she considered like family. (Archie’s attempt at sympathy comes in the form of a familiar victim-blaming transphobia. No, Archie Bunker was not an example of ironic or hipster bigotry!)

The episode also includes Mike and Archie fighting over toys for little boys that teach “the manly art of violence” and Mike the atheist, who’ll proclaim God doesn’t exist to Archie, being the one to show Edith how to not give up on God.

I went back and watched the two-parter and I admit it, I laughed and cried. Plus my brother and I still can’t imagine a grace that doesn’t include, “E. Bunker here.”

  1. throateyeandknucklebone reblogged this from sistermagpie
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  3. agentava reblogged this from sistermagpie and added:
    Nice essay. I think you’re probably right about her character holding up better than maybe any other character on that...
  4. drby3 reblogged this from niteflight
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  6. taterpie reblogged this from sistermagpie and added:
    Hell yes, Edith Bunker.
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