Female impersonator Beverly LaSalle visits Edith to invite the Bunkers to her Carnegie Hall debut. When Mike and Beverly leave to grab a cab for Beverly, they are mugged and end up in the hospital, where Beverly dies, throwing Edith into shock.
Though you'll obviously want to watch both, Part 1 of this two-part episode is the stronger of the pair. It's nowhere near as powerful as the 1976 "Draft Dodger" episode, but this one is a good showcase for Jean Stapleton.
In the opening scene with Beverly, Edith fiddles with the feather boa, and gets Bette Davis and Mae West confused. There is some sweet dialog where Edith says she considers Beverly "like family". Even though Archie continually mixes up the pronouns (the CC mob would have him canceled for sure in 2023), he tolerates Beverly because of Edith's fondness.
When Barney (Allan Melvin) bursts in with the news of the attack, Gloria freaks out. Sally Struthers does well in this scene. She's a little annoying in the hospital when she first sees Mike and starts blubbering. When the doctor gives the bad news about Beverly's death, Edith is silent but her expressions tell all.
Part 1 ends with Edith sitting defiantly on the porch, the family thinking she had gone to church. "I ain't goin' today and may never go back!".
To be continued... 8/10 for Part 1.
Though you'll obviously want to watch both, Part 1 of this two-part episode is the stronger of the pair. It's nowhere near as powerful as the 1976 "Draft Dodger" episode, but this one is a good showcase for Jean Stapleton.
In the opening scene with Beverly, Edith fiddles with the feather boa, and gets Bette Davis and Mae West confused. There is some sweet dialog where Edith says she considers Beverly "like family". Even though Archie continually mixes up the pronouns (the CC mob would have him canceled for sure in 2023), he tolerates Beverly because of Edith's fondness.
When Barney (Allan Melvin) bursts in with the news of the attack, Gloria freaks out. Sally Struthers does well in this scene. She's a little annoying in the hospital when she first sees Mike and starts blubbering. When the doctor gives the bad news about Beverly's death, Edith is silent but her expressions tell all.
Part 1 ends with Edith sitting defiantly on the porch, the family thinking she had gone to church. "I ain't goin' today and may never go back!".
To be continued... 8/10 for Part 1.