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The Best Episodes of All in the Family Season 1

Every episode of All in the Family Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of All in the Family Season 1!

Binge this in 5h 25m•Peaking at 8.7/10

Archie Bunker, a working class bigot, constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    All in the Family Season 1 Episode 5 - Judging Books by Covers
    8.7/10(566 votes)

    S1:E5

    Archie scorns one of Mike's effeminate friends, unaware that one of his own beer-drinking buddies is a well-adjusted gay man.

    Director:John Rich
    Writers:Norman Lear, Burt Styler

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  2. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 8 - Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood
    8.6/10(414 votes)

    S1:E8

    Louise Jefferson makes her first appearance, through husband George will remain an offscreen character for another two seasons. Their son, Lionel, had been a regular visitor to the Bunkers since the pilot episode, when the writers discovered how effective the street-smart black youth was at gently letting the air out of Archie's sails.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 13 - The First and Last Supper
    8.6/10(374 votes)

    S1:E13

    The Jeffersons arrive for dinner at the Bunkers'--minus husband George, who refuses to socialize with his white neighbors.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Jerry Mayer

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  4. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 1 - Meet the Bunkers
    8.4/10(648 votes)

    S1:E1

    It's Edith and Archie Bunker's wedding anniversary. Edith manages to drag Archie to church. Daughter Gloria and her husband Mike try to whip up a party atmosphere for the parents.

    Director:John Rich
    Writers:Lennie Weinrib, Norman Lear

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  5. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 4 - Archie Gives Blood
    8.2/10(426 votes)

    S1:E4

    Archie refuses to donate blood because he's afraid that his vital fluids might get mixed in with those of a different race.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Norman Lear

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  6. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 6 - Gloria's Pregnancy (aka Gloria Has a Belly Full)
    8.2/10(414 votes)

    S1:E6

    Archie's dream of becoming a grandfather is dashed when Gloria suffers a sudden miscarriage.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Jerry Mayer

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  7. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 9 - Edith Has Jury Duty
    8.2/10(409 votes)

    S1:E9

    Edith abandons the kitchen for the courtroom when she is chosen for jury duty, leaving Archie to fend for himself.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Susan Harris

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  8. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 3 - Oh, My Aching Back (aka Archie's Aching Back)
    7.9/10(461 votes)

    S1:E3

    Archie is convinced he'll collect a large settlement from a petty traffic accident if a Jewish lawyer handles the case. The stylistic minimalism of the Bunkers' sparsely furnished set is on full display in this early episode. According to director John Rich, who grew up not far from Archie's neighbood, the Spartan look of the Bunkers' living room deco was achieved as a result of painstaking efforts. The director remembers personally supervising the cracking of windows and repainting of walls to give the place a run-down, lived-in look. "I told the set designers to take all the color out of it," remembers Rich. "Norman and I wanted to do the show in black and white, but CBS nearly went into a coma. So we decided to do the next best thing and shoot the entire show in muted sepia tones."

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Stanley Ralph Ross

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  9. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 10 - Archie Is Worried About His Job
    7.9/10(383 votes)

    S1:E10

    No one in the family gets any sleep when Archie spends the night worring that he might lose his job.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Norman Lear

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  10. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 7 - Mike's Hippie Friends Come to Visit
    7.8/10(411 votes)

    S1:E7

    Mike invites one of his hippie friends to spend the night in his living room, despite Archie's strenous ojections.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Rob Reiner

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  11. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 2 - Writing the President
    7.6/10(492 votes)

    S1:E2

    Mike writes a letter to President Nixon, protesting everything that's wrong with America, including the state of the environment and the nation's involvement in Vietnam. Archie finds out, and to refute his son-in-law's claims he decides he too will write a letter praising the nation's chief and attempting to explain the Meathead as an ignorant. While penning the letter, Archie pictures the family all standing behind him, dressed in his Sunday best, all supporting his positions.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Norman Lear

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  12. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 12 - Success Story
    7.5/10(348 votes)

    S1:E12

    Archie reevaluates his definition of success after he meets an old army buddy who's become wealthy in the used-car trade.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Burt Styler

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  13. All in the Family Season 1 Episode 11 - Gloria Discovers Women's Lib
    7.4/10(356 votes)

    S1:E11

    Gloria leaves the house in a rage after Mike refuses to recognize her as an equal partner in their marriage.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Norman Lear

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Judging Books by Covers" is the best rated episode of "All in the Family" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 566 votes. Directed by John Rich and written by Norman Lear, Burt Styler, it aired on 2/9/1971. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood".