‘Two’s a Crowd.’ (Season 8, Episode 19.)
Mike is helping Archie close up the bar for the night and accidentally locks them in a back room.
Summary:
The two start off arguing and yelling, and then the door to the cellar slams and they realize they’re locked in for the night as the rest of the family is gone…Their arguing settles down into talking and Archie reminiscing about the rough family dynamics he had with his dad, and how he grew up. The revelations inspire empathy in Michael (Meathead) for why Archie is the way he is. As the episode ends, Archie doses off to sleep and Michael puts a tarp over him as a blanket... Credits.
For This Guy’s money, Meathead Mike never exceeded or even met Archie in terms of his basic wisdom, or being/presenting a sympathetic character.
Funny though, that the cast and creators of the show always believed, or had, the opposite perspective/attitude. Even Carroll O’Connor himself.
The humanity of Archie’s character never failed to shine through, despite his flaws, failings, or ‘inarticulateness’
Whereas the shots Mike’s more highly-educated character always seemed free to take at Archie, always seemed cheap—ultimately condescending and unfair. Not unlike donkey party-supporting drones/street thugs today.