History Recap / AllInTheFamilyS8E3EdithsFiftiethBirthday

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: It might a push to call it comical, but for Norman Lear standards. When Archie stops by the house to grab the punchbowl, he grumbles about Mike and Gloria's goldfish dying. Archie DOES notice Edith's crying and upset, but he scoffs at her, thinking it's merely about the dead goldfish, and he storms out.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: It might a push to call it comical, but for Norman Lear standards. When Archie stops by the house to grab the punchbowl, he grumbles about Gloria's goldfish dying. Archie DOES notice Edith's crying and upset, but he scoffs at her, thinking her tears are merely about the dead goldfish, and storms out.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: It might a push to call it comical, but for Norman Lear standards. When Archie stops by the house to grab the punchbowl, he grumbles about how Gloria's goldfish dying. Meanwhile, the rapist is menacingly hiding in the closet, ready to strike if Edith says anything, and Edith is in tears. Archie DOES notice Edith's crying and upset, but he scoffs at her, thinking her tears are merely about the dead goldfish, and storms out.

* [[ComicallyMissingThePoint]]: It might a push to call it comical, but for Norman Lear standards. When Archie stops by the house to grab the punchbowl, he grumbles about how Gloria's goldfish dying. Meanwhile, the rapist is menacingly hiding in the closet, ready to strike if Edith says anything, and Edith is in tears. Archie DOES notice Edith's crying and upset, but he scoffs at her, thinking her tears are merely about the dead goldfish, and storms out.

* MeanwhileBackAtThe: The living room attempted rape scene cuts at one point to the Stivic house, where Archie and Mike are arguing (as usual, over whose fault it was) over a broken punchbowl. This sets up Archie's trip over to the house to get the other punchbowl and Edith trying (subtly) to hint that something very wrong is going on.

* BirthdayPartyGoneWrong ... and not in a comic sense by any stretch as you would expect in a sitcom. There is a brief moment of laughter when Edith bursts into Mike and Gloria's house, as the party-goers to her surprise party conclude (understandably, as they were unaware of what was going on) that she was showing up for her party, albeit a little bit early. They even start singing "Happy Birthday" to toast their friend and they cheer as Edith collapses in Archie's arms, not seeing that her tears were not of joy but of fear and fright. (Off camera, it is presumed the party ended early once the party-goers were informed something was wrong and were sent home, as by the time the second half hour begins, Edith is in Mike and Gloria's bedroom, trying to explain what happened.)

* PieInTheFace: Usually a comedy trope, this time, a burning one in Mr. Lambert's face the is opening that allows Edith to finally get the upper hand on her would-be assailant.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/53_50674_ediths_50th_birthday_all_in_the_family_darkest_sitcom_epis_1533062417.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The [[AttemptedRape scariest thing]] to see in a family sitcom.]]

* SeenItAll: "Would you like some coffee?" "I've gotta go to the bathroom." "That's Archie ... he'll stop you!" Yes sir, it can be implied that Mr. Lambert is experienced and -- determined to complete this sexual assault -- has seen it all before (hot coffee thrown in his face, an escape from the bathroom window and so forth), and why Edith has little success shaking him. Fortunately, he doesn't quite expect a burning cake in the oven, much less one thrown in his face

* [[PieInTheFace Cake In The Face]]: Usually a comedy trope, this time, a burning one in Mr. Lambert's face the is opening that allows Edith to finally get the upper hand on her would-be assailant.

* FanDumb and MeanCharacterNiceActor: David Dukes, who played Mr. Lambert, the man who tries -- and is determined to succeed at doing so -- to rape Edith. In an interview before his death, Dukes recalled that for several years, he received hate mail and threatening phone calls from viewers who were unable (or unwilling) to understand that he was playing a fictional character and would never hurt a woman in real life.

* [[IHaveNoSon I Have No Mother]]: In the final scene, where an exasperated Gloria cannot convince for the life of her to get Edith to press charges against Mr. Lambert, she finally tells her that she's a cruel, selfish woman and that she is unworthy of being her mother.

* BirthdayEpisode: When all is finished, it's not a day that will be celebrated, but it'll be one that will always be remembered.

* FanDumb and MeanCharacterNiceActor: David Dukes, who played Mr. Lambert, the man who tries -- and is determined to succeed at doing so -- rape Edith. In an interview before his death, Dukes recalled that for several years, he received hate mail and threatening phone calls from viewers who were unable (or unwilling) to understand that he was playing a fictional character and would never hurt a woman in real life.

* [[PieInTheFace Cake In The Face]]: Usually a comedy trope, this time, a burning one in Mr. Lambert's face the opening that allows Edith to finally get the upper hand on her would-be assailant.

* ContinuityNod: Gloria refers to her own frightening experience from Season 3's "Gloria the Victim" (where a man tries (unsuccessfully) to make a pass at Gloria while walking by a construction site) and her own decision to not pursue criminal charges.

* [[IHaveNoSon I Have No Mother]]: In the final scene, where an exasperated Gloria cannot convince for the life of her to get Edith to press charges against Lambert, she finally tells her that she's a cruel, selfish woman and that she is unworthy of being her mother.

* IronicBirthday: A 50th birthday should be a milestone, a happy occasion where the honoree reflects on a life filled with family, friends and accomplishments. That's how it should have been for Edith ... but instead, a rapist makes sure her 50th birthday will be remembered far differently.

* MeanwhileBackAtThe: The living room attempted rape scene cuts at one point to the Stivic house, where Archie and Mike are trying to find a punchbowl. It -- plus the usual dynamic over Archie and Mike arguing as usual -- sets up Archie's trip over to the house to get the punchbowl and Edith trying (subtly) to hint that something very wrong is going on.

* AttemptedRape: Fortunately, the rapist is never able to initiate sex. Edith manages to babble on (in her own, unique way) to try to keep a step ahead of her attacker.

* SurpriseParty: Although Edith kinds of knows about it beforehand.

*