Archie invites a war buddy over for Christmas dinner. At the same time a draft-dodging friend of Mike's makes a surprise visit. Leading to an eventual blow-up about fighting for your country.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Christmas Episode: Continuing with dark portrayals of the most festive, happy day of the year, this is probably the best known (and most critically acclaimed) Christmas episode of the seven (counting Archie Bunker's Place) done during the entire run. In interviews years after the episode aired, Renny Temple (who played David Brewster, the episode's titular character) and Carroll O'Connor remarked on the chemistry of the episode and how well it came off.
- Dark Secret: David is a draft dodger, emigrating to Canada when he learned that an arrest warrant was out for him. Only Mike and Gloria are aware of David's background ... and actively (and ultimately are unsuccessful) at guarding this secret from Archie.
- Draft Dodging: Picture someone pointing repeatedly at the episode title ... that's what this episode is about.
- Foreshadowing: Archie introducing David and Pinky, shortly before dinner (it comes at the commercial break) and the initial glance they exchange is the only clue that they might have something in common. However, this is only evident in hindsight.
- Ignorance Is Bliss: Played with. Once Archie learns that David is a draft dodger, he asks Edith how would she like to be eating dinner with the FBI. She innocently remarks that she doesn't think they have enough turkey. Anyone watching can tell she is trying her best to defuse the situation.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Archie's tirade, which questions David's loyalty to his country, questioning the government and possibly committing treason by ignoring the call to duty. Averted when it is Pinky's turn.
- Suddenly Shouting: Archie's tirade.
- Unlikely Hero: Pinky Peterson, the "Gold Star" father whom Archie just knows is going to deliver the knockout punch on David's draft-dodging days and ways. Instead, Pinky stands up in full support of David.
- Wham Line: Archie thinks Pinky's speech will be a Reason You Suck Speech. In fact, Pinky begins with how he started out supporting the Vietnam War. Before Archie can give David an "I told you so" look, Pinky continues, recalling the afternoon he was visited by two Army officers, informing him his son was killed in action, some 6-1/2 years earlier. Not a day had gone by when he thought of his son and how he wishes he had never gone to war — the son said he was doing what he thought he had to do — and that his only wish was that his son was still there, sharing Christmas dinner with him. Walking up to David, he secures a new friendship by telling him how courageous he is for standing up for his beliefs and — to Archie's surprise — shakes his hand. note Archie, for his part, is so beside himself over what has transpired, that he announces to his family that he has to go upstairs to "think things over", and Edith practically has to force him to remain downstairs with everyone else.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Almost forgotten — and surely taking a back seat to the exchange between Archie, David and Pinky — are the Bunkers' other holiday guests: Irene Lorenzo (Betty Garrett in her final appearance in the character, as Edith's friend) and Teresa Betancourt (a semi-regular, the Bunkers' boarder, played by Liz Torres). The only speaking lines they have in the episode are at the beginning, when they are introduced, and when they initially sit down to dinner; once the focus shifts to Archie and David, they are completely forgotten about.
