In the episode where her troubled and confused male friend gets killed, she loses her faith and joy.

Not that there was anything wrong in principle with what happened to her. But her reaction was too extreme.

I was just a child when I saw it but I found her reaction to be troubling. I sort of lost my respect for her because she seemed too... FRAGILE? I don't know the best word to describe it.

I wax always very accepting of people who were different when i was a child, but the effect on Edith seemed disturbing.

Did anyone else feel the same way

I didn't dislike her but I wasn't inspired by her either. I think she got her faith back thanks to Mike.

I think it made perfect sense for her to lose her faith.

I didn't dislike her but I wasn't inspired by her either. I think she got her faith back thanks to Mike.

Yes I liked how he helped her.

It was when the show was jumping the shark. Each script was a roller coaster of emotions going for shock value. Mike almost gets killed walking with a drag queen. Edith almost gets raped. Archie joins the KKK. Everything was going for shock value.
The worst part of the episode is when Gloria goes to visit Mike in the hospital and she starts laughing pointing at his face. He was just attacked and almost killed and in the hospital. The cuts and bruises on his face are not funny Gloria. But everything was just a big joke in those last few seasons.

I have to say those episodes you mention were not my favorites that's for sure.

Did you also notice how quick Mike’s black eye disappeared from the hospital to decorating the Christmas tree? lol.

Edith was the BEST for that spot!

Yes she was very fragile..... I dunno why they picked her for JURY DUTY.... She couldnt handle it well.......

In the episode where her troubled and confused male friend gets killed, she loses her faith and joy.

Not that there was anything wrong in principle with what happened to her. But her reaction was too extreme.

I was just a child when I saw it but I found her reaction to be troubling. I sort of lost my respect for her because she seemed too... FRAGILE? I don't know the best word to describe it.

I wax always very accepting of people who were different when i was a child, but the effect on Edith seemed disturbing.

Did anyone else feel the same way

You’re likely remembering the two-part All in the Family episode from 1977 titled "Edith's Crisis of Faith". It remains one of the most controversial and emotionally heavy arcs in sitcom history because it fundamentally altered Edith Bunker’s usually unwavering, cheerful character.

Why Edith’s Reaction Felt So Intense
The friend you remember was Beverly LaSalle, a female impersonator (portrayed by Lori Shannon) who had appeared in previous episodes. Beverly was brutally murdered in a hate crime while protecting Edith's son-in-law, Mike, during a mugging.

For Edith, this wasn't just a loss; it was a total breakdown of her worldview. Her "fragility" in that moment came from a place of deep theological shock:

A Crisis of Justice: Edith couldn't reconcile her belief in a loving God with the fact that someone as kind as Beverly was killed simply for "who she was".
Loss of Joy: She became uncharacteristically cold and angry, even telling the family, "I ain't goin' [to church] today and may never go back!".
The "Weakness" Factor: As a child, seeing the moral anchor of the show suddenly "give up" or become "depressed" can definitely feel troubling or even like a betrayal of her strength.

How Others Felt
Many viewers shared your discomfort, though they often interpreted it differently. While some saw it as a "daring and disturbing" exploration of queer loss, others found the sight of a broken Edith almost too painful to watch.

Perspectives on Edith’s Grief
Many fans found the shift in her character to be one of the most realistic portrayals of trauma ever shown on TV.

“The most heartbreaking moment is when the doctor announces that Beverly had succumbed to the wounds of the beating. The effect it has on Edith are devastating.”
IMDB

“To see Edith in that much pain was very uncomfortable.”
Facebook · getTV

Show creator Norman Lear later mentioned that the writers struggled with how to bring her back from that dark place. They eventually decided she had to regain her faith not for herself, but because Archie was so lost without "strong Edith" to ground him.

Edith got her faith back too quick. Should have been a gradual process. And odd she didn’t mention Maude at the end when she was mentioning everyone.