Considering there were so many kids watching, I'm a little surprised this episode was even done, as it shows a definite darker side to the Brady Bunch.
The story is simple - through some circumstances where things are not as they appear, the kids think Alice is snitching on them and getting them into trouble. The kids proceed to treat Alice so poorly, her very soul seems to be crushed and they force her to actually leave her job.
Considering what a lovey-dovey family this has always been, with Alice being part of that family, how she is treated all throughout is COLD. Especially where the boys are concerned - they have a long relationship with Alice, much longer than the girls, and for them to blow her off without even talking to her about it is especially inconsiderate and cruel.
The girls, even though it's been about three years, also find themselves blowing off this nice woman who has been like a friend, mother, and confidante to them, just she has always been to the boys. Alice never showed any favoritism to the boys over the girls, and this is how the girls treat her.
The scene where Alice overhears Bobby and Cindy talk about how Alice is a snitch and how no one likes her anymore is heart-breaking, as you can see the pain on Alice's face.
Another striking scene has Mrs. Brady pretty much scold Alice, as she actually wags her finger in Alice's face and demands answers. This moment, more than any other in the show's entire run, demotes Alice from honorable family member to mere employee of Mrs. Brady, and we see the show go from a goofy comedy, to a serious drama. The expression on Alice's face as she is reminded of her place in the home's pecking order by Mr. Brady's relatively new wife is one of shock and sadness.
One has to wonder how Mr. Brady would have felt about this, if he witnessed how Carol treated Alice here. However, not only is Mike nowhere to be seen in this episode, outside of a mention of "the folks" he isn't even mentioned at all. His absence really is a loss in this one. Robert Reed also wasn't in the show's final episode (where Greg hair turns orange due to Bobby's hair tonic) due to that he felt the script was horrible. Maybe that's the same thing here - Reed possibly feeling this treatment of Alice was unjustifiable, so he decided to bow out.
Alice, seen later at a friend's home, sobs uncontrollably as the scene cuts away, and it certainly isn't for laughs.
Ann B. Davis does an incredible job here as Alice, showing how she was one of the true backbones of this show. Usually, Ann does a great job portraying Alice as carefree, loving, and the keeper of the family's balance, but here she expresses pain and sadness so convincingly, the performance doesn't get the props it deserves probably due to it being on, well, "The Brady Bunch."
There are many Brady Bunch episodes that are infamous for some reason, and this one deserves to be up there. The Bradys turn cold and heartless. The kids do try to redeem themselves, but will things ever be the same?
The story is simple - through some circumstances where things are not as they appear, the kids think Alice is snitching on them and getting them into trouble. The kids proceed to treat Alice so poorly, her very soul seems to be crushed and they force her to actually leave her job.
Considering what a lovey-dovey family this has always been, with Alice being part of that family, how she is treated all throughout is COLD. Especially where the boys are concerned - they have a long relationship with Alice, much longer than the girls, and for them to blow her off without even talking to her about it is especially inconsiderate and cruel.
The girls, even though it's been about three years, also find themselves blowing off this nice woman who has been like a friend, mother, and confidante to them, just she has always been to the boys. Alice never showed any favoritism to the boys over the girls, and this is how the girls treat her.
The scene where Alice overhears Bobby and Cindy talk about how Alice is a snitch and how no one likes her anymore is heart-breaking, as you can see the pain on Alice's face.
Another striking scene has Mrs. Brady pretty much scold Alice, as she actually wags her finger in Alice's face and demands answers. This moment, more than any other in the show's entire run, demotes Alice from honorable family member to mere employee of Mrs. Brady, and we see the show go from a goofy comedy, to a serious drama. The expression on Alice's face as she is reminded of her place in the home's pecking order by Mr. Brady's relatively new wife is one of shock and sadness.
One has to wonder how Mr. Brady would have felt about this, if he witnessed how Carol treated Alice here. However, not only is Mike nowhere to be seen in this episode, outside of a mention of "the folks" he isn't even mentioned at all. His absence really is a loss in this one. Robert Reed also wasn't in the show's final episode (where Greg hair turns orange due to Bobby's hair tonic) due to that he felt the script was horrible. Maybe that's the same thing here - Reed possibly feeling this treatment of Alice was unjustifiable, so he decided to bow out.
Alice, seen later at a friend's home, sobs uncontrollably as the scene cuts away, and it certainly isn't for laughs.
Ann B. Davis does an incredible job here as Alice, showing how she was one of the true backbones of this show. Usually, Ann does a great job portraying Alice as carefree, loving, and the keeper of the family's balance, but here she expresses pain and sadness so convincingly, the performance doesn't get the props it deserves probably due to it being on, well, "The Brady Bunch."
There are many Brady Bunch episodes that are infamous for some reason, and this one deserves to be up there. The Bradys turn cold and heartless. The kids do try to redeem themselves, but will things ever be the same?
