It seems like a show following the lives of four older women living together would be a tricky sell in any decade, butThe Golden Girlsnot only thrived in the ’80s but was also far ahead of its time. Aging seems to be a luxury only afforded to men in the entertainment agency, with many mature actors leading their own shows and movies, while their female counterparts are often pushed to the sidelines in small, insignificant roles. The 1980s were a decade of excess, slightly more open-mindedness, and a lot of cultural shifts, but it’s important to remember there was still a lot of rampant racism, homophobia, sexism, and ageism in society.
WhenGolden Girls' Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty were brought together, they created a magic that managed to push boundaries as well as entertain millions of viewers.It managed to not only stand the test of time but often show just how forward-thinking actually was as it explored the lives ofthe aging titular golden girls. As a highly bingeable show thanks toThe Golden Girls' stellar cast, it often gets rediscovered by audiences around the world, and watching through a 2020s lens shows just how much they were able to get right. Though not always perfect, the show was able to address many heavy topics through the medium of primetime TV.
10"Whose Face Is This, Anyway?"
Season 2, Episode 20
Blanche’s vanity was often the butt of many jokes throughoutThe Golden Girlsseasons, especially from the other three ladies, but it was also an example of just how much her physical appearance impacted her as a character. She would constantly pretend to be younger and thinner, and try and reinvent herself for whomever it was she was dating at the time. She would get all dressed up at all hours of the day, just to get validation from the outside world, and would often compete with her friends over men and over who was considered the most attractive.
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This episode took this one step further by having Blanche seriously consider plastic surgery after she encounters her former sorority sisters at a reunion.While her roommates would normally make fun of her for being too over the top or vapid, this episode allowed for some heartfelt discussions about self-worth and natural aging. It was an important conversation in a world where many older actresses would go under the knife just to stay relevant. Seeing as the issues of surgery and fillers are still prevalent today, it goes to show how much insight the show had even back then.
9"Not Another Monday"
Season 5, Episode 7
Although the subject of assisted dying has not been as loudly discussed in the past few decades, palliative care is a very serious issue that should definitely be more widely acknowledged.It seems strange that a pastel-colored sitcom with giant shoulder pads and huge clip-on earrings would wade into the realm of end-of-life care, and yet, it very much did.Shown through the eyes of Sophia’s friend, who is struggling with a terminal illness, the episode ponders the choices people who experience chronic pain and suffering have.
While her signature brand of sarcasm and dark humor helps make the topic more palatable, it still leaves viewers with quite a big philosophical question mark.As with many other episodes, the answer is not offered on a silver platter, and it challenges the audience to think about it themselves. It was a bold discussion to start in a sitcom, but as with many other tough topics,The Golden Girlswas not afraid to pose these questions.
8"Mixed Blessings"
Season 3, Episode 23
Issues of race were addressed quite a few times throughout the show, and it was not always done particularly tactfully each time. But it was an important topic to cover. So, even though some of the language and attitudes are very much of their time, the fact that the show still attempted to have an honest conversation about racial divides was admirable. This particular episode not only addressed prejudice and racial bias, but it also touched upon ageism.
The plot centers on Dorothy and her son, who is planning on marrying an older African American woman.The episode challenges the character’s very core because she feels that she is actually very progressive and forward-thinking,but this is all taken into question when circumstances hit closer to home. Juxtaposing Dorothy with her future in-laws shows that there are shortcomings on both sides, and in trueGolden Girlsfashion, important discussions are had with a big dose of uncomfortable humor.
7"Isn’t It Romantic?"
Season 2, Episode 5
All four leads of the show are considered queer icons in many LGBTQ+ circles, and this episode was one of the reasons why they still resonate with the community.Though it wasn’t illegal to be gay anymore, the topic was still very taboo and went against many “family values” groups, not to mention the fact that gay marriage was still illegal. Many queer characters were used for comic relief, cruel punchlines, and just as flamboyant sideline characters to add some color to the story.
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The Golden Girlsdid not resort to such cheap tactics. Instead, they would often take the opportunity to spread more awareness and call for more inclusivity.This episode focuses on Dorothy’s lesbian friend, who has a crush on Rose.There is a lot of lightness within the story, mostly playing on Rose’s ditzy personality and overt friendliness. But, instead of making the characters feel ashamed or disgusted, like many other big shows of the time did, the story played out in a very respectful and heartwarming way.
6"Brother, Can You Spare That Jacket?"
Season 4, Episode 8
Though this iconic show was known to tackle some controversial social issues with nuance and respect, it is important to remember that it was an ’80s sitcom, so sometimes the plot verged on the goofy side. This particular episode was a tale of two halves, with one being a ridiculous caper premise where the ‘twists" were obvious from a mile away, and the other a scathing look at economic injustice.This type of mix was what the show was known for, which was why they were able to sneak in so many hard-hitting subjects in on unsuspecting viewers.
As the show began, the main plot point focused on retrieving Blanche’s new jacket that accidently got donated to charity, but ended up with the four women spending the night in a homeless shelter.Each character encounters someone with a rough backstory that led to them having to live in the shelter.The moral of the story, of course, becomes apparent, and both the girls and the viewers are left thinking more about the stark reality that many people face.
5“Sick and Tired”
Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2
Health issues were discussed quite a lot on the show, with the characters all being senior citizens and discussing the subject of death in many episodes.Rose had an esophageal spasm at one point. Both she and Blanche lost their husbands at a relatively young age, and Sophia moved in because she suffered a stroke. But this episode is the one that addressed how inconsistent the healthcare system was, and how some patients would be gaslit and ignored.
Dorothy is the one going through a bout of ill health that every doctor she sees belittles and dismisses.The plot covers two whole episodes as she struggles with feeling unwell and, on top of that, keeps getting told that there is nothing wrong with her.This dismissive behavior showed the issues within the medical community that were not discussed as much on a primetime show. The poignancy of these episodes was also significant, as they tied back to the line, “But what happens when there’s only one of us left?” that was uttered only a few episodes before.
4"Dorothy’s Prized Pupil"
Season 2, Episode 21
Mario Lopez guest starred in this poignant episode that discusses the issues of immigration.As the show is based in Florida, there are quite a few instances where the Latino community is involved, but this early episode is one that tackles the subject head-on. Dorothy wants to platform her bright student by featuring his essay in a local paper, but this attention brings to light the fact that he is undocumented. The way the situation is handled is very much on a human level, showing this fear through the eyes of an ambitious young dreamer.
DID YOU KNOW: Dorothy submits her student Mario’s essay for a prize; he wins, but it catches the attention of the Immigration Department.
Dorothy’s allyship is at the forefront as she questions the unfairness of Mario’s plight, and the faults in the system.This subject matter is still extremely relevant, particularly in the current administration, and the episode packs a punch on an emotional level. The ending of the episode was not quite as positive as many other storylines, showing the severity and uncertainty of the situation. It was a very brave exploration of a tough topic that, sadly, is yet to be resolved.
3“Scared Straight”
Season 4, Episode 19
Blanche is a fascinating character.On the one hand, she is an empowered, independent woman who enjoys her sexuality and is unapologetic in her choices.On the other hand, she has some deeply ingrained Southern values with traditional gender roles that she falls back on many a time. Though she enjoys the company of the LGBTQ+ community, the moment her brother reveals that he identifies as a part of it, her pearl-clutching persona rears its ugly head.
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The episode shows him struggling with coming out to his sister and leaning on Rose for support.It was something the show would often do, and have its leads act in imperfect ways so that they could grow and learn along with the viewers. There are many emotional discussions that happen between the siblings as they both learn to navigate this new normal. Though Blanche’s views may not be as open-minded as some of the other women’s, it allows for a discussion between the characters that is nuanced and difficult.
2“Old Friends”
Season 3, Episode 1
One of the saddest and most beautiful episodes of the whole series, “Old Friends” sees Sophia develop a sweet friendship with a man at the pier.The two become thick as thieves as they bond over their curmudgeonly personalities and shared life experience, only for the twist to show him struggling with dementia. While the show would discuss aging and loneliness quite often, the way it navigated this heartbreaking topic in this episode was special. To think that Archie was a character that only appeared in one episode shows just how impactful he managed to be in his 30-minute outing.
The struggles of losing one’s memory and personality is a tough one to imagine, and the way Sophia handled seeing her new friend this way was both real and moving.It was the opening of the third season, and showed that, despite its success, the show was not scared of pushing boundaries further.There are few television shows that have been able to tell this story with quite as much heart, humor, and heartache, and to be able to do it in the 1980s is even more impressive.
1"72 Hours"
Season 5, Episode 19
The AIDS epidemic was a hot topic in the 1980s and 1990s, and many films and TV shows addressed it in one way or another.However, not many of them happened to be comedy shows. In trueGolden Girlsfashion, though, there was no subject matter that Rose, Sophia, Blanche, and Dorothy could not take on. When Rose receives the news that she may have contracted HIV during a blood transfusion, her life is inevitably in flux, and she goes through a host of emotions. As usual, her friends are there to support and challenge her, posing many difficult questions.
It was one of the more serious episodes ofThe Golden Girls, and it proved exactly how ahead of its time it was. Being able to handle something so heavy and complicated is no mean feat, but in the hands of the four beloved characters, it becomes much more manageable. The senior quad often served as mouthpieces for a variety of tough topics, and each time, they challenged their audience and, hopefully, taught them something about society and themselves.
