Thank you for being a friend. Since it went off the air in 1992, The Golden Girls continues to be a hit show with fans of all ages. More viewers seem to discover the show and realize they can relate to Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Deveraux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) in all sorts of hilarious and dramatic situations.
Throughout its seven seasons, the sitcom always delivered laugh-out-loud episodes. On the other hand, there were episodes that tugged at your heartstrings. Every fan has a favorite episode, making it a truly timeless sitcom. Take a look at 10 of the best episodes, ranked according to IMDb.
Ebbtide’s Revenge (8.2)
A parent should never have to bury their child. Unfortunately, this happens in the season six episode “Ebbtide’s Revenge.” Sophia’s son, Phil, ed away, and the girls attend his funeral. Sophia never understood why he liked to cross-dress, and she has had a prolonged rift with his wife, Angela (Brenda Vaccaro).
Dorothy tries to mend this feud, and it seems successful. Fans can’t help but cry when Sophia finally weeps, “my baby is gone.” It was a rare moment where Sophia cries, making it one of the most memorable scenes from the sitcom.
Sick And Tired: Part 2 (8.3)
In the season five two-part episode, “Sick and Tired,” Dorothy is constantly sick and tired, but her doctor tells her she’s simply aging. In the second part of the special, Dorothy eventually gets diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome from a doctor who cared about her concerns.
Dorothy later confronts her original doctor with one of the best monologues from the sitcom. She tells him, “I don’t know where you doctors lose your humanity, but you lose it. You know, someday Doctor Budd, you’re going to be on the other side of the table, and as angry as I am and as angry as I always will be, I still wish you a better doctor than you were to me.”
To Catch A Neighbor (8.4)
Life can be pretty exciting for the Golden Girls. In the season two episode “To Catch a Neighbor,” two police officers use their house to spy on their next-door neighbors, who are believed to be jewel thieves. They set up surveillance equipment, but the girls seem more interested in surveying their guests.
Throughout the episode, it’s obvious Dorothy has feelings for Al (Joe Camla). The episode takes a dramatic turn when Al’s partner, Bobby (George Clooney), is shot during a confrontation. Audiences are on the edge of their seat during this episode.
Valentine’s Day (8.5)
The Golden Girls had many holiday-themed episodes, including the season four episode “Valentine’s Day.” When the girls’ dates stand them up, they reflect—over cheesecake, of course—on previous Valentine’s Day memories. Sophia tells the story of how she and her husband, Sal (Sid Melton), spent the holiday in a car garage in Chicago. Dorothy shares a story of when the girls were planning on going on a cruise and they decided to buy condoms at the drugstore, but it ended disastrously.
Fans probably best this episode because of the hilarious scene when Rose mistakenly booked the girls a reservation at a nudist resort. When they decide to finally participate in the nudist vibe, they go to dinner. They’re surprised to find out that they “always dress for dinner.”
Journey To The Center Of Attention (8.6)
Everyone knows Blanche Deveraux is a promiscuous woman. She has many dates, and she’s not afraid to discuss her personal life with her friends. She loves being the center of attention whenever men are in the same room as her. So, she’s surprised in the season seven episode “Journey to the Center of Attention” when Dorothy replaces her as the star girl at her favorite bar, the Rusty Anchor.
The episode features a hilarious scene when Blanche tries her best to impress everyone at the bar, but she’s not a natural singer like Dorothy. Blanche finally its she’s jealous of Dorothy, and it’s a heartwarming scene between the two best friends.
Sister Of The Bride (8.7)
The Golden Girls was a very progressive show. The sitcom tackled gay rights with the introduction of Blanche’s brother, Clayton (Monte Markham). He confessed that he’s gay, and it took a while for Blanche to accept the news.
In the season six episode “Sister of the Bride,” Clayton announces he’s marrying his partner. Blanche doesn’t understand why he has to get married. Sophia reminds her that Blanche married her husband because she loved him. Clayton is doing the same thing. She says, “everyone wants someone to grow old with, and shouldn’t everyone have that chance?”
Ladies Of The Evening (8.8)
In the 1980s, everyone loved Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds. So, when the girls have the opportunity to meet him in the season two episode “Ladies of the Evening,” they can hardly believe it.
The night doesn’t go according to their plans. Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose are mistaken as prostitutes at their hotel, and they spend the night inside a jail cell. Sophia uses this opportunity to attend the premiere party and meet Reynolds. The episode ends with a memorable guest star appearance by Reynolds. The girls swoon over him. Can you really blame them?
Old Friends (9.0)
The Golden Girls tackled Alzheimer’s disease in the season three episode “Old Friends.” The show was one of the first of its kind to focus on the progressive disorder, and the disease was treated in a delicate manner. Sophia befriends an elderly man with Alzheimer’s, and the man is clearly confused by his memory loss.
At the same time, Rose tries to get back her beloved teddy bear from a Sunshine Cadet girl, who holds the bear hostage. The episode combined humor and heartbreak into an episode that still makes people emotional.
The Case Of The Libertine Belle (9.1)
In the season seven episode “The Case of the Libertine Belle,” the girls attend a murder mystery weekend in the Florida Keys. Everyone is having a fun time until it seems like there was a real murder at the hotel. Blanche is the primary suspect. Did she actually murder someone, or is it just a big misunderstanding?
Anytime a show has a themed episode, it’s always memorable. Along with the characters, fans try to determine “who done it” in this thrilling episode.
One Flew Out Of The Cuckoo’s Nest (9.2)
Television shows have a hit-or-miss series finale. Thankfully, The Golden Girls had a successful two-part finale. In “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Dorothy marries Blanche’s uncle, Lucas (Leslie Nielsen). It seems Dorothy will finally have the “happily ever after” she deserves.
The show ends with Dorothy leaving her friends and mother in Miami to move to Atlanta. It’s a tender moment when they have to repeatedly say goodbye to each other. Dorothy tearfully says, “I love you, always… you’ll always be my sisters. Always.”
