Why do I love the Golden Girls as a 40 something year old? Simple. The story line is predictable, the characters are classic, and I’m usually snorting through my nose laughing at one of Sophia’s one liners. Not to mention that the pastel colors are quite calming at 9pm and the fashion trends of the 80’s look oddly familiar to the trends being peddled to us here in the 20’s! (hello giant puff sleeves, shoulder pads, and giant earlobe-ripping earrings.)
But why do I love the Golden Girls as a writer? Simple. The plot of the Golden Girl’s was created for unending conflict. It’s not that deep, you say? I beg to differ. It’s brilliant.
The Golden Girls together as a group promises that no matter what, as they grow old, they will live together and take care of each other. I can’t think of a more comforting thought of growing old and no matter what happens, there will be friends there with me through thick and thin to laugh and eat cheesecake with.
But, as all stories go, there must be conflict for there to be a story and in each episode there is always unresolved conflict. Simply, the conflict is between their group happiness versus their individual happiness (and of course a lot of witty banter thrown in there for good measure!)
Case in point:
Rose, the ditsy St. Olafian, has a near death experience and wants to move out to be young again.
Sophia, the spunky Sicilian, is called on by her son to take care of her grandkids and needs to move away from the house.
Blanche, with her endless line of suitors, gets an offer she can’t refuse to buy the house they all reside in.
And in the end, Dorothy, the bitter single substitute teacher, marries her prince charming (Leslie Nielson) which ultimately busts up The Golden Girls after 7 years of magic.
Because their group’s happiness versus their individual happiness are mutually exclusive, you now have endless tension, endless story lines, and unending conflict – pure writer’s gold.
So as I root for the Golden Girls to grow old together, I cheer on each character individually for her to find her own happily ever after. And in the end, the predictability of The Golden Girls episodes are comforting and surprising all wrapped up in one. I never in my adult life thought that I would love them (and their unending conflict) so much…