Television sitcoms aren’t usually sad; they’re designed to provide fun entertainment, making viewers laugh and forget about their own troubles. However, there’s the occasional moment when a sitcom gets emotional and reminds audiences that the characters are real people—or, supposed to seem like real people, at least.
On The Golden Girls, this happens sporadically throughout the show. The characters might have some heartbreaking moments. For the character Rose Nylund (Betty White), this happens whenever she reflects on her late husband, Charlie. For the most part, Rose is quirky, bubbly, and she always seems to be in a good mood. So, it’s hard to watch whenever she’s sad, including these 10 emotional storylines.
When Her Husband Died
If there is one thing to know about Rose, it’s that she loved her late husband, Charlie. He was the love of her life, and he knew Rose best—he was her perfect companion. Even though audiences never meet Charlie, who had passed away before the show’s first episode, they still know him because of the way Rose talked about him. He was a great husband.
Whenever Rose reflects on Charlie, it’s an emotional, heartbreaking moment. It’s obvious White wasn’t acting and remembering her own beloved late husband, famed game show host Allen Ludden.
Moving To Miami As A Widow
Rose is known for her hilarious stories about growing up in St. Olaf, Minnesota. St. Olaf is a peculiar place, and it’s a wonder that Rose ever left her home to move to Miami. However, in the season two episode “A Piece of Cake,” a flashback scene reveals why Rose decided to leave St. Olaf.
She couldn’t live in the house without Charlie; there were just too many memories, and moving to Miami would be a nice change for her. In one of the most heartbreaking moments for Rose, she says, “I know that wherever I am, you’ll be right there with me. I love you, Charlie. I miss you.” Cue the tears.
Making Charlie A Hero
In the season one episode, “The Truth Will Out,” Rose’s daughter, Kirsten, visits to review the estate papers. Rose reveals that she always keeps Charlie’s will in the cookie jar because, whenever she caught him in the kitchen back home in St. Olaf, he was always at the cookie jar. She says, “this way, he still is!”
But, later, Kirsten is shocked that Rose apparently lost most of Charlie’s large inheritance through bad investments. After she leaves, Rose finally confesses that Charlie was only an ordinary salesman. They didn’t have much money, but she doesn’t want Kirsten to know the truth. She wants her children to think of Charlie as a hero—because that’s what he was to Rose.
Thinking She’s Cursed When It Comes To Sex
Rose doesn’t have the same sex life as her roommate, Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), who is often teased for being a “slut” with many sexual partners. There’s a reason Rose is less provocative; Charlie died from a sudden heart attack while having sex. She still made sure he was dressed and ready when the paramedics arrived. However, this experience traumatizes Rose. Is she cursed when it comes to sex?
Later on, in the season one episode “In a Bed of Roses,” Rose sleeps with a man, and he also dies in his sleep. This brings back awful memories of her husband’s death. Of course, she’s not really cursed, but the trauma is heartbreaking.
When She’s Separated From Miles
Charlie might have been Rose’s true love of her life, but Miles Webber (Harold Gould) is her second act. Her longtime boyfriend on the show, Miles is everything Rose needs in life right now. So, it’s upsetting when he has to leave during the sixth season to join the Witness Protection Program after hiding from a gangster named The Cheese Man.
When he leaves, Miles gives Rose a Robert Frost poetry book and tells her to read a poem. It reads “and when to the heart of a man, was it ever a less than a treason, to bow and accept the end of a love, or of a season?” Rose already had to say goodbye to Charlie, and it’s sad now to say goodbye to another one of her loves. At least Miles eventually returns to her.
When She Thought She Had AIDS
In the 1980s, people were scared of HIV/AIDS patients, thinking the virus was contagious. The Golden Girls tackled this controversial subject in the season five episode, “72 Hours.” Rose fears she had contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion after undergoing a gallbladder operation. During those 72 hours of waiting for the test results, she’s worried sick about what might happen.
No one likes to see Rose when she’s upset; she’s not her usual perky self. In an emotional monologue, Rose doesn’t know why this happened to her—a good person. Blanche scolds her, saying, “AIDS is not a bad person’s disease, Rose. It is not God punishing people for their sins.” While Rose was falling prey to the stereotype of AIDS patients, it’s easy to forgive her because she was so worried.
She Was Adopted
It seems like Rose had a very innocent childhood in St. Olaf, but it didn’t start out easily. She was placed in an orphanage after birth when her birth mother died and her birth father, a monk, left her. She lived in the orphanage until she was adopted when she was eight years old.
Rose didn’t talk about her adoption very often. Occasionally, she made references to it, including her original belief that renowned comedian Bob Hope was her birth father. For someone who had a happy childhood with fond memories, she certainly endured a lot of emotional pain.
When She Lost Charlie’s Pension
In the season five episode “Rose Fights Back,” Rose finds out that Charlie’s pension was suspended. She’ll no longer have money, so what will happen to her? After observing a homeless woman, she fears that she’ll also become homeless. She could be a “bag lady,” and she never thought she would find herself in this position.
Anyone who has had unexpected financial problems can relate to Rose’s situation. She feels hopeless, and it’s heartbreaking to watch her worry about a situation that is out of her control.
When She Faced Age Discrimination
After realizing that she needs to find a job in order to earn an income, Rose starts applying for many jobs. However, she faces harsh age discrimination as a woman over 50. She realizes that no one is going to hire a woman her age, and she criticizes this behavior.
This storyline hits home still to this day when people over 50 are discriminated against for their age. They’re laid off from their jobs. It’s hard to witness, especially because Rose is so desperate to find a job.
Constantly Being Teased
Rose is often on the receiving end of the jokes and insults between the Golden Girls. She’s presented as a naïve, ditsy character who doesn’t understand references, jokes, or basic conversations. She’s not dumb; she’s purely innocent. It makes her lovable, so it’s sad when she’s constantly teased by her friends.
Some of the jokes and burns could be hurtful if Rose finds them offensive. Luckily, she takes them with a grain of salt. However, her best friends shouldn’t always make fun of her for her naivety. They’re supposed to care about her, not ruthlessly tease her. Poor Rose.
