I love The Golden Girls! I think it’s a timeless show that reflects a different period in our lives, whether we’re currently experiencing it or still have years to go. The show truly emphasizes the idea that “it doesn’t matter how old you are, but how young at heart you are.”
The women often find themselves in humorous shenanigans, adding a different aspect of humour to the situations they encounter.
Let’s face it, Sophia is undoubtedly a fan favourite. She delivers punchlines like no one else can, often using her age as a defence for her savage wit. Sophia’s character is based on impeccable comedic timing, which she executes perfectly. You can always expect her to take her jokes to that level, and she never fails to deliver. It’s no wonder most people choose Sophia as their favourite Golden Girl.
Now, people have different reasons for picking Blanche or Rose as their favourite Golden Girl. Blanche has her over-the-top southern accent, while Rose shares ridiculous stories from her younger days. Blanche occasionally brings a kinky joke into the mix, while Rose maintains an innocent demeanour. Their contrasting personalities complement each other, and it’s easy to see how jokes can be interpreted in various ways. However, their banter with one another can only go on for so long, with Dorothy in the mix she really sets them up and then knocks them down. Sophia is ultimately set up then, for her one-liner that ends the scene. Altogether are a good formula – and Dorothy plays a crucial part in connecting all their lines together. She has to pull it off and she does.
Blanche: “We brought dinner” Rose: “What’d ya get?”
Dorothy: “A bucket of chicken”
Dorothy: “I hope you like it extra flat and crispy”
Harris, Susan, et al. “One For The Money.” The Golden Girls, season 3, episode 2, NBC-TV, 26 Sept. 1987.
However, what we may not realize is that Dorothy is the glue that holds everything together. She possesses Sophia’s sassy one-liners and the other girls’ goofiness. Her cynicism and sarcasm ground Rose, Sophia, and Blanche, bringing them back to reality. Whenever they become overly dramatic or engage in something unconventional, we can always rely on Dorothy to make a clever remark. Not only does she inject humour into the situation with a logical, common-sense approach, but she also keeps the story on track, ensuring it progresses smoothly.
This also adds another layer of humour for her because when she does engage in something unusual that is out of character, it becomes even funnier.
While I agree that the show would be different without Rose, Blanche, and especially Sophia, it couldn’t survive without a character like Dorothy. At times, when the other main characters are acting too zany, Dorothy makes me feel like she’s the neutral one in control of the situation. As the main character, I relate to and follow her perspective.
Rose: “That little floozy stole Blanche’s clothes!”
“It’s like having Agatha Christie right here in our kitchen”
Harris, Susan, and Christopher Lloyd. “Strange Bedfellows.” The Golden Girls, season 3, episode 7, NBC-TV, 7 Nov. 1987.
Unknowingly, Dorothy takes control of the show. We often don’t realize how much we adore her until we imagine the show without her. Bea Arthur did an excellent job portraying the character, with her classic side-eye that almost breaks the fourth wall. She looks dumbfounded and averts her gaze as if to say, “Can you believe what I’m dealing with?” This look becomes an inside joke with the viewers, which the other girls don’t always notice or react to.
While Sophia may have jokes that feel similar, I feel like Dorothy is speaking to the audience through her side-eyes and clever remarks. When Sophia cracks a joke, the girls clearly recognize it, but Dorothy makes us feel like she’s our friend, letting us in on the joke. We become one of the Golden Girls, observing the situation, and her raised eyebrows usually indicate when to laugh.
Another factor that strengthens Dorothy’s case is that Sophia, being her mother, reveals more about Dorothy and their family compared to the other girls. Sophia primarily serves as a supporting character to Dorothy since she is her mother, and in the earlier seasons, she isn’t seen as much as one of the girls. This highlights Dorothy’s central role in the show.
While each character holds a special place in my heart and makes me laugh for different reasons, I simply couldn’t imagine a scene that I loved without Dorothy. She steals the show for me!
