The Golden Ladies, the beloved NBC sitcom that aired from 1985 to 1992, is remembered for its witty banter, sharp one-liners, and the plain chemistry amongst its 4 iconic leads: Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, Betty White as Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, and Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo. Typically dismissed by non-fans as a creaky comedy about retirement, the present was really something however light-weight: behind its pastel outfits and cheesecake-fueled chats was a collection unafraid to dive into weighty topics like LGBTQ+ rights, grief, ageism, habit, and terminal sickness.
Whereas The Golden Ladies had already delved into controversial territory early in its run, few episodes captured the emotional gravity and uncooked vulnerability of actual life fairly like Season 5’s two-part premiere, “Sick and Drained.” In these episodes, the present deserted its typical rhythm of sarcastic rejoinders and sunny escapades to discover a much more sobering actuality — what occurs when a girl isn’t taken critically by her personal docs.