The Golden Girls, the beloved NBC sitcom that aired from 1985 to 1992, is remembered for its witty banter, sharp one-liners, and the undeniable chemistry among its four iconic leads: Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, Betty White as Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, and Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo. Often dismissed by non-fans as a creaky comedy about retirement, the show was actually anything but lightweight: behind its pastel outfits and cheesecake-fueled chats was a series unafraid to dive into weighty subjects like LGBTQ+ rights, grief, ageism, addiction, and terminal illness.
While The Golden Girls had already delved into controversial territory early in its run, few episodes captured the emotional gravity and raw vulnerability of real life quite like Season 5’s two-part premiere, “Sick and Tired.” In these episodes, the show abandoned its usual rhythm of sarcastic rejoinders and sunny escapades to explore a far more sobering reality — what happens when a woman isn’t taken seriously by her own doctors.