I love Mrs. Garrett. I've always loved Mrs. Garrett.

I hadn't realized though just how different she is from season 1 and seasons 2, 3, and 4 and beyond.

A lot of folks complain about season 1 and "too many girls" etc., but frankly, season 1 is Mrs. Garrett's seaso---she's the star of the series. I love her in season 1, she's so silly and funny and wonderful.

But in seasons 2, 3, and 4 (my other favorite seasons), she's so different. She's funny, yes, and wonderful, but not quite the same. In season 1 she had more physical comedy and seemed more "active" physically. She also looked younger---after the weight loss she looked so much older, especially around the eyes; they were much brigheter and "merrier" in season 1. Of course it's wonderful to lose weight like she did, but it showed her age a lot more in her face.

I still love her in season 2, it's just that I noticed how different "the 2 Mrs. Garretts" are between these seasons when watching the DVDs.

I wondered if anyone else noticed the differenced...but whichever season, we love ya Mrs. G! :D

There is a difference in Mrs. Garrett, but I always thought she looked far younger after she lost the weight. I thought she was a bit more frumpy the first year and her hair was um well, overly large.

But I love Mrs. G. regardless.

I always thought she looked far younger after she lost the weight. I thought she was a bit more frumpy the first year

Interesting...she was dressed far frumpier, but her face to me looked like it was kind of deflated, and the skin around her eyes so much more aged. That's what makes her seem far older to me, her face, especially the eyes---and the fact she wasn't as physically comedic.

I think Mrs. G was at her best during the first season as well. I think during the first season she was more like the Mrs. G that she was on Diff'rent Strokes. I think they may have changed her character to make her a little bit more mature since she was going to be a role model for Jo, Blair, Tootie and Nat.

See, I'm going to have to disagree again. I thought Mrs. G was at her worst in Season One honestly. She was goofier, sure. She had more punchlines, sure. But I don't think she was necessarily funnier.

Not to mention I think they had to change her character a bit. In Season One Mrs. Garrett is basically just a dorm monitor. Sure she gives the girls pep talks and a shoulder to cry on and is a friend to them, but that's about where it ends.

Put it this way. Outside of these pep talks and such, what exactly does Mrs. G. do? She doesn't have to cook for the whole school as we saw the food being served to them. It doesn't seem as if she does the laundry and actual household chores. She watches the girls, but even then she's got Mr. Bradley coming in and making the real rules.

By Season 2, Mrs. Garrett has a full fledged role at Eastland. She is the dietician so not only does she need to make budgets, plan menus, order food but cook the food every day. She's responsible for everything that goes on in the Eastland cafeteria.

On top of that throw in the fact that after the incidents of "The New Girl", she also agrees to take on responsibility of these four girls. By taking responsibility for them the way she does--both with their parents and the headmasters--she has a much more serious role with these four than she ever had during the first year. If she can't keep them out of trouble, it's Mrs. Garrett's butt on the line. Mrs. Garrett has to be much more of an actual parent and disciplinarian to them than she did with many of the first years. To the main four she's often more of a real parent than their own parents.

So I think with these things in mind, Mrs. Garrett had to change. Mrs. Garrett of the second season and beyond had many more responsibilities on her plate than first season Mrs. Garrett--and I actually thought because of that she was a much more realistic figure in the second season and beyond.

I agree her character had to mature and evolve more, but I agree with Dax about her being so terrific in season 1. She had so many more funny lines and physical comedy---and not to mention, since the cafeteria years had soooo many scenes in the girls' room, naturally Mrs. G's role would become somewhat diminished (in terms of screen time and lines, not importance). When I grew up watching the cafeteria years I still loved her so much, and still do. It was just so jarring watching the first 2 seasons back to back on the DVDs and seeing the big "jump", lol.

See, I'm going to have to disagree again. I thought Mrs. G was at her worst in Season One honestly. She was goofier, sure. She had more punchlines, sure. But I don't think she was necessarily funnier.

Not to mention I think they had to change her character a bit. In Season One Mrs. Garrett is basically just a dorm monitor. Sure she gives the girls pep talks and a shoulder to cry on and is a friend to them, but that's about where it ends.

Put it this way. Outside of these pep talks and such, what exactly does Mrs. G. do? She doesn't have to cook for the whole school as we saw the food being served to them. It doesn't seem as if she does the laundry and actual household chores. She watches the girls, but even then she's got Mr. Bradley coming in and making the real rules.

By Season 2, Mrs. Garrett has a full fledged role at Eastland. She is the dietician so not only does she need to make budgets, plan menus, order food but cook the food every day. She's responsible for everything that goes on in the Eastland cafeteria.

On top of that throw in the fact that after the incidents of "The New Girl", she also agrees to take on responsibility of these four girls. By taking responsibility for them the way she does--both with their parents and the headmasters--she has a much more serious role with these four than she ever had during the first year. If she can't keep them out of trouble, it's Mrs. Garrett's butt on the line. Mrs. Garrett has to be much more of an actual parent and disciplinarian to them than she did with many of the first years. To the main four she's often more of a real parent than their own parents.

So I think with these things in mind, Mrs. Garrett had to change. Mrs. Garrett of the second season and beyond had many more responsibilities on her plate than first season Mrs. Garrett--and I actually thought because of that she was a much more realistic figure in the second season and beyond.

I totally have to agree with you in everything you wrote down lol, although i find it very interesting how she changes in every season:
SEASON 1 we have a "fat" MRS. G
SEASON 2 we have a "skinny" MRS. G
SEASON 3 we have a "dark red haired" MRS. G
SEASON 4 we have a "curvier red haired" MRS. G
SEASON 5 we have a "slimer red haired" MRS. G
SEASON 6 we have a "curlier haired" MRS. G
SEASON 7 we have a "curlier thinner" MRS. G
SEASON 8 we have a "curvier" MRS. G who then leaves.....