Edna’s awful friend Gwen in “We Get Letters” - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TV Guy · 04-07-2020, 11:59 AM

This is the episode where Edna’s old friend (played by acclaimed Broadway actress Anne Jackson) accuses her of having an affair with her husband.

I hated the ending of this one. Gwen was so relentlessly nasty to Edna the entire episode, I really wanted Edna to just throw her out at the end, instead of forgiving her.

'80sSitcoms · 04-07-2020, 12:48 PM

What bothers me even more is that Mrs. Garrett doesn't defend herself to Natalie. She doesn't explain to her what really happened, instead letting her assume Mrs. Garrett was inappropriate with another woman's husband.

I HATE that.

#notcanon

RetroGuy2000 · 04-07-2020, 01:46 PM

It is not a good episode. It was written so weirdly. Yes, Mrs. Garrett should have defended herself, and had she been in character, should have kicked Gwen to the curb.

And it should have been very easy for Mrs. Garrett to explain to Natalie what really happened, since she'd known her for over six years, by then!

Wawwie · 04-07-2020, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

This is the episode where Edna’s old friend (played by acclaimed Broadway actress Anne Jackson) accuses her of having an affair with her husband.

She was having an emotional affair with the woman's husband.

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

What bothers me even more is that Mrs. Garrett doesn't defend herself to Natalie. She doesn't explain to her what really happened, instead letting her assume Mrs. Garrett was inappropriate with another woman's husband.

She didn't defend herself because she knew she was wrong and YES she was indeed inappropriate with another woman's husband. I think most wives would not like their husband constantly corresponding with another woman no matter what. It was an emotional affair, Mrs. G. was wrong and inappropriate. Just because there was no sex between Edna and the man does not mean that it wasn't an affair. It was an affair, it was lies and it was betrayal. I don't care what the letters were about. The husband shouldn't have been seeking advice/comfort from another woman.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 04-07-2020, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

She was having an emotional affair with the woman's husband.

She didn't defend herself because she knew she was wrong and YES she was indeed inappropriate with another woman's husband. I think most wives would not like their husband constantly corresponding with another woman no matter what. It was an emotional affair, Mrs. G. was wrong and inappropriate. Just because there was no sex between Edna and the man does not mean that it wasn't an affair. It was an affair, it was lies and it was betrayal. I don't care what the letters were about. The husband shouldn't have been seeking advice/comfort from another woman.

He was corresponding with another woman for 15 years, okay, but those letters were for Gwen, not for Edna. Mrs. Garrett only replied to him. I don't see an affair here..

Wawwie · 04-07-2020, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

He was corresponding with another woman for 15 years, okay, but those letters were for Gwen, not for Edna. Mrs. Garrett only replied to him. I don't see an affair here..

I don't see how it's not an emotional affair. Edna made a lie of omission to her friend for 15 years. I don't know about you, but personally, I would not like it if my husband was corresponding with another woman for fifteen years for any reason and was keeping it secret from me. Secrets, lies = emotional affair.

'80sSitcoms · 04-07-2020, 03:21 PM

Maybe it was more technical than emotional. Feedback on the poems.

Whether Natalie would have thought her right or wrong, she was thinking she was having an extra-marital affair, and knowing how sensitive Natalie is to that personally, Mrs. Garrett should have told her "Now wait a minute" and explained what really happened.

Wawwie · 04-07-2020, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Maybe it was more technical than emotional. Feedback on the poems.

Whether Natalie would have thought her right or wrong, she was thinking she was having an extra-marital affair, and knowing how sensitive Natalie is to that personally, Mrs. Garrett should have told her "Now wait a minute" and explained what really happened.

Mrs. G. was having an affair... an emotional affair. What is there to defend? It was a lie of omission for 15 years. If Mrs. G. and the man both found it necessary to keep it secret from Gwen, then they knew they were doing wrong.

valentina warner · 04-07-2020, 03:25 PM

What season is that? I don't think i have ever watched that episode?

'80sSitcoms · 04-07-2020, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Mrs. G. was having an affair... an emotional affair. What is there to defend? It was a lie of omission for 15 years. If Mrs. G. and the man both found it necessary to keep it secret from Gwen, then they knew they were doing wrong.

They kept it secret because I think Gwen was shrewish about his poetry. There may have not been anything emotional in Mrs Garrett and the man's correspondence. It may all have been technical.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 04-07-2020, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valentina warner

What season is that? I don't think i have ever watched that episode?

It's an episode from season 7, Valentina. We Get Letters

FOL-FAN-ITA · 04-07-2020, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I don't see how it's not an emotional affair. Edna made a lie of omission to her friend for 15 years. I don't know about you, but personally, I would not like it if my husband was corresponding with another woman for fifteen years for any reason and was keeping it secret from me. Secrets, lies = emotional affair.

I agree with you about the omission. Mrs. Garrett should have told Gwen the secret but I don't think it was an emotional or romantic affair. In my opinion, I would say it's an affair what Blair's mother did in season 1 (the affair with that married man) and what Natalie's father did in season 3 (the kiss in the restaurant)

'80sSitcoms · 04-07-2020, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I agree with you about the omission. Mrs. Garrett should have told Gwen the secret but I don't think it was an emotional or romantic affair. In my opinion, I would say it's an affair what Blair's mother did in season 1 (the affair with that married man) and what Natalie's father did in season 3 (the kiss in the restaurant)

Did you mean to say "I would say it's not an affair"?

Lorimar Television · 04-07-2020, 05:27 PM

I wouldn't call it an affair, she was helping a friend nothing more.

RetroGuy2000 · 04-07-2020, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

She was having an emotional affair with the woman's husband.

Would you say this if it were Gwen writing letters to Edna for decades?

04-07-2020, 11:59 AM	#1
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Edna’s awful friend Gwen in “We Get Letters” This is the episode where Edna’s old friend (played by acclaimed Broadway actress Anne Jackson) accuses her of having an affair with her husband. I hated the ending of this one. Gwen was so relentlessly nasty to Edna the entire episode, I really wanted Edna to just throw her out at the end, instead of forgiving her.
	Last edited by TV Guy; 04-07-2020 at 12:30 PM.

04-07-2020, 12:48 PM	#2
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	What bothers me even more is that Mrs. Garrett doesn't defend herself to Natalie. She doesn't explain to her what really happened, instead letting her assume Mrs. Garrett was inappropriate with another woman's husband. I HATE that. #notcanon
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04-07-2020, 01:46 PM	#3
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	It is not a good episode. It was written so weirdly. Yes, Mrs. Garrett should have defended herself, and had she been in character, should have kicked Gwen to the curb. And it should have been very easy for Mrs. Garrett to explain to Natalie what really happened, since she'd known her for over six years, by then!
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04-07-2020, 05:27 PM	#14
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	I wouldn't call it an affair, she was helping a friend nothing more.
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04-07-2020, 03:21 PM	#7
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Maybe it was more technical than emotional. Feedback on the poems. Whether Natalie would have thought her right or wrong, she was thinking she was having an extra-marital affair, and knowing how sensitive Natalie is to that personally, Mrs. Garrett should have told her "Now wait a minute" and explained what really happened.

04-07-2020, 03:25 PM	#9
valentina warner Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Location: The Uk Posts: 3,154	What season is that? I don't think i have ever watched that episode?