CYNTHIA

[valentina warner]

What if MRS G could have prevented CYNTHIA from committing suicide?

I strongly believe that our 'feisty red haired' could have stopped the pretty/shy curly haired blond teenager from taking the doomed pills that ended her life so abruptly!

In my fictional world, this is what i see: after CYNTHIA abruptly hides in her room and hangs up the phone (after finding out about her parents divorce), MRS G walks into her room to find the teenage girl in tears, she then takes her in her arms, and after a 'heart to heart' talk she makes a cup of cocoa and reassures the poor girl that everything will be alright, and soon afterwards she becomes the 5th girl = 'The musketeers number 5'......

Do you guys agree with my theory or not?

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

I like your story, Valentina. Cynthia could have survived after a heart to heart talk with Mrs. Garrett. If she had spoken, I'm sure Edna and the girls would have done what they could to help her, just like they did with Natalie three seasons later.

[RetroGuy2000]

Linda and Margie definitely wanted Cynthia to die. They argued fiercely with network executives. "The girl dies," they insisted. " ̶R̶a̶b̶b̶i̶t̶s̶ Cynthia, you're DEAD!"

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Linda and Margie definitely wanted Cynthia to die. They argued fiercely with network executives. "The girl dies," they insisted. " ̶R̶a̶b̶b̶i̶t̶s̶ Cynthia, you're DEAD!"

Yep they said “it’s not an ATTEMPTED suicide! It’s a suicide!”

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Linda and Margie definitely wanted Cynthia to die. They argued fiercely with network executives. "The girl dies," they insisted. " ̶R̶a̶b̶b̶i̶t̶s̶ Cynthia, you're DEAD!"

I'm glad it turned into a suicide so people could see a realistic take. Usually shows are too happy ended with their suicide episodes by it just being an attempted suicide. The Facts of Life was rare for having the teenager actually die. Mindy said this episode helped people. I don't think it would have had the same impact on viewers if Cynthia lived by having a heart to heart with one of the main characters. For some people, that's not the way life always works out.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I'm glad it turned into a suicide so people could see a realistic take. Usually shows are too happy ended with their suicide episodes by it just being an attempted suicide. The Facts of Life was rare for having the teenager actually die. Mindy said this episode helped people. I don't think it would have had the same impact on viewers if Cynthia lived by having a heart to heart with one of the main characters. For some people, that's not the way life always works out.

Yeah, too many times we've seen shows where a character threatens or attempts suicide, but s/he is saved. FOL even did a late-season episode where a character threatens suicide.

As you say, and I agree, the show has much more impact because Cynthia dies: the girls learn that there is no fixing death, and sometimes people are in pain, but never let on. These are important lessons, and if Cynthia had lived, the episode would have been far less memorable.

Most people would be hard-pressed to even remember the name of the late-season suicide episode, but many people remember "Breaking Point": it made an impact on real lives. Mindy is proud of what that episode accomplished, and justifiably so.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Yep they said “it’s not an ATTEMPTED suicide! It’s a suicide!”

Yeah, they really insisted, and I'm glad, in this case, that they stuck to their guns.

I have issues with some of Linda and Margie's reasoning (for example, that a black girl on roller skates is "stereotypical"; in the 1980s everyone wore roller skates), but on this, they were exactly right, and the proof is in the letter Mindy received.

[valentina warner]

I guess you guys make a point, but i'm a hopeless woman who loves happy ending!!!!

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I guess you guys make a point, but i'm a hopeless woman who loves happy ending!!!!

Haha I agree I like a happy ending but not everything can be

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I guess you guys make a point, but i'm a hopeless woman who loves happy ending!!!!

Even though I'm glad the writers got the ending they wanted for Cynthia, I'd totally read an alternate ending, Valentina.

[80s Dude]

Part of the appeal of the Facts of Life is that it didn't always have a happy ending. Just like the ending for Mr. Gideon on "Front Page". The audience was dead silent when that show ended. Though Mr. Gideon did get to live.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Part of the appeal of the Facts of Life is that it didn't always have a happy ending. Just like the ending for Mr. Gideon on "Front Page". The audience was dead silent when that show ended. Though Mr. Gideon did get to live.

Yes. And the same thing happened in Teacher's Pet with Gail.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Yes. And the same thing happened in Teacher's Pet with Gail.

Well, Gail, like Cynthia, didn't get to live. Of those three, only Mr. Gideon was allowed to live, albeit unemployed and disgraced.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, Gail, like Cynthia, didn't get to live. Of those three, only Mr. Gideon was allowed to live, albeit unemployed and disgraced.

Maybe Mr. Gideon went on to better things like Molly and George.

[valentina warner]

great point guys!!!!

GAIL and CYNTHIA 's ended up in tragedy!!!

[B]Mr. Gideon on the other hand lives!

PS: happy you'd like my alternateendingRetro!!!!