I am the only one who thinks that Season 5 was an “odd season” because

[TVLegend]

Sophia’s personality became too over-the-top
Blanche’s promiscuity was joked about far too much
There were too many serious episodes


I think the only thing that I thought was really “good” about Season 5 was that there wasn’t too many “visiting relatives” episodes

[BestTVever]

Yes its when Golden Girls was jumping the shark. The writers embraced current topics in the news as plots and injected them into the sitcom. In real time it probably made the show trendy and current. But looking back it was dumb and lazy to do. I watch all the episodes up to season 4 only.

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Yes its when Golden Girls was jumping the shark. The writers embraced current topics in the news as plots and injected them into the sitcom. In real time it probably made the show trendy and current. But looking back it was dumb and lazy to do. I watch all the episodes up to season 4 only.

I think the episode where Rose might have AIDS is the only one that I refuse to watch in syndication besides the episode where Blanche dreams that her husband George faked his death and the two part series finale. The topic was too dark and depressing for a fun and lighthearted sitcom like The Golden Girls.

[opus]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

I think the episode where Rose might have AIDS is the only one that I refuse to watch in syndication besides the episode where Blanche dreams that her husband George faked his death and the two part series finale. The topic was too dark and depressing for a fun and lighthearted sitcom like The Golden Girls.

So you’re okay with this one?

Not Another Monday
Episode aired Nov 11, 1989
TV-PG
30m

Martha Lamont, one of Sophia's close friends, is tired of the physical pain and suffering in her life and wants to kill herself.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0589791/

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by opus

So you’re okay with this one?

Not Another Monday
Episode aired Nov 11, 1989
TV-PG
30m

Martha Lamont, one of Sophia's close friends, is tired of the physical pain and suffering in her life and wants to kill herself.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0589791/

That episode wasn’t bad. I don’t mind a serious episode every now and then but one of the main characters possibly having a terminal illness was too much.

[BestTVever]

Season 5 kicks off with one of my least favorite of all....The Sick and Tired 2 parter. There is no comedy in it at all.

[Dianne3]

By season 5, GG had all new writers.
The original writers either left in season 3 or season 4.
Season 4 is a mixture of both original and new writers.

One of the first serious later episodes (it might have even been the first), didn't start out that way. It was the season 4 missing lottery ticket episode, where the GG end up in a homeless shelter.

The season 5 opener "Sick and Tired" was based on the experiences of GG creator.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Dianne3

By season 5, GG had all new writers.
The original writers either left in season 3 or season 4.
Season 4 is a mixture of both original and new writers.

One of the first serious later episodes (it might have even been the first), didn't start out that way. It was the season 4 missing lottery ticket episode, where the GG end up in a homeless shelter.

The season 5 opener "Sick and Tired" was based on the experiences of GG creator.

Yes. You can drastically see the change. Season 4 still has a little magic here and there thus still having a few old writers around. Season 5 everything changes. Watching in real time, I did not notice so much and was loyal to the show. But watching the show in reruns for decades the writing change sticks out like a sore thumb. I only own the first 3 seasons on DVD. Those were pure magic. But then again most sitcoms change after 3 successful seasons. All In The Family and Roseanne were also superior its first 3 seasons.

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by Dianne3

By season 5, GG had all new writers.
The original writers either left in season 3 or season 4.
Season 4 is a mixture of both original and new writers.

One of the first serious later episodes (it might have even been the first), didn't start out that way. It was the season 4 missing lottery ticket episode, where the GG end up in a homeless shelter.

The season 5 opener "Sick and Tired" was based on the experiences of GG creator.

That makes perfect sense. Season 4 feels like a combination of Seasons 3 and 5, but it was still good. Season 5 is when the show starts to really decline. The characters’ personalities (minus Dorothy) start to become exaggerated and it gets in the way of the show. Those last two seasons really feel like a parody of The Golden Girls.

As for Sick and Tired, I believe that two parter might be one of the last episodes where the characters are true to themselves.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

That makes perfect sense. Season 4 feels like a combination of Seasons 3 and 5, but it was still good. Season 5 is when the show starts to really decline. The characters’ personalities (minus Dorothy) start to become exaggerated and it gets in the way of the show. Those last two seasons really feel like a parody of The Golden Girls.

As for Sick and Tired, I believe that two parter might be one of the last episodes where the characters are true to themselves.

That's a great way of putting it. The characters after season 5 were exaggerated like you say. This happens all the time when sitcoms stay on too long. Archie Bunker also got exaggerated towards the end too.
Sophia just turned into an insult cannon. Her insults made her funny but they just went for way too many jokes with her after season 4. Her character had no depth and was just used for clever insult jokes which got old.
I always hated sitcoms that every other line or sentence said by the actors gets an audience laugh. It drives me nuts because the silly jokes get in the way of a more clever plot. Friends and Cheers were like this. I am probably in the minority but always hated those shows because of the endless laugh lines.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

That makes perfect sense. Season 4 feels like a combination of Seasons 3 and 5, but it was still good. Season 5 is when the show starts to really decline. The characters’ personalities (minus Dorothy) start to become exaggerated and it gets in the way of the show. Those last two seasons really feel like a parody of The Golden Girls.

As for Sick and Tired, I believe that two parter might be one of the last episodes where the characters are true to themselves.

That's a great way of putting it. The characters after season 5 were exaggerated like you say. This happens all the time when sitcoms stay on too long. Archie Bunker also got exaggerated towards the end too.
Sophia just turned into an insult cannon. Her insults made her funny but they just went for way too many jokes with her after season 4. Her character had no depth and was just used for clever insult jokes which got old.
I always hated sitcoms that every other line or sentence said by the actors gets an audience laugh. It drives me nuts because the silly jokes get in the way of a more clever plot. Friends and Cheers were like this. I am probably in the minority but always hated those shows because of the endless laugh lines.

[RLH]

I think seasons 5-7 displayed an attempt to change with the times. During the later seasons, new sitcoms were edgy (Married with Children), realistic (Roseanne) and unconventional (Wonder Years - single camera, no laugh track). I imagine the suits pushed to reflect some of these trends. Furthermore, I don't believe the show ever fully jumped the shark...maybe the closest it came was exaggerating archetypes of each of the four ladies and the inclusion of more mean-spirited humor.