User Reviews

In an earlier episode, the "Golden Girls" introduced us to Blanche's sister Virginia (Sheree North) who needed Blanche for one reason. Here, we get to meet Dorothy's very rich younger sister, Gloria (soap veteran Doris Belack) who has decided that she needs mother Sophia for herself. Belack, a quite different look than Dena Dietrich who replaced her for the two part hurricane episode later on, is quite funny, and she has great chemistry with both Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty. It's ironic that right after Jeanette Nolan appeared as Rose's mother that both Blanche and Rose became rivals to play Nolan's film role of "Lady MacBeth" in a local production, and how jealous Blanche reacts to Rose's good fortune.

But this is the Petrillo family story, a combination of sister rivalry (not as heated as Blanche and Virginia) and Sophia's desire to be wanted by both of her children, and well written. There are many good lines for all three characters, and while I like Dietrich later on, I would have preferred that Belack been made a recurring character because she is different enough from Dorothy in looks (and closer to what Sophia would look like in her younger guise) yet equally feisty and commanding, although honest in the confessions she makes to Dorothy later in the episode.

Dorothy's sister Gloria come for a visit and has some good time with Sophia while Dorothy has some conflicts. Sophia thinks to move in with Gloria which makes Dorothy upset. The conversation with Gloria shows her that Gloria doesn't think Sophia wants to really move with her and that Dorothy was always her favorite. And Blanche wants to play Lady Macbeth and get this part by going out with someone responsible to give them out yet she doesn't get it.

An interesting idea of sibling rivalry trying to get their mother towards them. Some good scenes and conversations and a sweet moment when Sophie says that she loves them both and is happy that when there are kids trying to stay away from their parents she has two who are fighting to keep her.