You get to see a little bit of bBlanche's homophobia in this episode, more of an embarrassment of her reputation than her dislike of gay people. Brother Clayton (Monte Markham) is back, this time with a boyfriend, Doug (Michael Ayr), and Blanche is scared that her neighbors and colleagues and social acquaintances will find out. Clayton and Doug want to marry, and while Blanche should be glad that her brother is in a monogamous relationship, she can't help but be embarrassed. The writers makes her feelings understandable as far as the time this took place is concerned, and to see her come to terms with it as she did with Clayton's sexuality in his introductory episode shows a bit about Blanche that makes her less shallow and conservative in the subject of sexuality. You'd think that she'd be intrigued by the fact that Doug is a very handsome police officer, and the fact that the writers eliminate gay stereotypes also shows their determination to aid in correcting stereotypes in general. Then there's Rose, certain that she's going to win the volunteer of the year award over a dead woman, giving Betty White something to do more than just being sweet and innocent and rather dim. Sophia as usual get some very funny lines concerning the gay subtext, although she's probably fully accepting of it and just likes to joke around. The fact that she's trying to set up blind dates for Dorothy (as she had done earlier in the season with a matchmaker) is the only sense of meanness that she shows here, still convinced that Dorothy can't find dates on her own. A truly outstanding episode that really needed a better title that 30 years later seems misguided and even a teensy bit offensive, considering that it would be two grooms, not a bride and groom.
1 out of 6 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink