The Golden Girls (TV Series) Stan Takes a Wife (1989) User Reviews

Stan Takes a Wife (#4.10)

[ComedyFan2010 · 7/10 · 25 January 2014]

Sophia goes to a hospital and it is seems to be serious. While she is in critical situation, Dorothy waits in the lobby and her soon to be married again ex husband Stan is there supporting her in a difficult situation. After this Dorothy feels like she wants him back and goes to see him but is luckily stopped from saying anything and has a conversation with his soon to be wife in a bar.

The episode is not funny, no real laughter moments that I can think off besides Rose responding to Dorothy saying that Stan showed that special part of his.

But it is still a decent episode that touches a good subject how in a vulnerable situation one may want to get back with an ex. The conversation in the bar was very well done and acted out.

A quality episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 27 July 2023]

Stan announces to the girls that he's getting married, Sophia is hospitalised with pneumonia, Stan comforts a devastated Dorothy, she begins to start seeing a softer side of her former husband.

It's another excellent episode, it's another of those more emotionally charged episodes, that deals with quite a serious topic.

In terms of humour, it has its moments, there are some funny one liners, that moment where Dorothy explains about seeing Stan's special something to Rose is hilarious, but it's more the story that's just so engrossing.

Seeing the girls trying to keep the wedding alive was very funny, the physical humour was quite something. Loved Dorothy's introduction to the new bride to be.

Loved the barman, he was very funny, and wonderfully sarcastic.

Series four has offered some top notch episodes, it may not quite be up there with the very best, but it's not far off.

8/10.

Sets

[msudude22 · 7/10 · 17 April 2017]

I like the Golden Girls but it is kind of lame that they use the same set background numerous times. In this episode it is at the hospital. The double doors with the elevator is what I am referring to. The same background is used for the museum Blanche works at and has been used at a doctor's office too. There are other times it has been used.

Yet they never appear on screen together?

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 10 November 2019]

It's nice to see veteran actress Elinor Donahue as Stan's fiancee in this episode, but there is not even a brief scene between her and Herbert Edelman in this to truly connect them. Her appearance is gratuitous in nature simply to explain how Dorothy, once again, has to let Stanley go, having lingering feelings for him. It gives Bea Arthur something to play of off, which she does magnificently. Stan, for once, shows some heart rather than being the selfish yutz he had usually been since his introduction.

Susan Harris's script gets a jab in at the similar "Designing Women" and features some witty lines at Stan's expense. The episode becomes heartwarming as it deals with Stan's support of Dorothy after Sophia is rushed to the hospital. The episode also comments on overworked, short-tempered doctors and uncaring hospital personnel with the very funny Asian orderly pretending not to speak English. A rude, unfriendly hotel bartender just comes off as obnoxious, not funny.

Far from a perfect episode, this shows the impact of a long marriage (even one that ended bitterly) on the two individuals that keeps them tied together. Dorothy seems to have no shock in the sudden realization that the woman at the bar with her is Stan's fiancee. To slam another hit sitcom and feature segments of mediocre writing seems smug and delusional, making this not one of the better episodes even though it has a few memorable moments.