The Golden Girls (TV Series) Sisters and Other Strangers (1990) User Reviews

Sisters and Other Strangers (#5.21)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 15 February 2014]

Blanche's sister Charmaigne who she had bad relationship with comes to town and brings the book she wrote. Blanche reads it and is mad because it seems to be based on her sexual life. Although it turns out it was based on her sister's as they are very alike. And Stan's cousin Magda from Czechoslovakia comes over and fights with Dorothy about Communism and Western world.

I am not always into communism related movies and shows that were made during cold war. Even though I am not into communism both sides were full of propaganda against each other at that time. But nonetheless this episode is pretty funny. It doesn't show a communist to be an idiot unable to think differently. As a person whose parents are from USSR I must say they were not for it around that time either. The population of the 80's is not the same as of the 40's who still were having a hopeful ideology. But in this case Magda becomes open to change at the end. And they also bring up that it is not just communists who were brainwashed by ideology when Sophia says she hates communism and Dorothy mentions that she was raised by fascism. The most thoughtful view on the issue that one could expect back in those days.

All Magda is missing is moose and squirrel.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 22 December 2019]

Add Marian Mercer to actresses Eve Arden, Nita Talbot, Robin Strasser, Marj Dusay and Sally Kellerman to American actresses who have hysterically portrayed eastern Europeans. Mercer is Magda, Stan's cousin, visiting Miami and complaining about the lack of communism in the United States, dropping comic lines with great aplomb. Meanwhile, Blanche deals with her sister Charmaine. (Barbara Babcock) whom she believes has used Blanche's life as the subject of her latest book which is upsetting to her. The storylines aren't really consequential, but there are plenty of great lines, particularly Rose's story of going to St. Gustav ("The city that never naps") and Dorothy's memory of her doll being mailed. ("My favorite!") Charmaine isn't all that memorable a one off character, but Magda is very amusing even if she really doesn't get a story. It's also weird that Stan is mentioned as being a part of the story but never appears.

The sisters are great but the mccarthyism stank

[aucoincd · 5/10 · 19 March 2020]

I know I am a younger person (mid-20s) than will usually watch this show and that I came after it was made and was in its prime popularity. However, I usually adore this show! Even as a young woman, I love seeing strong older women live their lives and rock while doing it. However, this episode really ages it. The story about Blanche and her sister was lovely and sentimental (in a good way), hence me giving it five stars. However, the story line about Magda was not amusing to me at all. It showed a complete misunderstanding of the cultural and historical political environments outside of the US as well as a cartoonishly vilified idea of communism. I know not everybody agrees with communism or even socialism, but creating hurtful stereotypes of different political systems hurts us all by spreading misinformation and distrust.

So in short, watch it for the sisters, not the stranger!