Ep 3. There She Is

Designing Women is an American sitcom comedy-drama series which originally aired from 1986 to 1993. Each episode follows the lives of four women who own and operate an interior designing firm, called Sugarbaker & Associates, in Atlanta, Georgia. The show tackles various social issues such as feminism, racism, and homosexuality.

The episode titled "There She Is" is the third episode of the fourth season. It opens with Julia Sugarbaker, the leader of the firm, creating a speech for a local beauty pageant. She is proud that the pageant is becoming inclusive and diverse, and she wants to be the one who presents the award to the winner. However, when the winner is announced, Julia is taken aback when she finds out that the winner is a 17-year-old unwed mother named Misty, who was also a high school dropout.

Julia's initial reaction is that Misty is undeserving of the title due to her background, and she questions the integrity of the pageant. Her concerns spark a fiery debate among the members of Sugarbaker & Associates, each of whom have different opinions on the matter. Later in the episode, Julia meets Misty and her baby and discovers that Misty is an intelligent, hardworking young woman who deserves the title.

Meanwhile, Mary Jo, one of the designers, discovers that she has been recommended for a job as an interior designer for a prestigious hotel chain across the country. This exciting news is quickly overshadowed by the realization that she will have to leave her son, who is attending a local university, and her friends at Sugarbaker & Associates behind.

Bernice, the office secretary, becomes preoccupied with her upcoming appearance on a game show and starts to take amusing risks. Meanwhile, Anthony, an African-American deliveryman, is trying to convince his wife to let him buy a gun for protection.

"There She Is" is an episode that deals with themes of superficiality, prejudice, and stereotypes. It challenges the viewer to question their own preconceptions and to see beyond them. The episode explores the idea of beauty being more than skin deep and highlights the importance of seeing people for who they are, not what they look like or their background.

The show also continues its trend of tackling social issues and politics, bringing attention to themes that were especially relevant in the 1980s. The episode addresses poverty, single parenthood, and education, and highlights the need for empathy and understanding in terms of these issues.

Overall, "There She Is" is a compelling episode of Designing Women that showcases the witty humor and heartfelt storytelling that made the show so beloved during its initial run. It is a reminder that even in the midst of lighthearted comedy, there is still room to tackle serious issues and encourage meaningful discussions.