Ep 1. The Summer of '84
- September 26, 1984
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7.5 (58)
The Summer of '84 is the first episode of the sixth season of the hit television show, Facts of Life. The episode follows the girls of Eastland School, who have returned from their summer break and are eager to share their summer experiences with one another.
Blair relays her tales of a luxurious summer in Paris, while Jo reveals that she spent the entire summer working at a fast food restaurant. Tootie spent her summer working as a page at the Library of Congress and Natalie had an exciting summer getting published in a regional magazine.
However, the main focus of the episode is on the new housemother, Mrs. Garrett. The girls are shocked when they learn that Mrs. Garrett married and had a baby over the summer. They meet Mrs. Garrett's husband, George Burnett, a sculptor who makes a dramatic entrance by entering the scene shirtless.
In another plot line, the girls are enjoying their reunion until they realize that Andy, the little girl they had befriended in the previous season, has not returned to Eastland. They become concerned and start to search for her, only to find out that she has left the school and is now living with her biological father.
Mrs. Garrett also has to deal with the new headmaster, Mr. Parker, who is bent on imposing stricter disciplinary measures at the school. Mrs. Garrett and Mr. Parker clash over his strict policies, which she believes would restrict the girls' individuality and creativity.
The episode also touches on the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, as Jo reveals that she had to deal with unwanted advances from her boss at the fast food restaurant where she worked. She did not report the issue at the time, but her experience prompts a discussion among the girls about the importance of speaking up against such harassment.
Overall, The Summer of '84 is an engaging and entertaining episode that explores a range of issues faced by teenage girls in the 1980s. From work-life balance to sexual harassment in the workplace, the show handles these issues with sensitivity and insight, making it relevant even today. With a strong cast and great writing, it sets the tone for what promises to be an interesting and eventful sixth season.