Ep 21. The Flu

The Golden Girls season 1 episode 21, titled "The Flu," centers around the four women - Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia - and how they cope with being sick during flu season.

The episode begins with Blanche bragging about her immunity to the flu, just as she begins to feel the symptoms come on. The other three women are initially hesitant to believe that she really has the flu, but Blanche soon becomes bedridden and unable to do anything. Meanwhile, Rose decides to be proactive and get herself vaccinated, which leads to an amusing scene where she tries to convince the nurse that she needs a shot despite not having a single symptom of the flu.

The episode is split into three separate storylines that all revolve around the women's experience with the flu. First, we see Blanche's struggle to accept her illness and the other women's attempts to take care of her. She's initially resistant to their help, but eventually softens and appreciates their efforts. Meanwhile, Sophia takes advantage of the situation and convinces Dorothy to let her take care of her, but quickly becomes a nuisance.

The second storyline revolves around Rose's paranoia about getting sick. Despite having received the flu vaccine, she still worries that she might catch the flu and tries to isolate herself from her roommates. Throughout the episode, we see her obsessively washing her hands, wearing a mask, and avoiding any contact with the other women. Eventually, her anxiety leads to a hilarious mishap where she accidentally locks herself in the garage.

The final storyline centers around Dorothy, who becomes increasingly frustrated with being cooped up in the house. She's uninterested in watching TV and wants to get out and do something, but her roommates insist that she rest and take care of herself. As the episode progresses, we see her become more and more restless until she finally snaps and makes a bold decision to leave the house.

Overall, "The Flu" is an entertaining episode that showcases each of the characters' personalities and quirks. It's a testament to the enduring popularity of The Golden Girls that more than thirty years after it originally aired, the humor and themes of the show continue to resonate with audiences.