The BEST episodes of The Golden Girls

Every episode of The Golden Girls ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Golden Girls!

Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.

Last Updated: 12/28/2023Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Old Friends
star
8.64
338 votes

#1 - Old Friends

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1987

Sophia befriends an old man on the boardwalk whom she becomes quick friends with. However, his strange behavior signals that he has a medical condition, Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, Blanche accidentally gives away Rose's teddy bear at a garage sale.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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The Artist
star
8.52
282 votes

#2 - The Artist

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/19/1987

Dorothy, Blanche and Rose each secretly pose nude for a Hungarian sculptor who will unveil the statue at an art show opening at a museum. Meanwhile, Sophia brushes up on practical jokes to get back a prankster at the Senior Citizens Center.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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The Case of the Libertine Belle
star
8.52
268 votes

#3 - The Case of the Libertine Belle

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1991

The girls participate in a murder mystery weekend and Dorothy has a ball when she solves a mystery. However, when Blanche is accused committing a real murder, Dorothy will have to use all her keen detective skills to find the real murderer.

Directors: Lex Passaris
Writer: Tom Whedon
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In a Bed of Rose's
star
8.52
389 votes

#4 - In a Bed of Rose's

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1986

Late one evening, Rose brings a man home and they spend the night together. However, in the morning she finds that he has passed away. Even worse, she later discovers he was married.

Writer: Susan Harris
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One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest (1)
star
8.51
200 votes

#5 - One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest (1)

Season 7 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/9/1992

Blanche's uncle Lucas Hollingsworth is visiting but, to no surprise, Blanche is busy with a date. In order to berid of his intrudence, Blanche tells Dorothy that he desparetely wants to meet a woman of her intelligence. Dorothy agrees to see him but they both later learn that Blanche just lied to get rid of them and decide to get revenge by acting as though they're getting married, much to the dismay of Blanche. As a result, Rose decides she should move on to live with her daughter Kirsten to be the "Sophia of the household" as Blanche finally comes to terms with their idea to wed. Just as Lucas is about to reveal the truth, he decides to pop the question to Dorothy for real...

Directors: Lex Passaris
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Journey to the Center of Attention
star
8.46
202 votes

#6 - Journey to the Center of Attention

Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/22/1992

Blanche brings a lonely, Dorothy down to the Rusty Anchor for a night of excitement. However, Blanche, had no intention of being pushed off her thrown by Dorothy, who begins singing and instantly becomes the center of attention.

Directors: Lex Passaris
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Sick and Tired (2)
star
8.45
210 votes

#7 - Sick and Tired (2)

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/1989

Dorothy continues to seek medical advice and turns to Harry Weston for help. Meanwhile, Blanche goes on a writing binge resulting in a novel that is less then enthralling.

Writer: Susan Harris
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Bedtime Story
star
8.44
257 votes

#8 - Bedtime Story

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/7/1987

When the girls learn that a number of relatives are going to be visiting, they reminisce about times they've had to share a bed and strange places they've had to sleep, including a train station.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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Mixed Blessing
star
8.44
295 votes

#9 - Mixed Blessing

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/19/1988

Dorothy's son, Michael pays another visit to Miami and this time he has an announcement, he's engaged. However, Dorothy has two more surprises in store, her future daughter-in-law is also black and twenty years older than Michael.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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Larceny and Old Lace
star
8.44
273 votes

#10 - Larceny and Old Lace

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/27/1988

Sophia's latest boyfriend, Rocco claims to have been involved in the mob, so when the girls discover a bag of Rocco's with thousands of dollars in it, they assume he robbed a bank. Meanwhile, Dorothy and Blanche sneak a peak at Rose's diary.

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Son-in-Law Dearest
star
8.44
254 votes

#11 - Son-in-Law Dearest

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/11/1987

Dorothy's daughter, Kate is coming for a visit and has a big announcement. Dorothy is excited when she thinks the announcement is going to be that Kate is pregnant. However, when Kate arrives, her announcement is far from exciting. Meanwhile, Blanche and Rose stay up and watch an "I Love Lucy" marathon.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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Ladies of the Evening
star
8.42
408 votes

#12 - Ladies of the Evening

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/1986

The house is fumigated and the girls move into a Miami Beach hotel. Previously, Blanche had won three tickets to see the opening of Burt Reynolds new movie and passes to the party held afterwards where they could meet him. However, on the evening of the opening, the hotel is raided and, mistaken as prostitutes, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose are dragged off to jail.

Directors: Terry Hughes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Audit
star
8.40
273 votes

#13 - The Audit

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/28/1987

Dorothy is stunned to learn that Stan's tax problems are her tax problems since Stan is being audited for a number of years when they were still married. Meanwhile, Blanche and Rose take a Spanish class, each for different reasons.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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A Little Romance
star
8.40
406 votes

#14 - A Little Romance

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/14/1985

Rose has been dating Dr. Jonathan Newman and begins to think their relationship is leading to the alter. However she begins to have second thoughts especially since he's a midget.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas
star
8.39
292 votes

#15 - 'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/20/1986

The girls each plan to spend Christmas with their families but a series of strange occurrences lead them to spend Christmas together in Miami.

Directors: Terry Hughes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
To Catch a Neighbor
star
8.39
289 votes

#16 - To Catch a Neighbor

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/2/1987

Two police detectives stake out the girls' home to investigate the neighbors whom are believed to be dealers in stolen gems.

Directors: Terry Hughes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Miles to Go
star
8.39
204 votes

#17 - Miles to Go

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/19/1991

After hearing that a mobster has died, Miles reveals that he has been in a witness protection program. However, when it is revealed that the mobster faked his death, Miles must leave Miami and go into hiding.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Diamond in the Rough
star
8.39
262 votes

#18 - Diamond in the Rough

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/21/1987

While Dorothy and Rose are planning a hospital charity banquet, Blanche falls for Jake, the caterer hired for the event. She quickly learns he's more blue jeans than a black tie which prompts her to foolishly put a stop to their romance.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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Mrs. George Devereaux
star
8.38
215 votes

#19 - Mrs. George Devereaux

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1990

Blanche has a secret admirer and is shocked when she meets him, her supposedly dead husband, George. Meanwhile, Dorothy is being wooed by two men, Sonny Bono and Lyle Waggoner.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
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Blanche's Little Girl
star
8.36
250 votes

#20 - Blanche's Little Girl

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/9/1988

Blanche is thrilled by a visit from her daughter, Rebecca, an ex-model who has now gained quite a bit of weight. Also visiting with Rebecca is her oafish beau who constantly puts down her weight. The kicker: she's thinking of marrying him.

Directors: Terry Hughes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Twice in a Lifetime
star
8.36
190 votes

#21 - Twice in a Lifetime

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/24/1990

Rose must decide between her boyfriend, Miles or an old boyfriend who has just come to town and asks her to go to Europe with him. Meanwhile, fed up with Dorothy's rules, Sophia decides to move out.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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All Bets Are Off
star
8.36
180 votes

#22 - All Bets Are Off

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/28/1990

Dorothy's gambling problem re-surfaces after a visit to the race track and quickly begins falling in to debt and gaining an apathy to her job. Meanwhile, Rose takes up painting and Blanche is insulted after a man she works with rejects her advances.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present
star
8.36
151 votes

#23 - The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/31/1990

The girls attend the wedding of Dorothy's niece who's father was once engaged to Sophia. Sophia thinks that the wedding reception is the perfect spot for revenge after supposedly putting a curse on him years ago.

Directors: Terry Hughes
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Home Again, Rose (2)
star
8.35
218 votes

#24 - Home Again, Rose (2)

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/2/1992

While Rose undergoes severe surgery, the girls try to entertain themselves with fond memories and laughter, only for Rose's daughter Kirsten to walk in on them enjoying themselves! Kirsten is spiteful of them and does not allow them to visit Rose. Kirsten visits Rose, who is near knocked out, and try to have a conversation...very comically as poor Rose is not altogether. With Rose going into surgery, Kirsten reconciles with the worried girls. At last, Rose is released and they all throw a surprise welcome home party for our lovable St. Olafian!

Directors: Peter D. Beyt
Writer: Jim Vallely
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There Goes the Bride (2)
star
8.34
200 votes

#25 - There Goes the Bride (2)

Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/9/1991

Totally against Dorothy and Stan's impending nuptials, Sophia vows to not let the ceremony go off. Meanwhile, Blanche begins interviewing for a new roommate since Dorothy is planning to move out.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV