Ep 6. Letter to Gorbachev

The Golden Girls is a beloved sitcom that ran from 1985 to 1992, following four women sharing a house in Miami. In season 3 episode 6, titled Letter to Gorbachev, the ladies are feeling the tension of the Cold War and their concerns only grow when their local grocery store runs out of coffee. This leads to a discussion about the state of world affairs and a debate about whether or not to write a letter to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

The episode begins with Blanche (Rue McClanahan) coming home from the grocery store, visibly upset that they have run out of coffee. Dorothy (Bea Arthur) and Rose (Betty White) try to calm her down, but their efforts are in vain. Blanche fears that the coffee shortage is just the beginning of a larger crisis, and her concerns are clearly influenced by the political climate of the time. A news report on television about a U.S. satellite malfunctioning and possibly falling to earth only adds to the anxiety.

As the ladies sit in the living room discussing the situation, Sophia (Estelle Getty) enters and shares that she just read an article about Gorbachev in the newspaper. She finds him attractive and charismatic, but Blanche and Dorothy are skeptical. They question the wisdom of having a leader from a country that is an enemy of the U.S. and they worry about what the future holds for their country.

The discussion soon turns to the idea of writing a letter to Gorbachev. Rose thinks it would be a good idea to convey their concerns and ask him to ease tensions between the two countries. However, the other women are hesitant. They don't want to offend Gorbachev or make their own government angry by reaching out to a foreign leader. Eventually, they decide to go ahead with the letter, but they can't agree on what to say.

Each woman has her own idea about what should be in the letter. Blanche wants to make it clear that American women are strong and independent, while Rose wants to emphasize the need for peace and understanding. Dorothy, on the other hand, wants to be frank about the fears and concerns of the American people. Sophia is more interested in getting a response and less concerned about the content of the letter. The women continue to argue until they realize that they need to work together to craft a letter that will represent all of them.

After some editing, they finally send the letter to Gorbachev. They don't expect to hear back, but they are surprised when they receive a response. It's not from Gorbachev himself, but from his press secretary, who thanks them for their concern and sends a photo of Gorbachev as a gesture of goodwill. The women are pleased that they were able to make a connection with the Soviet Union, however small it may be.

In the end, the women come to a realization that even though they don't always agree with one another, they're able to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal. The episode ends with the women grabbing their coffee cups and toasting to their newfound solidarity.

Overall, Letter to Gorbachev is a lighthearted episode that manages to address some of the political anxieties of the era in a smart and funny way. Through their conversation, the women show that it is possible to have respectful conversations with people who have different opinions and beliefs, and they ultimately come together to bridge the gap between their country and another at a time when the world was divided.