Between 1985 and 1992, “Les Craquantes” literally made the small screen crack. If you didn’t follow everything well or if your memory challenges you, we tell you the end of the series.
Warning, spoilers. The following article reveals key elements of the “Craquantes” plot as well as its ending.
Created by Susan Harris, Les Craquantes (or The Golden Girls in VO) made its debut on NBC on September 14, 1985 in the United States. In France, the sitcom – already cult – will not be broadcast until January 7, 1991 on Antenne 2.
We remind you, the Craquantes are Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, four legendary actresses for four equally emblematic characters, a quartet of very different elderly women, often in conflict, sharing the same house in Miami. but who are still the best friends in the world.
For most of its run, the show received critical and audience acclaim and won numerous awards, including two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as three Golden Globes in the same category. Each of the four stars also received an Emmy: Les Craquantes is thus one of four sitcoms in the history of the award to have accomplished this feat.
The series was also in the Nielsen Top Ten for six of its seven seasons and still appears in many of the best series of all time rankings.
But all good things come to an end: it was on May 9, 1992, after a total of 180 half-hour episodes spread over seven seasons, that the four Craquantes bowed out. The series ends with a one-hour episode split into two parts titled “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest” (7×25 and 7×26). Here is his plot.
Part 1 – Pretending
Blanche (Rue McClanahan) landed a date with a man at the supermarket but forgot that her uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) was coming to visit her in Miami. So as not to have to take care of him, she in turn organizes an appointment for him with Dorothy (Bea Arthur). Meeting in a restaurant, Dorothy and Lucas are at first uncomfortable but soon realize that Blanche has been lying to them: she made them believe that each was interested in the other. The two then plot to get revenge on Blanche by pretending to have fallen in love. The next day, Lucas even proposes to Dorothy in front of the girls, shocking them all.
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Revenge is a real hit as Blanche becomes increasingly upset that Dorothy, a “Yankee”, will inherit Hollingsworth Manor, her childhood summer home in the South, if she marries Lucas and moved there with Sophia (Estelle Getty).
Faced with all these potential changes, Rose (Betty White) suddenly reveals her intention to return to St. Olaf to live with her daughter Kirsten, an announcement that further upsets Blanche, now on the edge of the precipice, who feels that everything the world lets her down.
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Dorothy and Lucas then agree that the joke has gone too far and the fake couple decide to “break up” in front of Blanche. But that’s without counting on their true feelings: they tenderly admit that they enjoyed their time together. Blanche, in hiding, is then the secret witness to their conversation and before Dorothy and Lucas can share a real kiss, they are interrupted by Sophia. Eventually, Blanche steps in and ends up apologizing for her overreaction: she gives her blessing to Dorothy and Lucas. The latter then surprises everyone by asking Dorothy in marriage… “for real” this time! She accepts.
Part 2 – And they lived happily ever after
Two months have passed since the wedding was planned and Dorothy and Lucas have only grown closer…despite Sophia’s persistence in taking pictures of them at every turn of their relationship for memories!
The day before the wedding, Dorothy remembers what the girls have meant to her all their time together but she doesn’t want them to say goodbye yet. Saddened, Blanche and Rose are unable to sleep and lament on the veranda about the separation from the group.
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They are interrupted by Sophia who takes their picture, then they all sit down so that the latter can give them some last advice. Sophia persuades Rose to stay with Blanche, telling them that they need each other more than Rose’s daughter needs her. Blanche and Rose agree and go back to bed, happy. As they leave, Sophia looks sadly at the picture she has just taken and says tenderly, “Goodbye, my girls.”
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On the day of the wedding, Dorothy is on her way to the ceremony in her limo. She is discouraged when her instructions to the driver continue to be ignored, until the driver turns out to be… Stan (Herb Edelman)!
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Instead of kidnapping Dorothy, as she thinks he is, Stan just wants to have a private moment with her to give her his blessing despite being disappointed not to be invited to the wedding. Dorothy admits that even though they have moved on, a part of them will still be with each other and they will still love each other.
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Dorothy finally makes it to the ceremony in time. Sophia accompanies her to the altar and she marries in front of a moved assembly. For his part, Stan, momentarily saddened, remains silent, accepting the situation.
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When Dorothy and Lucas are ready to leave for their honeymoon, Sophia announces that she has decided not to move in with them, stating that she felt Dorothy was finally strong enough to live without her. Dorothy thanks her and finally says goodbye to the girls. She comically returns multiple times through different entrances, sobbing and offering her final hugs to her beloved sister-in-laws. When she doesn’t return, however, the three remaining Golden Girls kiss until the episode ends…End of the Cuties.
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