The Golden Girls (TV Series) Adult Education (1986) User Reviews

Blanche faces a shocking proposition.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 20 November 2022]

Dorothy is trying hard to get tickets to see Frank Sinatra, and Blanche is going for a degree, but gets a shocking response when she asks her Professor, Cooper for help.

2006 seems like a long time ago, 1986 seems like a lifetime ago, where attitudes were completely different. The show definitely dealt with a few topics, this time it deals with sexual harassment, and though there are some funny one liners, it's pretty serious stuff, Blanche treated appallingly.

Funniest lines once again came from Sophia, but they all had their moments. Sophia speaking to Rose about jello, and discussing her connections, hilarious.

Serious content aside, it was funny, but it is good to see that attitudes have changed since then, 7/10.

Adult Education (#1.20)

[ComedyFan2010 · 7/10 · 10 January 2014]

Blanche needs to get a degree for a promotion in the museum, but she is having trouble in the psychology class. She asks her professor for help but he says he will give her an A if she sleeps with him. She goes to the Dean but he can't help her.And the rest of the girls want to go to a Sinatra concert but are having trouble finding the tickets.

In the Blanche's story I mainly liked the Dean. The character was pretty funny. "Why are you doing this to me!", a great line when somebody complains about sexual harassment!.

The tickets story was especially funny. The best was Sophia talking about her connections. And that poor Dorothy once again didn't make it to the concert.

A story that must be told no matter how repulsive it is to watch.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 22 January 2020]

Sexual harassment is reprehensible irregardless of the situations of how it arises, and in this episode, long before the advent of the current controversies, it comes as a result of a college professor making demands on Blanche when she makes the simple request of help in passing her psychology class. Jerry Hardin makes his intentions known almost from the start, and there's absolutely no charm in the way he makes those intentions obvious: no romance, no response to Blanche's light flirting, just getting directly to the point of what he wants. Blanche is then inspired to pass the test without having to resort to giving Hardin what he wants, and Dorothy and Rose offer their support even though they have their hands tied in trying to get Sinatra tickets. While they do end up with 10 tickets in the end, there's only one set of four tickets (indicating that somebody would be forced to stay home), and the way they go about getting them is questionable legally.

The highlight of Blanche's story is when she visits college dean James Staley who is instantly repulsed by what Blanche has been through but also nervous because as he has only been on the job for a few days, he is unaware as how to handle it. The dialog gets a bit risque as he goes over the sexual harassment form with Blanche, but it comes down to what is still an issue today: lack of proof. The dean can only do so much in this case, and it is obvious to Blanche that nothing will happen, so she basically insults him as she leaves which makes no sense and certainly wouldn't help her case. All she can do is study and hope for the best. There are plenty of funny lines as Blanche does manage to get some revenge and self-satisfaction in her behalf, but it makes perfect sense to leave this plot unresolved because historically, that's how it would have come about. The episode does also make one other point clear. You are supposed to feel uncomfortable watching it, and 34 years later, that point still resonates.