Girlfriends

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

Movie

Plot

A half hour comedy that ran from 2000 to 2008. Four women, living in Los Angeles, form a unique bond that carries them through many of life’s ups and downs.

Starring

Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, Jill Marie Jones, Reggie Hayes, Khalil Kain, and more.

Review

Every episode of Girlfriends offers laughter, drama, and inspiration. The series follows the daily lives of four strong women: a top notch lawyer, a real estate success story, a secretary, and a lifetime student and shows us, the audience, what it means to love someone just as that person is—without strings, stipulations, or the need to change.

Every one of us could use a good support system—a group of friends we can trust to be there for us when times are good as well as when times are bad—and that’s what you’ll find in Girlfriends.

Joan is a brilliant lawyer but is so obsessed with getting married to the “perfect” man that she has a hard time keeping a man—but that doesn’t stop her from looking, or dating. Her optimistic outlook, despite her many relationship blunders is inspirational.

Maya is Joan’s secretary, turned good friend. Maya had a child at the age of 16 ½ and married her high school sweet heart. Things were good for awhile but as Maya began to search for more out of her life her marriage hit a turn for the worse and ends in divorce. The only problem is that they still love each other. Maya is a phenomenal mother.

Lynn has been Joan’s friend since college. She holds not one, but five post-graduate degrees. She’s very smart but also very eccentric which makes it difficult for her to hold down a steady job. She tends to mooch off her friends, and while it can be irritating, they accept Lynn for who she is.

Toni has been friends with Joan since they were nine years old. Toni grew up on a farm with an alcoholic mother and an older sister who practically raised her. She moved off the farm and made a life for herself as a very successful real estate agent and along the way became obsessed with “everything Toni”. If there’s a way to turn the table and make the topic about her, Toni will find it. But in season three, Toni discovers true love and what it means to care about someone other than herself.

Then there’s William. William is Joan’s co-worker and soon becomes a close friend to all the girls. He’s smart, confidant, and successful. But he’s also a mama’s boy and tends to be a little nutty at times.

The series has several moments that could be classified as “defining moments”. Moments where we, the audience, can’t help but reflect on what’s taken place and learn and grow from the situation.

Through Joan’s compulsive need to “control” we learn how to be more flexible. Through Lynn’s desire to live life by the seat of her pants, we learn the value of stability. Through Toni’s drive for success, we learn the importance of having goals and working towards those goals. And through Maya we learn that with the right amount of balance, we could have it all—even if we screw up along the way.

But I think the most touching moment in season three had to be when Joan finally let go of a ten year grudge and rekindled a friendship with a dying woman. Not only were we, the audience, reminded of the hardships people with aids must go through every day, but we were taught a valuable lesson in forgiveness.

Your Task

Take time out of your very busy schedules to recognize and appreciate the friends in your life. Host a Girl’s Night In, meet at a local restaurant for a nice, relaxing dinner, or plan a day out sharing a favorite hobby or activity. Just make time to cherish the relationships you have so that they’ll continue to bloom and blossom.

Order Girlfriends, Season 3 today!