The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present

As a fan of The Golden Girls, watching episodes on repeat over the decades, I'm always disappointed the continuity was so awful. Sophia's past (like the other women's pasts) changed so many times over the course of the seven series. Sophia GOT AROUND!

The one man viewers always knew to be her husband was Salvatore. Max Weinstock was briefly her husband (Series IV, two episode arc) and we learn that she was once betrothed to three different men in Sicily: Augustine Bagatelli (Series I), Giuseppe Mangiacavallo (Series V), and Guido Spirelli (Series VII).

The episode has the usual humour associated with GG, though.

Sophia's past catches up with her as she's invited to a wedding. The groom's father happens to be Mangiacavallo, the man who left her standing at the altar many years ago. Dorothy doesn't have a date, relying on Blanche for help.

There's nothing like a wedding as a theme for an episode; this was really funny.

Some great elements that I loved about this one include Sophia attending a wedding dressed head to toe in black, Rose being horny at a wedding, and Dorothy and Blanche feuding over a man.

Rose continues to surprise viewers with her sometimes wild stories of St. Olaf.

Howard Duff was excellent as Mangiacavallo, a very good actor. That scene where he gets up and addresses the guests, stating that Sophia jilted him and that he was gay, was very funny.

I loved the music in this one; who doesn't love a bit of Glenn Miller?

It has an end-of-series vibe; it's a funny episode.

8/10.