I think I'm the only person who thought this. The constant insults to Joy, her smugness, self-righteousness, lack of empathy, etc. I know Betty was the draw to get people to tune in, but I thought the three other actresses worked just fine without her.
There were a couple of episodes with little to no Elka and I liked it a lot.
I completely agree with you. Elka was just a nasty old woman, really. I think Betty White is great, but I don't like how Elka would basically just verbally abuse the others, ESPECIALLY Joy, and just get away with it because she's old and everything she says is acceptable/funny.
Also, she called them sluts when she clearly had a history of promiscuity herself. She even had sex with one of the jurors to get him to vote in her favor when she was on trial.
So glad I'm not alone. It was always so depressing to me to see Elka say something disparaging about Joy and see Joy's hurt reaction...but somehow we were supposed to find that funny?
shareShe's almost like that crazy old b**** on Everybody Loves Raymond that's always ripping on the wife every episode. It got so bad at times it just wasn't funny, or at least not to me.
shareNever watched this like I do the golden girls in reruns but isnt Elka basically like the Sophia Character from TGG?? Like the paperboy said I guess im just a mean old lady says Sophia in season 7...whats the difference? Everyone loves Sophia(as do I)..
shareI'm rewatching all the series now, and yes, she does come across as pretty nasty in many episodes. However she's also funnier than I remember from the first time I watched them.
The few times where she and Joy actually bond a bit are a real joy, and they probably should have hinted at that more amid the insult-flinging. Because if you're watching an episode with no "soft moments", Elka does seem quite harsh and mean.
Yeah.
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