Third Chapter Curious: Industry News Round-up - Segment 6 "Stay Golden"

What happens when you are of a certain age, after 50, and you are perhaps divorced, widowed, or consistently single? There are a different set of rules and guidelines insofar as society dictates, but that doesn’t mean that the desires and interests of the individual are different from those in their 20s and 30s. We are all after the same basic framework of companionship.

No one is less deserving of love because of age, and there’s no reason to treat it otherwise. Aging while starting over, before you’re over, may seem more attainable than in years past. But ageism has not disappeared in our alleged progression, and bias has simply become more cleverly concealed.

Our view has changed outwardly; styles change, attitudes shift, but old patterns persist. Youth, and the alchemical nature of control was never ours to hold. Life doesn’t end at 50. People north of middle age still have the same desires and aspirations; they want to be seen, heard, loved, and valued. No matter the age, there is so much life to live and experiences to be enjoyed in the third chapter. 

The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

Iconic television, beloved by all generations—this show is truly timeless. Four single women in the third chapter of their lives, sharing a home together in Miami, along with late-night cheesecake, misadventures, romance, heartbreak, and a lot of laughs.

It was a progressive show for its time, tackling many subjects that were not often included in sitcoms like menopause, racism, homosexuality, discrimination, HIV/AIDS, nuclear war, and political opposition. At its core, The Golden Girls tackled the pervasive ageism that grips our society, yet delivered it with comedic style and substance. Real-world issues were brought to viewers' living rooms in an accessible way that made people think, but also laugh and enjoy a respite from the intensity of daily life. The creator, Susan Harris, and her team of writers made something revolutionary, and the casting was pitch perfect—no one else could have played the roles better than Betty, Bea, Rue, and Estelle.

A large part of the show’s central theme was confronting the idea that older women couldn’t be seen as sexually active and vital. The characters dispelled that stigma, particularly Rue McClanahan’s character, the vivacious and salaciously flirty Southern Belle. As life imitates life, these women were activists off-screen. Bea Arthur was a staunch protector of homeless LGBTQ+ youth and used her platform to rovide assistance and awareness to the issue, donating a large portion of her estate to the Ali Forney Center, an organization for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City. Betty White was a champion for animal rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and an early advocate against racism in the media during the 1950s, when segregation was still the norm.

The Golden Girls left a legacy that served as the framework for many shows that followed with female ensemble casts, showing real issues that women face as they age. They challenged the status quo and became legends in our hearts, and had all of us who loved them saying, “Thank you for being a friend.”

(The Golden Girls is available on Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime)

A Man on the Inside (2024-present) 

Created by Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place), the series stars Ted Danson as a retired engineering professor who has recently become widowed. He carries on with his daily routine to the letter, and seeks fulfillment, albeit meager, in his strict regimens and habits, but is suffering from loneliness and isolation as he begins to realize that his life lacks purpose.

One day, he happens upon a newspaper ad that is searching for a senior citizen to go undercover to aid in a crime investigation. Though initially trepidatious and less than polished in his approach, he becomes the man on the inside for the investigation, posing as a resident within a senior living community, as he regains pieces of himself he thought were lost through feeling needed.

The series reminds us of the dangers of isolation for seniors and the deeply human need to have purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and be part of something greater than ourselves. Delivered in dry humor with tangible emotional resonance, the show is easy to watch and just exciting enough to hold your interest. Some familiar faces appear onscreen, like Sally Struthers (All in the Family), and Mary Steenburgen, another brilliant actor who is Danson’s real-life wife.

A Man on the Inside delivers an endearing watching experience and is comforting yet urgent about grief and loss, and the hope that anyone, regardless of age, can reinvent themselves and find meaning again.

(A Man on the Inside is available on Netflix)

The Later Daters (2024 Limited Docuseries)

Though only one season, The Later Daters is an important media work, providing a glimpse into the lives of six seniors looking for love in their golden years. Brought into the fold due to losing their spouse either to death or divorce, they are ready to throw themselves back into the dating scene and find their counterpart as older individuals living in a youth-obsessed relationship culture.

The show demonstrates that while we may age physically, many people feel mentally young, and our needs and desires do not merely evaporate as we age. It's heartwarming and hopeful to see people over 50 who are still giddy and nervous when on a first date, and refreshing that their age helps them cut through the limitations and restraints of self-confidence that younger singles are often bound by. The Later Daters does an excellent job of choosing diverse individuals as their focus, ensuring that viewers will be able to relate to their struggles and experiences with modern dating and starting over after experiencing loss. Just because a chapter of life may have come to a close, the lights are up on the third chapter, and in many ways, life has just begun. 

(The Later Daters is available on Netflix)

Written and edited by Cameron Thompson for Third Chapter Curious, LLC, 2025