Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce

Well, I really did not expect to like this series, judging by reviews and description. But oddly enough, I did. Now, don't expect realistic drama or characters with who you can really identify yourself. There are some though, I really like Barbara, she is badass and you can relate to her, if you are divorced over the 40 woman who works for living. Other women are far too privileged to relate but I have to say IMO they are fun to watch. I don't hate Abby, like most critics here stated. She really tries to be positive in any situation, I like that attitude. She smiles even if she is really down and she tries, God she tries to be fun and perky. You can't hate her for that. Delia is amazing, and even thou she seems perfect at first glance, you can see she makes some mistakes as everyone else. I even like Jo and Phoebe though they strike me like a bit of stereotypes. All in all, it's really fun to watch. I am hooked!

"Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce" has been something of a guilty pleasure for me. I see its flaws, I get its limitations, I sometimes find its characters just too trying, and sometimes I'm just plain bored. But just like the characters who find Abby, the lead, lovable despite her all too apparent flaws, I've stuck with it and mostly enjoyed it. It's just "off" enough to be interesting.

The opening episode of season 5, the final one, has rewarded my dogged fealty with one of the best written season openers I've ever seen. It does everything you would want an opener to do--deal with the exposition in an interesting and innovative way, remind you of why you've been watching by reestablishing the characters and their storylines, but most importantly, setting up new directions for the show to go in order to justify yet another season. There's so much packed into this episode, so much is thrown at the characters (and us)--major life changes occur and major new conflicts are set up--and it pulls it all off with aplomb.

How do the writers pull this off? By using a formally innovative approach. Form is the way a story is told--the way it's structured, the way it's approached, in effect, the way it's composed.

This episode jumps around in time (something that's become very trendy and gimmicky these days and often doesn't really work) but in a very precise way and it also shifts the point of view among the main characters (This, in the writing biz, is called polyphony). So we have time-shifting and polyphony. (Only gifted writers need apply).

It opens at a glamorous media event complete with a red carpet and the whole gang's there. But then we see Delia in distress and Abby, Jo , and Phoebe drop everything to come to her aid.

Then, immediately we jump back to six months earlier. And Abby's in bed with--oops, no spoilers here, you'll have to watch to find out. We then go through the highlights of the previous six months of her life leading up to the glamorous media event. Step and repeat with each of the other main characters in turn. There are even a few of the very same scenes (where all the main characters are present) in each of the character's 6 month highlight reel so we eventually see that scene through each character's POV, and each time we learn something new.

Finally we circle back to the beginning and we're at the media event and now understand what's going on for each of the characters and why Delia is in crises mode.

But before this is fully resolved we jump to the next day (the present) and major life changes occur, new conflicts occur, new storylines develop and a new season is set up. And we've hit the ground running.

In one episode we see all this and somehow it all makes sense. This is great writing. Clearly, Girlfriend's Guide is going out in style.

I love this show!! As a single divorced mom in an area very close to LA- type, this show is AWESOME. I pay the bills, organize the nanny (but do my own cooking) and asked for NOTHING from my ex. The fixing the window scene I can totally relate to--been there done that--just bought a drill (LOL), AND went to vegas. In addition the "fluffy" stay at home moms in my area go to the gym and have coffee just like the moms in this show! For me, it is close to reality--one mom actually said she didn't believe in divorce-- really??? Walk in my shoes sista and you would be there! The only thing that isn't is the young men in the show and sleeping with the ex--that seems to be my friends who remain married to be taken care of and play on the side. I work, come home and sleep--who has time for men!! Bravo for putting a show on that actually gives the good, the bad and the ugly of divorce. I laughed harder at this show than a lot of others...all because i have been there, done that with a lot of these situations :)

At first it wasn't so bad. As the seasons continue Abby's neurotic, self centered, center of attention persona really becomes annoying. If I have to watch her cut one more person off while they speak or cry about how her problem is bigger than everyone else's band use that as an excuse for her crazy behavior I will scream. I've had to turn it off multiple times or skip past her scenes. Not the actress's fault, it's all in the writing.

This Is THE most unrealistic show about women and divorce I have ever seen. There is not a character on there that is likable, including the kids. They're all contemptible! The adults, especially the narcissistic women, are all quite irritating/obnoxious, acting like slutty, temper-tantrum-throwing 13 year old girls.

Abby dancing around in her bra and panties in a house that is pretty much made of glass? Ridiculous.. She has a nice enough body, especially for a fifty year old, but it is not that nice. Watching her, I was reminded of Elaine's dancing on the Jerry Seinfield show ... only ... Abby is worse.

The male characters are OK, but the stereotypes are a bit old already.

Also everyone is decadently rich and hyper privileged. The kids are the parents and the parents are the kids. Their kids all go to a super privileged school for rich people, complete with a guarded, gated entrance.

Who lives like this? The ONLY believable character is Abby's editor, who explains to Abby what a "real" divorced woman is like, and she hits it dead on.

This show is designed to sell a lifestyle to a certain demographic. To think someone would relate or identify with these horrible characters, or worse yet, find themselves frustrated or feeling inferior because they can't meet the superficial standards portrayed by these creepy people, or even begin to think that they should, REALLY scares me.

The character of Abby is the worst, and the director shoves her down our throats. Are they married or something?

"Abby" is always posing and walking around with clothes best suited for her grandchildren. She is a beautiful women, but what is the costume designer thinking? Her character dresses like a 15 year old high school girl. She screws her boyfriend, (at the very beginning of their date) against a restaurant wall, her back end up, in an alley. Her lover is twenty years younger than her and can't keep his hands off her. OMG I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Lisa E. is a beautiful "older" woman. However, as beautiful as she is, she needs to find a role more appropriate for her age, sorry.

The writing and dialogue is awful. Stop it or please get some new writers and a new costume designer.

No surprise that Janeane Garafalo quit. Talk about poor casting. She looks positively hospital-ready anorexic in a few of the first episodes

This show made me nauseous. I cannot believe there was or is a third season ... Continued dumb-ing down of mentalities here for sure. As a divorced woman in the same age range as these creepy people, I am offended and flabbergasted. No thank you.