I Love Lucy: 10 Things About Lucy & Ethel’s Friendship That Would Not Fly Today

I Love Lucy is one of the most famous sitcoms ever made. Lucille Ball is a comedic genius, and her co-stars’ performances add to the comedy, love, and overall quality of the show. It is an absolute classic, and it defined television in the 1950s. Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz are a terrific dynamic duo on the show. They paved the way for other comedic duos, including Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney in the Happy Days spin-off, Laverne and Shirley.

Even though their friendship is iconic, there are definitely some moments looking back on the show that make viewers realize their friendship is not as perfect as it seems to be. Here are 10 moments featuring the friendship of Lucy and Ethel that show the characters’ relationship is not always perfect.

Lucy & Ethel Buy A Dress Shop

When the ladies decide to go into business together, trouble begins right away. Both ladies get a little conceited and fight over whose name will appear first in their new name for the shop. When friends work together, problems are bound to occur. However, the problems for these two characters start very early on, and they focus more on getting recognition than supporting each other, as they handle the difficult task of running a business.

It may not be the most serious argument in the world, but friends like these two should have easily been able to think of a solution to solve their simple problem.

Ethel Takes Lucy’s Role In A Movie

When Lucy learns she has the chance of getting a small role in an Italian movie, she tries her best to understand her role and the culture, which leads to the famous scene with Lucy stomping on grapes. However, things do not go as planned, and Ethel ends up getting the part.

Instead of declining the role after seeing all the hard work Lucy put into getting it, fame and recognition become the only things on Ethel’s mind, and she accepts the role without thinking of Lucy’s feelings. Getting a part in a big movie is a great opportunity, but Ethel did not even hesitate to accept the role without at least discussing it with her good friend first.

The Charm School

Lucy and Ethel decide to go to charm school to improve their appearances and make them look more attractive. That is the basic plot of this particular episode, and if Lucy and Ethel really were great friends, this episode would not even exist in the first place.

In the 1950s, women seemed to feel pressured to focus most of their efforts on appearances and manners. While there is nothing wrong with these things, no woman should feel forced to make any changes to their appearances or change the way they behave just because it is highly expected of them. Lucy and Ethel should have taken the opportunity to vouch for one another and have each other’s backs about the way they already look and act.

The Courtroom

This is one of the episodes where the Ricardos argue with the Mertzes. Lucy and Ricky buy Fred and Ethel a new television set for their anniversary. Ricky accidentally breaks it, and Fred ends up breaking the Ricardos’ TV, leading to a huge argument in a courtroom.

The friendship between the Ricardos and Mertzes is supposedly very strong, yet a simple accident almost wipes the whole friendship out. While it is nice to see Lucy and Ricky on the same side, it is hard to watch Lucy fight with Ethel, considering how close they are.

Ethel Stops Lucy From Singing Her Solo

Lucy writes a musical and gives Ethel the lead and casts herself as the Queen of the Gypsies. Lucy does not have a strong singing voice, so Ethel plans for all the background singers to sing Lucy’s solo with her, so Lucy’s voice won’t be heard.

Even though Lucy does not have a good voice, she was very excited about being in the show and wanted her moment in the spotlight. Ethel should have supported her and let her have her moment, regardless of the quality of her voice.

Lucy & Ethel Suspect Each Other Of Being A Burglar

The neighborhood is afraid of Madame X, a burglar that has broken into many other homes around where Lucy and Ricky live. Due to mistakes and confusion, Lucy and Ethel both suspect each other of being Madame X.

Considering how strong their friendship supposedly is, it is strange to think that they would think of each other this way so quickly without at least confronting each other about it first. They have been friends for years, and it is not okay for one person to think the other is even capable of breaking and stealing things from homes.

Breaking The Lease

This is another one of those scenarios where the Ricardos argue with the Mertzes. In this instance, Lucy and Ricky are a little loud in their apartment, and due to anger and frustration, the friendship between the two couples seem to be over, leading to Lucy and Ricky trying their best to break their lease. No good friends would nearly have their friendship destroyed just by one night of frustration, especially when it is over something as innocent as being a little too loud one night. Lucy and Ethel are supposedly closer than that, so the attitude and anger between the two of them should not be acceptable.

The “Friendship” Song

Lucy and Ethel agree to not wear the same dress the night they do a performance. However, they both secretly put on the same dress, not knowing the other was going to put theirs on as well. This leads to them getting angry onstage, and ripping and tearing each other’s outfits in front of everybody.

In a scenario like this in real life, instead of a sitcom, Lucy and Ethel should have confronted each other after the show. It is too embarrassing and mean to make fools of each other in this way onstage. Any good friends like them would have settled their differences in this situation in a calm, appropriate manner.

Lucy Teaches Ethel How To Drive

Ricky gives Lucy one driving lesson, and it does not go very well. Lucy then decides to teach Ethel herself, and the car ends up needing repairs.

Lucy is aware that she is an inexperienced driver, especially since she only had one lesson. She should have known giving Ethel a lesson was a bad idea, especially because driving can be dangerous. Besides herself, Ethel could have been seriously injured. Lucy should have let herself become a better and more experienced driver first before ever even considering teaching someone else, especially her very best friend.

Ethel Does Not Help Lucy When She Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her

When Lucy believes her husband is trying to kill her and he comes home, Lucy tries to get Ethel to help her. However, Ethel is too afraid and just exits the apartment. She does not even try to help her out or even call the police.

Of course, Ricky was not actually trying to kill her, but Ethel thought so, and she should have done everything in her power to help out her best friend. She does nothing, proving her friendship with Lucy is not as perfect as it seems to be.