“Will & Grace” Said a Tearful Goodbye to This Beloved Longtime Character
NBC’s Will & Grace revival has been hitting all the marks since it premiered in September. Not only is the chemistry between the cast members as electric as ever, but the show even managed to perfectly pull off pretending the original series finale never happened (no easy feat!). On the most recent episode, the show also followed through on its promise to reprise one of the show’s most memorable guest stars with the return of Minnie Driver. But as one character returns, another exits, and last night, the show said goodbye to one of its most beloved. Warning: There are spoilers ahead.
Rosario Inés Consuelo Yolanda Salazar (Shelley Morrison), AKA Karen Walker’s (Megan Mullally) beloved maid, was sadly laid to rest on Thursday’s episode. Rosario hadn’t yet appeared in the rebooted ninth season, and Karen, who flippantly assumed she was on vacation, soon discovered that she was in the hospital following a heart attack. The feisty sidekick died offscreen, and was given an appropriate — and legitimately emotional — sendoff.
Karen was too distraught over her friend’s death to attend the hybrid quinceañera/funeral, but later had a moment alone to say goodbye. “Sorry I wasn’t here, but come on, what the hell was I going to say?” she said to her deceased maid. “She was my maid, she was my sparring partner, she was my best friend? You were my everything, Rosario Yolanda Salazar.” Morrison, 81 and alive and well IRL, has retired from acting and was written out of the show after declining to appear in the revival.
Needless to say, fans shared their sadness over the emotional goodbye, with one fan even calling it the saddest episode ever.
You were my everything, Rosario 😭 #WillandGrace pic.twitter.com/Ultvz0dRNj
— Susie S. (@MissSusie66) November 3, 2017
That was the saddest #willandgrace ever. I miss Rosario! @WillAndGrace
— Just Me (@jstmeandthewrld) November 3, 2017
You know it's been an odd week when #WillAndGrace makes you cry harder than #ThisIsUs. #TeAmoMami
— Debbie Gajdosik (@DebbieGajdosik) November 3, 2017
The late Debbie Reynolds, who played Grace’s (Debra Messing) mother Bobbi in the original series, also got a shout-out on this week’s show. It came when Grace was trying console Karen, and told a story about grieving her own mother’s death, making it the first time she was spoken about on the reboot. Reynolds died in December 2016, just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Will & Grace if the situation wasn’t injected with some laughs too: As Karen said her goodbyes to Rosario, she classically quipped, “I want you to have something that was my mother’s. Makes sense you should have it; lord knows you’ve been eying it for years,” and handed her a ring. Then, she said her final goodbyes in a scene that will live on as one of the most memorable from the season.
“Honey, I’m not going with you to the cemetery, so don’t get mad, okay? I just can’t watch them put you in ground. I have to remember you my way, so if it’s alright, I’m just going to sit here with you for a while.” BRB, crying. We’ll miss you, Rosario!
Are you said you won’t be seeing more Rosario on the show? Let us know @BritandCo.
(Photos via NBC)
