During its nine-season run, Seinfeld had a recurring joke that none of the four main characters could maintain a successful relationship. Each week, Jerry, George, Kramer, or Elaine would introduce a new romantic partner, who would inevitably become the subject of ridicule and comedic mishaps. However, in Season 7, the show took a different approach by allowing a relationship to stick for an entire season.
In an unexpected twist, George proposed to his girlfriend Susan, played by Heidi Swedberg. This led to some amusing moments as George quickly regretted his decision. Ironically, off-screen, the cast members did not enjoy working with Swedberg. This dissatisfaction became so pronounced that Larry David, the show’s creator, had to take drastic measures.
Susan first appeared in Seinfeld during Season 4 as an NBC executive when Jerry and George were pitching their show. She became George’s girlfriend, but their relationship was plagued with misfortunes. From Kramer vomiting on her to accidentally setting fire to her father’s cabin, Susan endured a series of unfortunate events. Even a kiss from George resulted in her losing her job at NBC. Eventually, she started dating another woman, leaving George convinced that their failed relationship influenced her decision.
Susan disappeared from the show in Seasons 5 and 6 but returned in the Season 7 premiere, “The Engagement.” In this episode, Jerry and George decide they don’t want to be alone anymore, prompting George to propose to Susan. However, George’s happiness is short-lived when Jerry reveals that he has decided to break up with his own girlfriend and doesn’t plan on changing his mind. This leaves George trapped in a relationship he wants to escape.
Throughout Season 7, George desperately tries to find a way out of the relationship. At one point, he even takes up smoking in the hopes that Susan will leave him. Despite his best efforts, nothing works, and Susan remains by his side. However, in a truly shocking moment, Susan dies after licking toxic wedding invitation envelopes, setting George free.
Although Susan’s relationship with George provided great comedy, it also created awkwardness on set. Unlike the self-absorbed and awful main characters, Susan was portrayed as a normal and boring person. This clash in acting styles caused tension among the cast members. In a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Jason Alexander, who played George, admitted that working with Swedberg was extremely challenging because their instincts for performing scenes did not align.
Even Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played Jerry and Elaine respectively, expressed their frustration after sharing numerous scenes with Swedberg. It was during a conversation with Louis-Dreyfus that Larry David decided to kill off Susan’s character. This decision was made to shake up the dynamic and capitalize on the audience’s sympathy for George, despite his role in Susan’s demise.
In the end, killing off Susan’s character in the episode “The Invitations” served as a comedic moment rather than a tragic one. George’s relief upon hearing the news of Susan’s death, combined with the reactions of his friends, created an awkward but humorous scene. The storyline continued into Season 8, with George being involved in a foundation set up by Susan’s parents. Despite the cast’s dissatisfaction with Swedberg, Season 7 of Seinfeld pushed them out of their comfort zones and produced compelling television.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
