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Carol might not be the lead in Leanne, but she walks into every scene as if it were hers to command, and most times she walks out with the best line. Long considered a larger-than-life character, Kirsten Johnston plays Carol in a way that seemed to give voice to people everywhere who dared not say what they think.
When she is roasting a stranger in church or outright telling someone brutal truths at brunch, Carol's words have sting and staying power. While the show rides the emotional roller coaster of life, Carol is the comedic relief, social commentary, and sass.
Her brutal observations are funny and mostly true. Here are nine moments when Carol did more than steal a scene: she snatched it, incinerated it, and casually walked away.
9 Times Carol from Leanne stole the show with her brutal remarks
1. “Working on a melanoma, good.” Episode 1: The Email
Carol's mastery of sarcasm is unparalleled, and this instant guarantees it. When a cheerful church lady announces she's basking in the sunshine of our Savior, Carol doesn't miss a beat in responding, Working on a melanoma, good. The tableau is reversed in an instant, and sentimental small talk freezes at the face of her sarcasm.
Kristen Johnston reads the line so casually that it cannot be avoided. It establishes the tone of who Carol is, blunt at times, unsuitable but ever a gust of veracity. In a show heavy with emotional baggage, her humor isn't merely rejuvenating, it's a lifeline.
2. “Our hair was too high, our boobs were too small, and we were gorgeous.” Episode 2: The Drop-Off
This line might have been a throwaway gag, but Carol makes it a statement. Recalling their adolescence, she encapsulates decades of self-image pressure in one side-splitting punch. Kristen Johnston toes the line between ridicule and reality here with delivering humor infused with empowerment. Carol's not being poetic, she's illustrating how ridiculous standards once appeared commonplace.
In doing this, she invites the audience to laugh, release, and cease apologizing for who they once were. The line could be humorous, but it lingers because it's the truth.
3. When Carol Got the China and 3,000 Pennies Situation Off Her Chest Episode 3: Secret Family Recipe
Carol's resentment at being offered a bag of pennies while her sister receives the family china blows in a scene full of spite. But the actual burn is not the pennies; this is Morgan's silence. Carol's anger is intergenerational. She doesn't merely express disappointment; she screams decades of being the overlooked sibling.
It's one of the first times that her comedic venom collapses into raw feeling. Kristen Johnston takes no prisoners, reminding us that beneath all her humor lies a woman who's been underestimated for too long.
4. “I Don’t Need a Man or a Thank You Just a Stiff Drink” Episode 4: Hot Flash Mob
When a nosy neighbor makes a comment about Carol's alone life, she retorts with a line that should be on a T-shirt. Uttered with a raised eyebrow and a voice that could slice glass, Carol brushes off judgment like lint. It's an empowering moment because it's both funny and bold. Carol isn't seeking approval.
She's created her life without a partner or applause, and she's good with that. Her unwillingness to sugarcoat the truth is one of the things about her that's so compelling. She's not lonely. She's just thirsty for a drink, not validation.
5. Carol’s Comeback at the Funeral: “She Loved Her Dog More Than Her Kids Let’s Not Rewrite History” Episode 5: Death, Lies & Vows
At a funeral for her family, there's high emotion and phony tributes everywhere until Carol grounds it. Her vicious eulogy punchline stops the schmaltz cold, She loved her dog more than her kids. Let's not rewrite history. It's heartless, but it's also cleansing.
Amidst a sea of insincere half-truths, Carol's honesty shatters the illusion. Kristen Johnston isn't playing for laughs; she's playing for truth, and it resonates. It's the sort of line that brings a scene into sharp focus and reminds us why her character is so central.
6. Carol stands by Leanne, even when everything falls apart Episode 1: The Email and Episode 6: Second Chances
As Morgan's marriage disintegrates after 33 years, it's Carol who is her anchor. When all others provide pity or stay silent, Carol provides action, awkward at times, always raw. She doesn't simply drop by with wine and snarky advice, she protects Morgan from judgment, diverts her with humor, and allows her to break apart in safety.
Whether it's sleeping next to her sister with a CPAP machine or fighting her back at brunch, Carol never leaves her side. Behind all of that attitude is a human being who knows how to love unconditionally, and that's why her presence is unforgettable.
7. The Sisterly Bond Between Leanne and Carol Is the Heart of the Show Episode 6: Second Chances
Morgan and Carol can squabble all day long, but their relationship is the emotional center of the program. Their relationship is loose, raucous, and highly authentic. There are arguments, space, but also strong devotion. Carol's brutal candor leavens Morgan's tense, cautiousness, and through forgiveness and accumulated history, they grow together.
When the rest of their lives seem in limbo, it's this sister's love that holds Morgan down. The show does not romanticize family, it reveals its cracks and chaos, but in the process, it illustrates that real connection can endure misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and old grudges.
8. Carol’s Comeback Is a Powerful Statement on Forgiveness and Family Episode 8: The Heirloom
When Carol storms out of the house after a fight over their grandmother's heirloom, it seems permanent. But when she returns in the finale, it is with feeling and emotion. She doesn't come back to the house; she comes back to her sister. Their reunion isn't over the top; it's subdued, truthful, and necessary. Leanne's apology and Carol's willingness to show up again expose the depth of their relationship.
The show is a reminder that family is not about never hurting one another; it's about showing up anyway, owning mistakes, and opting for connection over anger repeatedly.
9. Carol Comforts Leanne in Her Own Wild Way Episode 1: The Email
When Bill breaks up with them by email, it's Carol who takes the blow first. She shields Leanne from their critical church group and oblivious parents, providing shelter when Leanne is in shock. But her most moving gesture? Sleeping next to her sister with the CPAP machine. It's silly, strangely reassuring, and quintessentially Carol.
She doesn't say the thing; she does the thing. She substitutes Leanne's grief with something familiar, ridiculous, and loyal. Carol is not mere comedy relief. She's the one who arrives when others don't.
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Carol is real to the bone; she sure is an unforgettable character. Some of her harsher admonitions in Leanne brought not just laughter but a strange bit of wisdom.
Whether she was pointing out hypocrisies or ripping through phony politeness, Carol was always the real deal. Seriously, we need more of these characters: candid to the core, bold, and impossible to overlook.
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