Daniel and Dragons and Disco and Dungeons and the Dead

This is it. The final post. And it's a lot shorter than the other ones, so maybe someone will read it. The final episode of the show leaves us, the audience, wanting more, but leaves us with an understanding that not having more is okay. One can kind of tell that the producers of the show knew it wouldn't do well in its debut, that the marketing would be terrible, and that they wouldn't be able to write for these characters as much as they deserved. But that's okay, and we must appreciate what we have. Everything ends eventually. 

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Episode 18: Discos and Dragons
SYNOPSIS
The gang discovers that Nick is into disco due to his new girlfriend. Nick is convinced that he is happy with her, but everyone knows he's using her as a distraction from Lindsay. Daniel tries to pull the fire alarm before a test he's not ready for, but gets caught by Mr. Rosso and is forced to hang out with the geeks in the AV club. In a strange turn of events, Daniel ends up enjoying a night of D&D with Sam, Neal, Bill, and the other geeks. Lindsay is accepted into a summer program for academically elite high schoolers, but ultimately ends up with some deadheads en route to follow the Dead on their tour from Texas to New Mexico. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Good things don't last forever, but you shouldn't let the transience of the good times damper your enjoyment of them after they're over.
This has been a week of endings for me. The ending of the show, the ending of the biggest chunk of fall semester, and the ending of a year-long relationship. When good things end (maybe with the exception of the big chunk of the semester), it's easy to get lost in despair. But we have to acknowledge that the past is in the past, that there's no changing it, and that, though the good times must end, they were good while they lasted. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Foxy "Hot Number" (1979) This is the disco track that opens the episode. The fact that a disco number opens the episode, unlike the usual classic rock, indicates that this episode is going to have a different feel from most of the others in the season. 

Grateful Dead "Box of Rain" (1970) This quintessential Grateful Dead plays over Lindsay's montage of listening to the entirety of their American Beauty album. The song has no hidden meaning, it's just representative of itself. 

Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" (1978) Possibly the most famous disco number of all time, this classic number ironically plays after the DJ at the discotheque confidently professes that disco will never die. Of course, we know disco did die, and the use of this song after such a speech really drives the point home. 

Heatwave "Groove Line" (1978) Upbeat and happy, this song at first is a very literal musical representation of Nick's happiness with his new girlfriend. However, it also plays over the moment when Nick realizes that he hates disco, and then its happy tone becomes ironic. 

Grateful Dead "Ripple" (1970) This Dead classic, slow and sentimental, ends the series. It's the perfect song to end the series, speaking of a melancholy surrounding an unknown future, but acknowledging that contentment is still attainable. The song wants for more, but is happy with what exists, just like I do after the end of the song, and the end of "Freaks and Geeks." This is a genius pick on the part of the show creators; with this song, they leave it open for more, but leave us as hapy as we can be with the beautiful television they've already created.

Millie Goes to the Dark Side and Daniel Goes Punk

There is a LOT of music in episode 14, and not so much in episode 15. In these later episodes, we are delving into plotlines that focus on the previously minor characters, Bill and Neal. Enjoy!

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Episode 14: Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers
SYNOPSIS
The episode begins with Lindsay trying to convince her parents to let her go to a Who concert. The rest of the episode is chock-full of Who tracks, with all but two of the songs by the famous rock band. In this episode, Bill finds out that his mom is dating Mr. Fredericks, and Bill struggles to come to terms with this. Meanwhile, Kim and Lindsay accidentally hit and kill Millie's dog. Inadvertently, they also nearly turn Millie to the dark side, until they admit what they did and Millie and Lindsay reconcile. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Not everyone likes what you like, but that's okay.
In this episode, we struggle to watch Mr. Fredericks attempting to relate to Bill through competitve sports (which doesn't work, for obvious reasons). It takes the entire episode and a lot of emotion before Fredericks realizes that he can't relate to Bill through his default, sport-based interaction, and realizes he has to try to be interested in Bill's interests. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
All of the music in this episode, with the exception of the final song and an original by Nick, is by The Who, so I will only list song titles. A few of the songs are not very significant within the plotline of the episode, including "I'm Free" (1969), "Going Mobile" (1971), and "Drowned" (1973). 

"I'm One" (1973) plays during Bill's daily routine eating grilled cheese, drinking milk and watching TV. Through lyrics, this song convey's that Bill is abnormal, but totally okay with who he is.

"Boris the Spider" (1966) This fast, minor song plays when Kim hits Millie's dog. It is interesting that this is a very historical song, with the first ever recorded death growl in music (in 1966!!). The song effectively conveys a mood of apprehension.

"Love, Reign O'er Me" (1973) The is undoubtedly a true rock classic that everyone has heard at least once. It plays when Mr. Fredericks is at Bill's place after spending the night with his mother. The song's use of homonyms 'reign' and 'rain' effectively convey the confusion and upset that Bill feels having his mother date Mr. Fredericks. 

"Squeeze Box" (1975) This song, chock-full of conspicuous innuendo, is the song that Lindsay's parents listen to to determine whether she should go to the concert. They definitely picked the wrong one to listen to.

These are the songs not by The Who.
Nick Andopolis "Lady L" This is Nick's song for Lindsay, and quite honestly, the lyrics aren't too bad up to about 1 minute, although the guitar playing is terrible the whole time, and the vocals are actually embarassing after 1 minute. You can tell Jason Segel definitely took the performance and ran with it.

Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze" (1972) This iconic, early 70's chart-topper is instant relaxation, and plays during Lindsay and Millie's reconciliation after Lindsay admits to hitting Millie's dog. The song simply conveys that the episode has come to resolution.

BEST QUOTES
"I heard Stevie Nicks is a witch." -Kim
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Episode 15: Noshing and Moshing
SYNOPSIS
Neil continues to struggle under the weight of the information about his father's adultery, but looks forward to confiding in his brother, who is coming home from college for the annual Schweiber party. Neil soon finds out that everyone in hsi family knows his dad is cheating, but that no one cares. Daniel and Kim break up, and Daniel tries to go punk, but utterly fails and ends up back in Kim's arms. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Black Flag "Rise Above" (1981) This angsty punk track is what Daniel listens to at the end of his typical day, which is a hard one. The song is full of anger and rebellion, the first of which Daniel feels, and the second he craves. 

X "Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not" (1980) This is just a punk track that plays while Daniel gets ready to go to the punk gig. This is classic punk.

Dean Martin "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" (1961) This song is used as the string that ties the end of the episode. It plays over three separate scenes; the first is of the Weirs leaving the Schweibers' party, with Lindsay feeling blissful at the prospect of love with Neil's older brother. The song gives a hopeful tone to this scene, as Lindsay may be 'finding somebody to love.' The second scene is of Mrs. Schweiber cleaning up after the party, looking wistfully at her husband, symbolically distant and in the background. In this scene, the song is ironic, as it seems to play over a dead or dying love between husband and wife. The third and final scene is of Daniel returning to Kim. In this final case, the song is hopeful, and this hopeful scene of two young people caring about each other closes the episode off on a wistfully positive note.

BEST QUOTES
"You cut me off mid-funk!" -Bill

Make-out parties and hermaphrodites

The hardest part about watching a good show that has only one season is knowing that it will literally all be over in forty-two minutes. Though I dread the end of the series with next week's post, I look forward to making conclusions about the show as a whole, and look forward to getting as much plot resolution as I can out of a show cut too short. Anyways, enjoy this post about episodes 16-17!

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Episode 16: Smooching and Mooching
SYNOPSIS
When Nick's dad sells his drum kit, Nick finds respite at Lindsay's house, forming a strong bond with Harold and Gene Weir. Sam finally goes out on a date with Cindy, accomplanying her to a makeout party, where he and Bill get more action than either of them bargained for.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Sometimes you need to take a break from it all.
In this episode, Nick takes a break from living at his own house and gets some well-needed perspective; in the few days of being under the wings of the Weirs, his life gains direction and he seems to be genuinely happy. Nick definitely benefited in taking a break from his regular way of living, and I think that most people can benefit from a vacation every once in awhile.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Rush "Tom Sawyer" (1981) This is the song that Nick plays too loud on the record player at Lindsay's house and is the song that prompts Harold Weir to show Nick what real drumming sounds like. Neil Pert, the drummer for Rush, is hailed as one of the greatest drummers of all time for good reason, but Harold plays a track for Nick that definitely shows Neil Pert up.

Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich "The Monster" (1956) This insane display of technical instrumental talent is a real jazzy throwback, and the huge drum solo is what Harold shows to Nick in order to introduce him to good drumming. I would highly recommend checking out this video of Buddy Rich, at 64 doing a drum solo in 90 degree weather under stage lights in a three-piece suit.

Bob Seger "Katmandu" (1975) This rowdy song is perfect for a getting ready montage, and this is how it is used in this episode. It plays while Bill preps his mouth for the make-out party, Sam dresses up, and Neal practices making out with his dummy.

Warren Zevon "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (1976) This song plays during the throes of spin the bottle game, in which Neal and Bill are not having any luck; Neal keeps landing on Bill, and Bill keeps ending up with a blond cheerleader who seems to be repulsed by him. The lyrics have a very literal meaning, as the audience pities Bill and Neal.

Bob Seger "You'll Accomp'ny Me" (1980) This love tune closes out the episode and happens during all of the makeouts; Bill makes out with a cheerleader, and Sam finally gets to make out with Cindy. It's a great makeout track, and closes the episode very well.

BEST QUOTES
"Why do people save their books? It's not like you can read a book twice." -Nick

"Did he try to give you a backrub? He will. If he tries to give you a foot rub, run." -Kim

"Everyone looks cool in turtlenecks. That's the point." -Neal
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Episode 17: The Little Things
SYNOPSIS
The excitement is high at McKinley High as vice president George HW Bush is about to visit. Ken learns that his new love, Amy, was born a hermaphrodite, and he struggles with having that knowledge. Ken finally comes to terms with it, realizing that it's no big deal. Sam realizes that he and Cindy have nothing in common, and he breaks up with her. Lindsay has the opportunity to ask the vice president a question, and she rocks the boat. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
"Not all good-looking people are cool."
This one goes without saying, but I figured I shoudl touch on it since it is the title of the blog. This is an important lesson that most all of us learn somewhere along the line, but Sam happens to learn it in this episode when he realizes that Cindy Sanders is boring af and that he should break up with her. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
David Bowie "Fashion" (1980) Ken listens to this song to see if he's gay. The song's lyrics exhibit an air of confusion, which mirror Ken's (unfounded) confusion about his own sexuality after finding out that Amy was born as a boy and a girl. Bowie was a symbol of LGBTQ progression toward normalcy in popular culture as early as 1972, when he introduced Ziggy Stardust to the world.

Linda Clifford "If My Friends Could See Me Now" (1978) This is another song Ken listens to to see if he's gay. The lyrics have a literal meaning; he would probably be embarassed if his friends could see him as he tries to decide between a gay porno mag and a regular porno mag. The genre of the song, disco, also plays a role in the episode; disco is so different from the hard rock that Ken listens to that its use in a scene with him in it causes an air of confusion.

Jackson Browne "The Road" (1977) This sad, slow song, plays as Ken walks away from Amy's house without resolving their fight. It has a wash of minor progression and long phrases, effectively conveying Ken's sadness. However, it also has major resolution at the end of the phrases, which align with Ken's happiness when Daniel shows up to give him a ride home. The sentimental lyrics of the song help to bolster Ken and Daniel's solid history as friends. 

BEST QUOTES
"You know everyone's a democrat until they get a little money. Then they come to their senses." -Harold

"Not all good-looking people are cool." -Lindsay

Baby, baby, don't get hooked on weed

This set of episodes is honestly depressing. Both episodes have their laughing moments, but the lessons are often ambiguous and the conclusions made are less than optimistic. 

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Episode 12: The Garage Door
SYNOPSIS
All the boys think Neal's dad is the best dad ever; he gets what they're about, gives them ice cream, and buys Neal a bunch of cool stuff. However, this all changes when Sam sees Dr. Schweiber at the mall with another woman. The doctor tries inconspicuously to keep Sam quiet, but both Neal and Bill find out. Neal and Sam spend the rest of the episode struggling with the idea of adultery after Neal finds a garage door remote for a different house in his dad's car.. Meanwhile, Ken develops a crush on the school tuba player, Nick tries to keep his feelings for Lindsay a secret, and Daniel and Kim are fighting, as usual. Ken and Daniel end up making out with their respective ladies by the end of the episode, but Nick and Lindsay are still distant.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
The Cars "Good Times Roll" (1978) This is another good example of the ironic use of a song. The song is purely a plea to "let the good times roll," but it plays over a montage of Neal, Bill, and Sam patrolling the neighborhoods of their town to find the house of Neal's father's mistress. Obviously, these are not good times, especially for Neal. Though the song does ask the listeners to have a good time, there's a general feeling of discomfort in the song generated by the exposed vocals and out-of-place minor conversions in the chorus.

The rest of the songs in the episode happen during the laser show at the laser dome. 

Emerson, Lake and Palmer "Karn Evil 9" (1973) This song is a trip. A 30-minute trip. The song is so long that it has separate sections, called impressions. The part that contains the music used in this episode is 1st Impression, Part 2, with the important part being the guitar solo. This long, fast song begins the laser show, ramping up both the tempo and the excitement, suggesting that there will be significant developments during this part of the episode.

The Charlie Daniels Band "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (1979) (please excuse whoever decided to add a very literal slideshow to accompany this song in the YouTube video) This song doesn't have much significance in the plot of the episode other than it reveals that the laser show isn't Pink Floyd, it's country rock themed. 

Pure Prairie League "Amie" (1972) This is just a sweet, country-rock love song with a very literal meaning. This song plays while Ken talks to Daniel about kissing his crush, Amy. The song gives a good background for the ramp-up to their kiss.

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" (1973) Everyone knows this one. This superbly famous Lynyrd Skynyrd number play's during Amy and Ken's first kiss and Daniel and Kim's make-up make-out session. It doesn't have much significance other than it might poke some fun at Nick and Lindsay; they both want to get back together with each other, but neither wants to go for it. They are the opposite of free. 

BEST QUOTES
"Why do I need to go to a laser show when I can make my own...in my mind?" -Ken

"My dad's too old to want to make out with anyone." -Sam
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Episode 13: Chokin' and Tokin'
SYNOPSIS
Nick struggles with addiction and tries to get Lindsay to smoke with him. When Lindsay tries the pot for the first time, forgetting that she has to babysit that same day, she asks Millie to help her out by keeping an eye on her during the babysitting gig. They reconnect, but they both know it'll all be back to the way it was when Lindsay sobers up. Meanwhile, Bill mentions during a class with Allen that he has a severe peanut allergy. Because Allen is a dick, he puts peanuts in Bill's sandwich, and Bill almost dies. While Bill is in a medically induced coma, Allen confesses that he has always admired Neal, Sam, and Bill, and that he likes sci-fi, too. When Bill wakes up, he asks Allen if he will go to the sci-fi convention with him, Sam, and Neal. Ultimately, however, Allen can't muster the courage to be real with the geeks.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Blood Sweat & Tears "Hi-De-Ho" (1970) This song plays when Lindsay tries to roll her own joint and smoke it. Its low tempo gives it a rolling feeling (pun intended). This song has a pretty literal meaning.

Jethro Tull "Aqualung" (1971) This song's lyrics and motifs seem to interrupt each other, creating an atmosphere of conflict. The extremely descriptive lyrics, such as "Snot running down his nose / Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes" repulse the listener, further solidifying the conflicted atmosphere. This all makes sense, as the song plays over the freak guys talking about Nick and Lindsay's flawed relationship.

George Baker Selection "Little Green Bag" (1970) You might think that, from the title of the song, that this would be about weed. Of course, this song plays over Lindsay, in a high fog, reading about weed in an encyclopedia, so the "Little Green Bag" title would make sense; for the case of my argument about the purpose of using this song, we can say that the title is "Little Green Bag." However, the song was supposed to be titled "Little Greenback," and the lyrics of the song say 'greenback.' It was a record company screw-up. There's your fun fact for the post! 

Mac Davis "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" (1972) This (obviously) 70's hit plays when Millie and Lindsay are reminiscing. This is probably the most appropriate song used in the context of this episode. Not only is the song a part of Lindsay and Millie's past together, but it also hints to how they're not close anymore; neither of them should get hooked on each other, because Lindsay will just leave Millie behind, like she has for awhile. It's very sad.

BEST QUOTES
"You're high! You're on the pot!" -Millie

Prank Calls and Foxy Hair

As we progress into the season, the episodes become less about jokes and more about lessons. That's why you might not see as many quotes from now on. Enjoy!

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Episode 10: The Diary
SYNOPSIS
Bill is fed up with being picked last for baseball in gym class, so he takes charge and prank calls the gym teacher in an effort to convince him to turn the tables. However, one of the calls goes awry and Bill is caught; he confesses to being tired of being picked last, and the gym teacher lets him pick the teams. Little does Bill know, the gym teacher is going out with his mother. Lindsay hitchhikes with Kim Kelly, which spurns a dinner between her parents and Kim's mom. Harold and Gene decide to delve into Lindsay's diary to learn the truth about what she has been doing with Kim, but only find a scathing entry about how they themselves are robotic and stuck in a monotonous routine. Gene tries to spice things up, but Harold isn't having it. Eventually they both realize that it's okay to have things stay the same if they are both happy with it.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Yes, adults can learn from the kids.
Gene and Harold (Lindsay's parents) learn the hard way that eavesdropping never ends well, and Coach Fredericks learns that it pays to listen and try a new perspective. Unlike most episodes of this show, where the kids learn lessons, this one focuses on the adults learning from the kids. This is an important lesson for adults in contact with kids; relationships are mutual, and both parties, young or old, can learn from each other. Adults are not always absolutely knowledgeable and kids aren't always wrong.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
The Amboy Dukes "Journey to the Center of the Mind" (1968) This fast rock song plays at the very beginning of the episode when Kim and Lindsay are hitchhiking. It conveys a sense of thrill with the rhythmic drums and minor chords in the lyrics. The lyrics also convey a sense of adventure, which is what Lindsay feels when hitchhiking with Kim.

XTC "No Language in Our Lungs" (1980) This song plays during the gym class where Bill is picked last. The lyrics are representative of Bill's feelings: there is no language in his lungs, no muscle in his tongue, that allows him to speak out in the moment against being picked last.

Bill Conti "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)" (1976) This is an iconic song that stems from (possibly) the most famous sports movie franchise of all time, the Rocky series. The song inspires images of great courage, determination, and success. This is why it's so ironic that it's used in a baseball gym class scene that focuses on Bill Haverchuck, one of the least athletic characters in this series. Though Bill does achieve great success in catching the ball, it's only the first out of the game, and the celebration he does stops him from doing any better than his mediocre best.

BEST QUOTES
"Everybody's got parents, Gene, even hookers." -Harold

"Oh my god, Lindsay, your parents are swingers." -Kim
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Episode 11: Looks and Books

SYNOPSIS
Lindsay agrees to borrow her parents' station wagon to help Daniel and the band move equipment, even though she knows she shouldn't. She wrecks the car and gets grounded, and decides that she will stop hanging out with the freaks and re-join the mathletes. Lindsay's comments about how the freaks' futures are a lost cause gets to Daniel, and he worries that he won't ever become anything. Lindsay ultimately decides, after re-entering the competitive world of math league, that she is better off with the freaks.
Sam tries to feather his hair and look cool for Cindy, but it doesn't work, and he ends up embarrassed. Mr. Rosso assures him that being cool is all about believing that you're cool. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Being cool is all about confidence.
One of the things that I have always struggled with is self-confidence, and I think we all have. Sam struggles with it in this episode, but Mr. Rosso assures him that just believing that you're cool can make you cool. It's my personal belief that you first need to believe that you can succeed before you become able to succeed. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Joe Jackson "Look Sharp" (1979) This song actually plays twice throughout the episode, and has a double meaning. First, it plays when Lindsay is in the station wagon before the crash. In this case, it's literally asking her to pay attention to the road. The second time it plays is when Sam walks through the school in his sky blue Parisian night-suit. In this case, it's making fun of him for not looking sharp (looking stylish).

J. Geils Band "Flamethrower" (1981) This song is honestly silly, and it's in no way trying to be serious. It's about a girl who is normal during the day, but exceptional during the night. The song plays when Sam is pumping himself up with his new Parisian night-suit. The use of the song is ironic, since Sam is obviously not a flamethrower. The sexual vibe of the song is totally not applicable to Sam, so the juxtaposition really highlights Sam's lack of 'coolness.'

Supertramp "Take the Long Way Home" (1979) This symphonic rock song is the perfect episode closer. The chord structure reminds us of all of the closing songs from movies and TV series, sounding like the feeling you get on the way back from a vacation when you drive back into your hometown. The song plays during the resolution of the episode, when Lindsay reconnects with the freaks and things are as they should be.

BEST QUOTES
"I heard my mom say to her girlfriend, 'Any guy with feathered hair is foxy.'" -Bill

Shorter and Sweeter

In the spirit of keeping things shorter and sweeter, I'm going to refrain from including life lessons if they are redundant. If there's a new and exciting lesson to be learned from the show, I'll be sure to include it; otherwise, I'll just mention the lesson without delving into it and repeatedly re-hashing it. 

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Episode 8: Girlfriends and Boyfriends
SYNOPSIS
Nick gets serious with Lindsay. She faces lots of cautionary tales about the first time leading up to the 'big night' with Nick, only to have him profess his devotion to taking things slow ("I just want to hold you."). Sam gets partnered up with the smelly kid in Bio, rather than Cindy, but the situation makes a turn for the better when she shows an interest in him. That is, until she says he's easy to talk to, like her sister.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
The Allman Brothers Band "Whipping Post" (1969) With its highly variable time signature and the connotations of its title, this song provides a sense of being overwhelmed. This makes it an appropriate pick for its use in the show. The song plays as Lindsay walks through the school building, observing the overtly sexual interactions of some of the couples in the halls. Since her and Nick are heating up (or so she thinks), the topic is on her mind and slightly overwhelming.

The Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin" (1967) This is the song that Lindsay walks into when she first arrives at Nick's house on the big night. It doesn't have a lot of deeper meaning; it's really just a good slow song.

Styx "Lady" (1973) performed by Nick One word: iconic. I strongly suggest you watch the link, because this is comedy gold, and you don't need much context. The song "Lady" can't be very significant beyond face value in the scene because the power of Nick's monologue overshadows everything else. 

BEST QUOTES
Lindsay: Why'd you quit [basketball]?
Nick: They found a dime bag in my locker then they kicked me off the team. Then I just lost interest.

"[talking about his first time] It was the worst five dollars I've ever spent." -Harold Weir

"I don't need another friend. I already have two. I mean, how many more friends does a guy need?" -Sam Weir
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Episode 9: We've Got Spirit
SYNOPSIS
Lindsay seriously considers breaking up with Nick because of his obsessive behavior. She confides in her mom about her concerns, but her mom ends up messing things up for her. Sam becomes the school mascot in an attempt to grow closer to Cindy, but it backfires, and he ends up admitting to her that he thinks her crush on the star jock is idiotic. 


LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
There's always another side to the story. 
As Lindsay begins to think about breaking up with Nick, it seems like the evidence is stacked against him; not only is he obsessive and high all the time, she also finds out that he had a girlfriend in the past that he went kind of "berserk" over. At first, she thinks he's actually crazy; all evidence points to that he got dumped by this girl, went crazy, broke into her house, and fought with her dad. Just as she is about to put him on the chopping block, he explains his side of the story. He had had a huge crush on the girl, and when she broke up with her boyfriend, she took him on. However, he was only a rebound for her, and even though he wrote her a bunch of nice poems, she shared them with everyone and made fun of him. With this knowledge, Lindsay can't bring herself to break it off with him. We can learn what Lindsay learned: there are always two sides to the story. Before basing any decision on heresy, try to get both sides so you can make in informed decision. 


MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Kansas "Dust in the Wind" (1977) This is the first song in the episode, and it plays under Nick contemplating the more complicated aspects of life with Lindsay. Of course, he's totally stoned. This song isn't too significant. It really only serves to parallel the subject matter of Nick and Lindsay's discussion.

Queen "Keep Yourself Alive" (1973) This is just an upbeat song for the victory at the end of the basketball game.

The Who "The Song is Over" (1971) This song, with its relatively slow sections, reminisces about a lost first love, and, in its upbeat chorus, sings indignantly to the world of sorrow. This is the song that plays as Nick drives away from the school after breaking things off with Lindsay. One of the most fitting lyrics is as follows: "She was the first song I ever sang
/ But it stopped as soon as it began." This applies more to Lindsay than to Nick, as he's really her first major relationship, and it ends suddenly. This is definitely the most meaningful song in the episode.

Joan Jett "Do You Wanna Touch Me" (1981) This upbeat, high-energy rock jam plays in the thick of the basketball game, and doesn't do much other than add another layer of excitement to an already high-energy setting. 

BEST QUOTES
"Cheerleaders have to date athletes, it's the law." -Neil

"My cousin slipped into a coma once. And then, when he woke up, he spoke fluent Spanish." -Bill

Yakety Sax and Bill's Huge Rocket

This set of episodes is an absolute goldmine for great music. Not only do we have three tracks from Cream in episode 6, but we have three Billy Joel songs in episode 7! This is a really great week for music in the Freaks and Geeks world.

P.S. If you want to talk Billy Joel, I love Billy Joel. Feel free to comment about it!

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Episode 6: I'm with the Band
SYNOPSIS
Sam faces having to shower in front of his gym classmates and refuses to do it, but when he finally caves, things backfire and he ends up streaking across the entire school building. Lindsay learns that Nick faces going to the army if he doesn't become a pro drummer; she tries to help, but ends up hurting him in the process and getting more entangled in his life. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Dreams take work, too.
I think that one of the biggest misconceptions about following one's dream is that it's easy. Of course it's not easy! Pursuing any end takes a lot of work, and following one's dream is no exception. Nick faces the fact that he may not be good enough to follow his dream because he isn't putting in the work to do so. The good thing about following one's dream, though it takes a lot of work, is that the rewards are incredibly gratifying, and the road to success is much easier to travel when you know that you love walking it. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Madness "One Step Beyond" (1979) This freaky, campy song has an almost cartoon feel to it with the upbeat tempo, the minor key of the harpsichord, and the funky saxophone. I think it sounds a lot like "Yakety Sax", which most of us have heard before. This makes it totally appropriate as the song that Sam streaks to. 

Cream "Crossroads" (1968) This is the song that Nick has to audition on to join the 'official' band. It's a great song with clean vocals, engaging guitar solos, and a moderately difficult drum part that requires an extensive knowledge of the kit. This song also has lyrical significance in that Nick is at a crossroads. He can continue on his own path, the path of becoming a drummer, or he can take the path towards the army, the path towards which his dad is pushing him. 

Cream "Sunshine of Your Love" (1967) This song is already rough around the edges, but Nick's band totally destroys all of its coherency. This song isn't very significant except for that it's well known, so when we hear Nick and the gang trash it, we can recognize just how bad they are. 

Cream "White Room" (1968) The beginning of this song sounds something like what would play over the stare-down at the beginning of an old west gunfight. The song plays when Sam is about to face his fear of showering in front of his peers. Then the song picks up the tempo and more of Cream's clean-cut lyrics play with a very progressive feeling. 

Rush "The Spirit of Radio" (1980) This song, with an incredibly dense score (lots of notes for all the band members to play) introduces us to the full extent of Nick's commitment to drumming. It's fast and furious and loud, just like Nick's passion for drumming. 

BEST QUOTES
Sam Weir: You look a little bit like my grandpa. 
Bill Haverchuck: Oh, is your grandpa super cool? 

"It's a lot easier for me to drum without fabric on my thighs." -Nick

Neal Schweiber: My mom says women prefer guys with a good sense of humor.
Bill Haverchuck: But you're not funny.
Neal Schweiber: Screw you. I'm hilarious!

"Lindsay, tell your brother what a beautiful body he has." -Jean Weir
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Episode 7: Carded and Discarded
SYNOPSIS
Sam and his friends face a rare opportunity to befriend the incredibly nice and attractive new girl, Maureen. Lindsay gets the freaks fake IDs, but they get called out at the club by the guidance counselor who is also the lead singer of the band they came to see. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it was meant to be.
We can see this lesson most obviously in Harold Weir's apprehension that his kids are growing away from the family, but we also see it in the Maureen situation. This is a pretty straightforward lesson. If you have to cling to something, it's probably not the most optimal situation. 

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Alice Cooper "I'm Eighteen" performed by Jeff Rosso This song is performed by Mr. Rosso at the beginning of the episode as he counsels the freaks and later in the episode at the bar where he performs with a band. There's a lot of irony in the choice of this song. It's funny in the first place because Rosso so isn't 18, and the freaks are struggling with getting into bars because the so are 18 (or under). 

This is the first time that I've noticed a character having some sort of musical theme. The new girl, Maureen, has a theme, Billy Joel. All of her montages in this episode are overlayed with Billy Joel songs.
Billy Joel "C'etait Toi (You Were the Only One)" (1980) It's interesting to note that the show only uses the French section of this song. This track plays when the boys first meet see Maureen, and the lyrics are pretty straightforward.

Billy Joel "Rosalinda's Eyes" (1978) This beautiful song is actually a tribute to Joel's mother, Rosalind. This song bookends the geeks' interaction with Maureen; it plays when they launch the rocket, at the beginning of the friendship, and it plays as Maureen walks away from the geeks towards the cheerleaders, ultimately ending the friendship. The exotic feel of the song and Joel's obvious love and care for 'Rosalinda' reflects the geeks' fascination in and admiration for Maureen.

Billy Joel "Don't Ask Me Why" (1980) This song plays during the Iron Horse all-you-can-eat night, which is pretty much the last time Maureen hangs out with Sam and the geeks. It has a feeling of farewell to it, which is appropriate for the situation. 

BEST QUOTES
Mr. Rosso: I could get up every morning and go “I don’t wanna go and help a bunch of kids. I’m tired.” But I don’t. I get up, and put on my shirt and my tie and I say, “Hot dog! Lemme at ’em.”
Ken: Do you actually say the words “hot dog”?
Mr. Rosso: Yes, I do.

"Everything fun in this world happens in bars." -Ken

Maureen: God, Bill, your rocket’s huge.
Bill: Oh it is? I hadn’t noticed.
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He May Be a Sociopath but He's Still a Babe

As Freaks and Geeks really begins to move from introductory content to more specific content, the episodes become more focused and therefore have one or two lessons to be learned than, say, three or four, as in the first three episodes.

I hope you enjoy this (somewhat) shorter post for the next two episodes, the first focused on Kim, and the second focused on Daniel.
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Episode 4: Kim Kelly Is My Friend
SYNOPSIS
Lindsay still has issues with Kim, who is always mean to her. Unexpectedly, Kim invites Lindsay to her house for dinner, where Lindsay witnesses firsthand the mayhem and abusive environment that Kim lives in everyday. Kim's friend Karen picks on Sam for being a geek.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
People are never as simple as we think they are. 
Though this is definitely an overarching theme for the entire series, it has a very specific application in this episode when we learn more about Kim Kelly and begin to see her as the multifaceted character that she is. Since Lindsay doesn't know anything about Kim's background or home life, she can just assume that Kim is mean to her for the sake of being mean to her. However, when Lindsay sees that her home life is heaven compared to Kim's, she can understand that jealousy plays a key role in Kim's previous interactions with her. Lindsay can then understand Kim better and interact more positively with her.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Van Halen "Jamie's Crying" (1978) This song plays when Kim rolls up to Lindsay's house after the confrontation with her parents about the car. It's really just a fast rock-and-roll song that pairs well with the adrenaline of the moment.

Van Halen "Ice Cream Man" (1978) This iconic, campy classic is not actually a Van Halen original, but was written by John Brim, "an American Chicago blues guitarist, songwriter and singer," though the Van Halen cover is certainly the best known adaptation of the song. The song has an air of over-confidence and is overtly sexual, making it completely appropriate for the scene where Kim discovers David doing some heavy flirting with Karen.

The Little River Band "Reminiscing" (1978) This down-tempo jazz-rock hit from Australia provides a very calming feeling, which is in stark juxtaposition to the fighting of Sam and Neal. My personal interpretation of the use of the song here is that it suggests that the fight between friends is mostly superficial.

BEST QUOTES
"If she's looking for new customers, then I'm up for a test drive." -Daniel Desario

"We can't all be girl scouts, Millie." -Lyndsay Weir

"Just because a girl speaks her mind doesn't mean she's a psycho." -Lindsay Weir

"I read in this magazine about a chemical that burns your flesh. This kid just got a little bit on him and now he's going to Disneyland for his last hoorah." -Bill Haverchuck

Bill: I think she's a sex fiend. You should move your locker. What if she comes to school really horny one day.
Neal: Girls don't get horny.
Bill: They don't?
Neal: Only guys do.
Bill: Maybe Karen Scarfoli's a guy.

"What does geek mean anyway? It's just a word." -Bill Haverchuck

"[to Lindsay's dad] You're a guy, right? Why are guys only interested in sex?" -Kim Kelly

"Not everybody's family is like ours." -Lindsay Weir
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Episode 5: Tests and Breasts 
SYNOPSIS
Sam is exposed as someone who knows little to nothing about sex, and receives varied knowledge of it throughout the episode, through an anatomy book, through a porno, and through his sex ed teacher, Mr. Fredericks. Lindsay tries to help Daniel with an algebra test, but ends up being tied into helping him cheat, eventually getting caught.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
The truth isn't always pretty.
Throughout this episode, we want to believe that Daniel can pass his algebra test, that he's the victim of a system that doesn't support kids who have trouble learning, and that he can achieve academically if he really tries. We want to believe this because we see a lot of the plot of the episode through Lindsay's eyes and she, up until the end of the episode, wants to believe in Daniel. During the episode, however, we are faced with multiple reasons to not believe in him, mostly out of the mouth of Mr. Kowchevski. He says that kids like Daniel are a waste of time to everyone, that he is the type of student that needs to disappear, and that Daniel is akin to the men in Vietnam "who got you killed."
Sounds harsh, right? Our ideologies really want to reject what Mr. Kowchevski is saying, especially when we hear Daniel's monologue before the disciplinary meeting:
           "What do you think, I wanna be terrible at school? You think I like it? I wish I could be smart 
           as you. I wish it all came easy to me. But it doesn’t. You know, when I was in sixth grade, they told us 
           when we went to junior high we’d either be in Track 1, Track 2, or Track 3. Track 1’s 
           the smart kids, Track 2’s the normal kids, and Track is the dumb kids. And what do you think I 
           got? How do you think it feels to be told you’re dumb, in ink, when you’re eleven years old?”
This speech really pulls at the heartstrings for those of us who have known people who struggle in school or have struggled in school ourselves while smarter kids just had things come easy to them. We really do feel for Daniel. That is, until he recites the exact same speech, verbatim, for the adults at the disciplinary meeting. This is when we realize, and when Lindsay realizes, that Daniel isn't a victim, he's a manipulator. True, he might struggle to learn, but you can only struggle if you try, and he doesn't. It's hard to accept the truth that some people just can't be helped, but in Daniel's case, it's the truth.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE
Bachman-Turner Overdrive "Takin' Care of Business" (1973) This is just another rock track to give atmosphere to the episode.

The Love Unlimited Orchestra "Love's Theme" (1973) This upbeat 70's disco-jam plays strongly over Sam's conversation with Mr. Fredericks. Its happy sound and progressive tempo bolster the point that Sam is learning a lot and having a good time, even without dialogue.

Van Halen "Little Dreamer" (1978) This song provides a backdrop for Lindsay and David's study session, and really only serves to provide more backup for Daniel's rock-and-roll feeling.

BEST QUOTES
"[talking about a diagram of the uterus during health class] it looks like it came from outer space." -Bill Haverchuck

"I don't really like jokes. I don't think they're funny." -Bill Haverchuck

"Love is like homework. You gotta study if you wanna get an A." -Harris

Sam: What am I supposed to do with a porno?
Neal: You watch it. Over and over.
Sam: Ew, only perverts watch pornos, right?
Neal: Well, then every guy in America is a pervert.

"Bill, this is a porno. You don't eat popcorn during a porno." -Neal Schweiber

Work in Progress

This blog is definitely a work in progress (and so is the show at this point).

This post covers episodes two and three of Freaks and Geeks, and yes, I am aware that it is way, way, way, way, way too long. I'll work on brevity in future posts, and I would't be offended if you only read the first or second part of this post; in fact, I'd be relieved if you spent your time looking at other blogs instead of reading the entirety of this 1000+ word post.

However, there are a lot of lessons to be learned here, and a lot of great music, as well as some funny quotes. Enjoy!

(I definitely suggest watching the show before reading the post. It's great TV and it's better than reading a summary!)
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Episode 2: Beers and Weirs
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Being cool isn't the same as being happy.
Lindsay learns things the hard way in this episode when she throws a party against the advice of mostly everyone she knows. Though everyone at the party has a great time and everyone thinks she's really cool for throwing the party, she isn't happy. She learns that being considered cool isn't going to make her feel any better, and that she would probably be happier if she had just done what she wanted to do. Basically, do what makes you happy without considering the opinions of others and you'll be better off for it.

You're never on your own, even if it feels like you're totally alone.
Lindsay feels twice betrayed after Daniel gets with Kim and Nick tries to undress her. She feels like she has nobody and is totally alone. However, Neil becomes an unexpected white knight to her. The point is that you never know how much people care about you, and you can know that there's always someone rooting for you.


SONGS FROM THIS EPISODE
There are a lot of songs in this episode because of Lindsay's party.

Santana "No One to Depend On" (1971) This song plays when Bill begins to drink from the keg, and its laid-back tempo provides a sensation of temptation. The continued use of klaves and bongos gives it an exotic feel, which contributes to the feeling of temptation and curiosity that Bill feels, leading him to drink the beer.

Janis Jopin "Maybe" (1969) This downtempo jazz-rock mix plays after Lindsay finds Daniel in her bed with Kim. This is one of the only songs in the episode whose lyrics pertain to the episode. Lindsay thinks that Daniel 'maybe' likes her, but the tonal quality of the song suggests otherwise; Joplin's 'maybe' never becomes a 'definitely,' and Lindsay feels that Daniel will probably never become a definite romantic interest for her because of his connections with Kim.

KISS "Do You Love Me?" (1976) This song plays after Nick tries to take off Lindsay's bra. Its hectic feel along with everything going wrong for Lindsay gives us a listen inside her head. The lyrics of this song: "Do you love me?" mock Lindsay's thoughts about Daniel and Nick.

Just party songs that don't provide any additional meaning to the episode:
Van Halen "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (1978)
"Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" performed by Millie Ketner and Nick Andopolis
Rick Derringer "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" (1970)
Deep Purple "Hush" (1968)

BEST QUOTES
This episode had more noteworthy quotes than I could reasonably write down here, but some of the really good ones are as follows:

"Wow. That designated driver's pretty hot; I'd like to get her drunk." -Daniel Desario

"You did a really nice job decorating here...you know if anyone has any cocaine?" -Harris

"[in liquor store] Do you think they sell Yoohoo here?" -Bill Haverchuck

"Last year, I was elected school treasurer. I didn't even run!" -Neil Schweiber

"[is offered beer] No thank you. I prefer to get high on life." -Millie Ketner
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Episode 3: Tricks and Treats
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
You either grow up and accept responsibilities along with dignity, or stay young and forfeit both; there's no in-between.
In this Halloween episode, Sam and his friends face the tough decision of going trick-or-treating now that they're in high school. Sam's mom encourages them to go, saying they're still kids, while everyone else says they're "adults now." Their teacher even makes them read half of Crime and Punishment by Monday! When faced with this, Sam reacts by saying that they're all still just kids and suggests they go trick-or-treating. The point is that you can't say you're an adult and take advantage of the privileges of being adult without accepting the responsibilities of being an adult.

There's no such thing as a victim-less crime.
When Lindsay and the gang are driving around and 'raising hell,' kicking in pumpkins and smashing mailboxes, it's easy and fun for Lindsay because she either knows and doesn't care about the victim (in the case of Mr. Rosso) or she doesn't know and doesn't care about the victim, making the crimes seem victim-less to her. However, when the eggs come out and they choose a random sidewalk kid to target, Lindsay ends up egging her own brother and regretting it immensely. What Lindsay should have learned, and what we should learn, is to always consider that the recipients of our actions have feelings, and that our actions always have consequences.

SONGS FROM THIS EPISODE
Cheap Trick "Gonna Raise Hell" (1979) This song is interesting because it is the first song to be played two separate times in one episode. It plays when the boys are getting ready to trick-or-treat and when Lindsay and the gang are in the car planning their property damage cruise. Its double-use in this episode offers an interesting juxtaposition of the freaks' interpretation of 'raising hell' versus the geeks' idea of hell-raising.

April Wine "Roller" (1978) This song plays while Lindsay and the gang 'roll' around suburbia looking for something to do, and it doesn't have any purpose other than it's a good song for cruising.

Ted Nugent "Free-for-All" (1976) This jam plays while Lindsay and the gang are smashing mailboxes, which is a true 'free-for-all.' The meaning of the song is very literal here.

BEST QUOTES
"[talking about a Crime and Punishment] I guarantee you it's not gonna be cool. Look how small the printing is!" -Sam Weir

"We haven't even french kissed yet. Tommy says that if you do before you've been going out for six months, you go to hell." -Millie Ketner

"Word on the street is they're putting a poo in fun-sized candy wrappers and handing that out." -Harris

"If I were the bionic woman, what would I wear?" -Bill Haverchuck

Welcome to William McKinley High School (and the Blog)!

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You would be surprised how much you can learn from watching Netflix!

A fresh new blog and the first episode of a great TV series, Freaks and Geeks. I tried to find an open domain image for fresh, but only found about 20 pictures of blueberries. Here's the best one:

I thought that I would mind watching one of my favorite TV shows analytically; I thought that it would bother me and that it would take the enjoyment out of watching, but I was wrong. Watching Freaks and Geeks through an analytical lens and thinking about the work that went into making the show and the soundtrack gives me a whole new appreciation for the show and its creators, which leads me to:

Episode 1: Pilot
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Expect to be surprised.
           Just as I was surprised, so were many of the characters in this episode of Freaks and Geeks. Sam was surprised when Cindy started giving him attention, and Lindsay was surprised when she was invited to hang out with the burnouts. She was surprised when what she thought was helping Eli actually hurt him, she was surprised when Nick offered to take her to the dance, and she was surprised when Mr. Rosso forced her to work the drink table. This episode teaches us that surprises can be goof or bad, and that we should keep ourselves open to change if we can. Don't expect that someone you meet thinks or acts a certain way because of how they look, and expect to be surprised by the people you know well already.

"The world is not black and white; it's grey." -Jeff Rosso

           Though this is a pretty basic quote, there's definitely a lesson to be learned here; things are never good or bad, or wrong or right, or any extreme at all. Nick may cut class, but it's to pursue his dream with the drums. Lindsay may want to do a nice thing for Eli, but it could end badly for both of them. The takeaway is this: nothing can be truly good or bad or truly black and white. There are always multiple ways to perceive something (in fact, this is what this blog is all about).

SONGS FROM THIS EPISODE
Van Halen "Runnin' with the devil" (1978)
This one speaks for itself when it's used in the series' introduction to the 'freaks,' the burnouts of the series. They live their lives "like there's no tomorrow."

Joan Jett "Bad Reputation" (1981)
Though released after the time the show takes place, it's the perfect theme for the show and its main character, Lindsay Weir, if we listen through her lens of denial at this point in the series. She obviously does care about her bad reputation, or she wouldn't worry about pissing off her parents or causing the special needs kid, Eli, to break his arm. I like to imagine Lindsay listening to this and trying really hard to believe it's about her.

Kenny Loggins "I'm Alright" (1980)
This 80's classic introduces us to the 'freaks' of the series. Very appropriately, they're alright, and Sam Weir wonders why his bully, Kevin, has to give him a fight.

Styx "Renegade" (1978)
This upbeat outlaw anthem follows the freaks (minus Sam) up the alley towards their fight with Kevin, Sam's bully. Quite fittingly, though, it stops playing as soon as they start to think in-depth about the fight and they lose their renegade-esque confidence.

Styx "Come Sail Away" (1977)
This song closes the episode and is incredibly aligned with the theme of the episode, a theme of progress and moving forward. Sam moves forward with his crush as the song plays, and Lindsay moves beyond her qualms with Eli. This is the song that sets the tone for the entire series.

BEST QUOTES
"Hey, I believe in god, man. I've seen him, I've felt his power! He plays drums for Led Zeppelin and his name is John Bonham, baby!" -Nick Andopolis

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"You know, I had a friend that used to smoke. You know what he’s doing now? He’s dead!" -Harold Weir

"You know, there was a girl in our school, she had premarital sex. You know what she did on graduation day? Died! Of an overdose. Heroin." -Harold Weir

"You know who used to cut class? Jimi Hendrix. You know what happened to him? He died! Choking on his own vomit." -Harold Weir

(Yes, all of the Harold Weir quotes are from this episode.)