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