Post by affrosponge88 on Dec 31, 2012 0:53:07 GMT -6
Freaks and Geeks: "Tests and Breasts" Review
by Optramark
Are we gonna go to Hell for this? I don't wanna go to Hell.
The quote above came from Bill, but could have been said by almost everyone at some point during this episode. Everyone, in this episode, seems to be confronted by a sudden realization concerning their lack of knowledge about something. Daniel is suddenly confronting the very real possibility that his lack of algebra knowledge could very well cause him to remain stuck in the same high school, in the same town, for another year. Lindsay is realizing that there's another side of Daniel she's never seen (or at least never seriously thought about) before. The geeks are finding out that the opposite sex is more complicated than they ever could have imagined. Let's learn something today, shall we?
Freaks and Tests
In Algebra class, Daniel gets something of a wake-up call: if he keeps flunking tests, he’ll have to take the class again next year. Outside after class, Lindsay wanders over to Daniel, moody, detached, and brooding over his math woes. Lindsay tells Daniel that math isn’t so difficult (I remain unconvinced), and tries to encourage him, suggesting she try helping Daniel study. That night, Daniel comes over to Lindsay’s house for a “study session”. Lindsay tries to remain on track, and pulls out her Algebra book from last year, but Daniel seems more interested in taking in the experience of being in Lindsay’s room than in learning about mathematical formulas and “shortcuts”. Eventually, after a brief interlude for a smoke break, Daniel and Lindsay crack open a book, and start going over the quadratic formula. Frustrated that Lindsay is teaching him math, instead of tricks ( "Illusions!” ), Daniel gets discouraged and leaves (though not before asking Lindsay if she “want to do something”).
Back at school, Daniel finds Nick and enlists his help as a lookout while he goes searching for the test in the algebra classroom. Daniel finds the answers, and Nick finds a wart on his hand. (That’s pretty much it for Nick this episode.) Daniel tells Lindsay he stole the test, but needs he help to decode/understand it. Lindsay, however, has reservations, and goes to ask the teacher (Mr. Kowchevski) for an extension. This is unsuccessful, but Mr. Kowchevski’s attitude toward Daniel gives Lindsay the determination to go over the exam with Daniel. During the exam, Daniel whips out his cheat sheet, and goes to work. Afterwards, Mr. Kowchevski lets Lindsay know that Daniel got an A on his test, and that he suspects Lindsay of helping Daniel cheat, thanks to an anonymous note. Daniel tells Lindsay to deny everything. At home, however, Mr. Kowchevski calls Lindsay’s parents, and tells them that Lindsay’s facing suspension for cheating on an exam. Lindsay gets defensive, and storms away from the dinner table, yelling at her parents that they don’t care about her side of the story, and aren’t supporting her.
After school the next day, Lindsay looks for Daniel to accompany her to the upcoming disciplinary meeting, but finds Kim instead, who tells her that Lindsay’s rationalizations are just that—Daniel’s not going to change, he’s not going to be her “study buddy”, and whatever happens, he’ll find the answers to the next test with or without Lindsay. Once Daniel finally shows up, and refers to Lindsay as a partner in crime, Lindsay is visibly unsure of their relationship (“study buddy” or otherwise). Inside the school, waiting for the hearing to begin, Lindsay and Daniel have something of a heart-to-heart—Lindsay tries to tell Daniel she’s going to confess, and Daniel tries to tell Lindsay they shouldn’t. Eventually, Lindsay convinces Daniel that she’s really going to confess, and Daniel goes into emotional manipulator mode, telling her that she’ll get a slap on the wrist, and he’ll get the boom lowered upon him.
The manipulation works, and outside the disciplinary offices, Lindsay agrees to stick to their story, but is taken aback when her parents show up at the school to defend their daughter against what they now believe to be malicious allegations of cheating, thanks largely to her performance at dinner the previous night. As Mr. Kowchevski and Mr. Rosso prepare for the hearing, Mr. Kowchevski tells Mr. Rosso that there never was an anonymous note—that was just a ploy to get to the truth. Mr. Rosso is aghast that someone in authority would lie like that, just to put students (and teachers, and parents) through such hoops to chase a suspicion. At the hearing, Mr. Rosso tells Lindsay and her parents that there was no note, and the hearing shouldn’t take place. As Mr. Rosso calls an end to the meeting, Mr. Kowchevski pulls out the algebra test, and challenges Daniel to complete the first problem, right there, with no help. Daniel doesn’t complete the problem, and goes into emotional manipulation mode soon after, telling everyone in the room the same story he told Lindsay earlier, and that he seems to have been using all his life to get sympathy, about being officially labeled dumb in the 6th grade. As Daniel starts crying, and the adults in the room begin feeling sorry for him, something inside Lindsay snaps, and she begins guffawing.
Geeks and Breasts
Sam, Neal, and Bill start the episode in the health class from Hell, learning about the female reproductive system from Biff Tannen. As people do when confronted with unimaginable mysteries, Neal and Bill start trying to understand what they’re seeing by putting it in terms more familiar—notably, the movie Alien, a movie (series) whose connections with the reproductive process, both forcible and otherwise, have been well documented. Naturally, Sam gets caught trying to shush his friends, and gets called out by Mr. Tannen to teach the class about the
wonders of the female anatomy. Things don’t go well.
At lunch, the Geeks hear a mysterious joke they don’t understand. Afterwards, outside, the trio seek out the meaning oflife the joke from Harris, who tells them he won’t tell them why the joke is so funny, because then they’d know, and this is something they must figure out for themselves. (Om) At home, Sam continues his quest for the meaning of the joke by asking his parents if they get it. (Mom doesn’t, Dad won’t admit to it, and Mom admits preferring the comedy stylings of one Mr. Red Buttons.)
The Freaks and Geeks intersect briefly, when Sam takes an anatomy book outside, while Daniel is taking a smoke break from his intense study session with Lindsay. The two commiserate about their lack of knowledge (Sam finds it inconceivable that there’s something—anything—Daniel doesn’t know), and Daniel promises to find Sam at school tomorrow, and set him up. (“With what?” “Don’t worry, it’s cool.”)
At school the next day, while arguing about who would win in a fight between The Thing and The Hulk (two rampaging monsters of testosterone and masculinity), Daniel gives Sam a paper bag, and tells Sam he wants the contents back. Sam starts to open the
bag, but Daniel stops him, saying he doesn’t want to get the contents confiscated. As it turns out, the mysterious paper bag contains a dirty movie (“You mean, like a porno?" "Ew!") After some trepidation on the part of Sam, the Geeks agree to convene at
Neal’s house, to watch the movie. After setting up a projector at Neal’s, the Geeks watch the movie (complete with a lot of “wows”, a running commentary”, and a fair amount of not looking at the screen). Once it’s over, Neal asks if they want to watch it again—Sam quietly gets up and leaves, while Bill wonders about the fate of their eternal souls.
The next day at school, Neal confidently tells the now-legendary joke, and gets laughs. At
lunch, the Geeks make awkward small talk, and Sam finds that he has trouble being around the opposite sex. In health class the next day, Mr. Tannen takes Sam aside after class—apparently, Sam’s anonymous questions about sex and reproduction were somewhat…unique. Mr. Tannen tells Sam that movies aren’t reality, and proceeds to have a long, frank, terrifying, hilarious conversation with him, scored to funk music. Feeling more comfortable, Sam asks Mr. Tannen to explain the mysterious joke to him. Later, Sam finds Cindy painting a banner for the Muscular Dystrophy Dance, and regains his mojo.
Thoughts
To me, this episode seemed to be all about the quest and meaning of knowledge, yes, but also about what to do once you've got that knowledge. It was inevitable that the Geeks would learn about the birds and the bees, and it was also inevitable that Lindsay would learn the truth about Daniel. At the close of the episode, it looks like the Geeks are on their way to being taken more seriously (Neal tells The Joke to laughs, and Sam connects with a teacher he previously saw as intimidating and unapproachable--Bill also, um, exists), and Lindsay's venture into the Giggle Loop seems to imply that her infatuation with Daniel isn't long for the world. Knowledge brings insight, and that insight doesn't always bring happiness--though it may eventually bring maturity.
Stray Observations
I realize the character's name isn't Biff Tannen (it's Mr. Fredericks), but come on--it's not really hard to believe that in a different timeline, Biff wound up as a health/gym teacher, is it?
It must've been really weird for people who missed the last episode to see Kim and Lindsay hanging out and swapping stories.
I know we haven't been grading these episodes, but I wrote this review and I want to, so nyaah. I'd give this episode a B/B- (probably a B). The emotional beast were fine--I liked the Geeks storyline a lot, and I thought everyone played their parts well (though I would have liked to see more of the Geeks post-movie, after they'd found their mojo, and it would have been nice to find out what ever happened to Bill), but I wasn't as enamored of the Freaks storyline (and, really, it's the Daniel/Lindsay storyline). It seemed like more of something the series needed to do (Lindsay and Daniel coming apart, Lindsay seeing the truth/another side of Daniel.) than anything else. Also, and this is probably personal, it would have been nice to actually see everyone--Nick was barely there, and I just remembered Ken was part of that group.
Quote time--and, tellingly, all the quotes came from the Geek story. (Something I didn't realize until I typed them all out.)
"Who cares what she's doing, she's naked!" To a high school heterosexual male, truer words will never be spoken.
"You don't eat popcorn during a porno."
"What the hell is that?"
"Love is like homework. You gotta study if you wanna get an A." I'm not sure why, but I think that may be the dirtiest thing I've ever heard.
"How do you think I rang the doorbell?"
by Optramark
Are we gonna go to Hell for this? I don't wanna go to Hell.
The quote above came from Bill, but could have been said by almost everyone at some point during this episode. Everyone, in this episode, seems to be confronted by a sudden realization concerning their lack of knowledge about something. Daniel is suddenly confronting the very real possibility that his lack of algebra knowledge could very well cause him to remain stuck in the same high school, in the same town, for another year. Lindsay is realizing that there's another side of Daniel she's never seen (or at least never seriously thought about) before. The geeks are finding out that the opposite sex is more complicated than they ever could have imagined. Let's learn something today, shall we?
Freaks and Tests
In Algebra class, Daniel gets something of a wake-up call: if he keeps flunking tests, he’ll have to take the class again next year. Outside after class, Lindsay wanders over to Daniel, moody, detached, and brooding over his math woes. Lindsay tells Daniel that math isn’t so difficult (I remain unconvinced), and tries to encourage him, suggesting she try helping Daniel study. That night, Daniel comes over to Lindsay’s house for a “study session”. Lindsay tries to remain on track, and pulls out her Algebra book from last year, but Daniel seems more interested in taking in the experience of being in Lindsay’s room than in learning about mathematical formulas and “shortcuts”. Eventually, after a brief interlude for a smoke break, Daniel and Lindsay crack open a book, and start going over the quadratic formula. Frustrated that Lindsay is teaching him math, instead of tricks ( "Illusions!” ), Daniel gets discouraged and leaves (though not before asking Lindsay if she “want
Back at school, Daniel finds Nick and enlists his help as a lookout while he goes searching for the test in the algebra classroom. Daniel finds the answers, and Nick finds a wart on his hand. (That’s pretty much it for Nick this episode.) Daniel tells Lindsay he stole the test, but needs he help to decode/understand it. Lindsay, however, has reservations, and goes to ask the teacher (Mr. Kowchevski) for an extension. This is unsuccessful, but Mr. Kowchevski’s attitude toward Daniel gives Lindsay the determination to go over the exam with Daniel. During the exam, Daniel whips out his cheat sheet, and goes to work. Afterwards, Mr. Kowchevski lets Lindsay know that Daniel got an A on his test, and that he suspects Lindsay of helping Daniel cheat, thanks to an anonymous note. Daniel tells Lindsay to deny everything. At home, however, Mr. Kowchevski calls Lindsay’s parents, and tells them that Lindsay’s facing suspension for cheating on an exam. Lindsay gets defensive, and storms away from the dinner table, yelling at her parents that they don’t care about her side of the story, and aren’t supporting her.
After school the next day, Lindsay looks for Daniel to accompany her to the upcoming disciplinary meeting, but finds Kim instead, who tells her that Lindsay’s rationalizations are just that—Daniel’s not going to change, he’s not going to be her “study buddy”, and whatever happens, he’ll find the answers to the next test with or without Lindsay. Once Daniel finally shows up, and refers to Lindsay as a partner in crime, Lindsay is visibly unsure of their relationship (“study buddy” or otherwise). Inside the school, waiting for the hearing to begin, Lindsay and Daniel have something of a heart-to-heart—Lindsay tries to tell Daniel she’s going to confess, and Daniel tries to tell Lindsay they shouldn’t. Eventually, Lindsay convinces Daniel that she’s really going to confess, and Daniel goes into emotional manipulator mode, telling her that she’ll get a slap on the wrist, and he’ll get the boom lowered upon him.
The manipulation works, and outside the disciplinary offices, Lindsay agrees to stick to their story, but is taken aback when her parents show up at the school to defend their daughter against what they now believe to be malicious allegations of cheating, thanks largely to her performance at dinner the previous night. As Mr. Kowchevski and Mr. Rosso prepare for the hearing, Mr. Kowchevski tells Mr. Rosso that there never was an anonymous note—that was just a ploy to get to the truth. Mr. Rosso is aghast that someone in authority would lie like that, just to put students (and teachers, and parents) through such hoops to chase a suspicion. At the hearing, Mr. Rosso tells Lindsay and her parents that there was no note, and the hearing shouldn’t take place. As Mr. Rosso calls an end to the meeting, Mr. Kowchevski pulls out the algebra test, and challenges Daniel to complete the first problem, right there, with no help. Daniel doesn’t complete the problem, and goes into emotional manipulation mode soon after, telling everyone in the room the same story he told Lindsay earlier, and that he seems to have been using all his life to get sympathy, about being officially labeled dumb in the 6th grade. As Daniel starts crying, and the adults in the room begin feeling sorry for him, something inside Lindsay snaps, and she begins guffawing.
Geeks and Breasts
Sam, Neal, and Bill start the episode in the health class from Hell, learning about the female reproductive system from Biff Tannen. As people do when confronted with unimaginable mysteries, Neal and Bill start trying to understand what they’re seeing by putting it in terms more familiar—notably, the movie Alien, a movie (series) whose connections with the reproductive process, both forcible and otherwise, have been well documented. Naturally, Sam gets caught trying to shush his friends, and gets called out by Mr. Tannen to teach the class about the
wonders of the female anatomy. Things don’t go well.
At lunch, the Geeks hear a mysterious joke they don’t understand. Afterwards, outside, the trio seek out the meaning oflife the joke from Harris, who tells them he won’t tell them why the joke is so funny, because then they’d know, and this is something they must figure out for themselves. (Om) At home, Sam continues his quest for the meaning of the joke by asking his parents if they get it. (Mom doesn’t, Dad won’t admit to it, and Mom admits preferring the comedy stylings of one Mr. Red Buttons.)
The Freaks and Geeks intersect briefly, when Sam takes an anatomy book outside, while Daniel is taking a smoke break from his intense study session with Lindsay. The two commiserate about their lack of knowledge (Sam finds it inconceivable that there’s something—anything—Daniel doesn’t know), and Daniel promises to find Sam at school tomorrow, and set him up. (“With what?” “Don’t worry, it’s cool.”)
At school the next day, while arguing about who would win in a fight between The Thing and The Hulk (two rampaging monsters of testosterone and masculinity), Daniel gives Sam a paper bag, and tells Sam he wants the contents back. Sam starts to open the
bag, but Daniel stops him, saying he doesn’t want to get the contents confiscated. As it turns out, the mysterious paper bag contains a dirty movie (“You mean, like a porno?" "Ew!") After some trepidation on the part of Sam, the Geeks agree to convene at
Neal’s house, to watch the movie. After setting up a projector at Neal’s, the Geeks watch the movie (complete with a lot of “wows”, a running commentary”, and a fair amount of not looking at the screen). Once it’s over, Neal asks if they want to watch it again—Sam quietly gets up and leaves, while Bill wonders about the fate of their eternal souls.
The next day at school, Neal confidently tells the now-legendary joke, and gets laughs. At
lunch, the Geeks make awkward small talk, and Sam finds that he has trouble being around the opposite sex. In health class the next day, Mr. Tannen takes Sam aside after class—apparently, Sam’s anonymous questions about sex and reproduction were somewhat…unique. Mr. Tannen tells Sam that movies aren’t reality, and proceeds to have a long, frank, terrifying, hilarious conversation with him, scored to funk music. Feeling more comfortable, Sam asks Mr. Tannen to explain the mysterious joke to him. Later, Sam finds Cindy painting a banner for the Muscular Dystrophy Dance, and regains his mojo.
Thoughts
To me, this episode seemed to be all about the quest and meaning of knowledge, yes, but also about what to do once you've got that knowledge. It was inevitable that the Geeks would learn about the birds and the bees, and it was also inevitable that Lindsay would learn the truth about Daniel. At the close of the episode, it looks like the Geeks are on their way to being taken more seriously (Neal tells The Joke to laughs, and Sam connects with a teacher he previously saw as intimidating and unapproachable--Bill also, um, exists), and Lindsay's venture into the Giggle Loop seems to imply that her infatuation with Daniel isn't long for the world. Knowledge brings insight, and that insight doesn't always bring happiness--though it may eventually bring maturity.
Stray Observations
I realize the character's name isn't Biff Tannen (it's Mr. Fredericks), but come on--it's not really hard to believe that in a different timeline, Biff wound up as a health/gym teacher, is it?
It must've been really weird for people who missed the last episode to see Kim and Lindsay hanging out and swapping stories.
I know we haven't been grading these episodes, but I wrote this review and I want to, so nyaah. I'd give this episode a B/B- (probably a B). The emotional beast were fine--I liked the Geeks storyline a lot, and I thought everyone played their parts well (though I would have liked to see more of the Geeks post-movie, after they'd found their mojo, and it would have been nice to find out what ever happened to Bill), but I wasn't as enamored of the Freaks storyline (and, really, it's the Daniel/Lindsay storyline). It seemed like more of something the series needed to do (Lindsay and Daniel coming apart, Lindsay seeing the truth/another side of Daniel.) than anything else. Also, and this is probably personal, it would have been nice to actually see everyone--Nick was barely there, and I just remembered Ken was part of that group.
Quote time--and, tellingly, all the quotes came from the Geek story. (Something I didn't realize until I typed them all out.)
"Who cares what she's doing, she's naked!" To a high school heterosexual male, truer words will never be spoken.
"You don't eat popcorn during a porno."
"What the hell is that?"
"Love is like homework. You gotta study if you wanna get an A." I'm not sure why, but I think that may be the dirtiest thing I've ever heard.
"How do you think I rang the doorbell?"
