Original Airdate: October 30, 1999
Characters:
1) Lindsay Weir
2) Sam Weir
3) Neil
4) Bill
5) Daniel
6) Nick
7) Ken
8) Kim
9) Millie
10) Jeff Russo
11) Harris
12) Alan
12) Alan
It's nearing Halloween, and Mrs. Weir is excited to hand out candy again with Lindsay, who is less than ecstatic, but her mother doesn't catch on. Sam, now in ninth grade, claims he's too old to trick or treat, which his mother doesn't agree with, but his father vehemently does.
Plans, of course, don't work out. When given Crime and Punishment to read for a book report, Sam convinces Neil and Bill to go trick or treating with him. They're a bit old, sure, but feeling like a kid instead of reading Crime and Punishment Halloween night strikes him as a good, likely nostalgic idea. Lindsay, meanwhile, is invited to hang out with Nick, Daniel and Kim (which is done in a way which make Nick's attraction for Lindsay pretty obvious). At first, she declines, but after finding out that Millie has a boyfriend, she decides to join them, potentially hoping to get with Nick.
The night goes well for no one.
Lindsay leaves her mother without any warning, and Mrs. Weir hands out her home-baked cookies herself, though many parents aren't accepting them, as they're not wrapped.
Lindsay's night goes downhill first when Ken is with Nick, Daniel and Kim - instead of a double-date like scenario she was considering, Ken being there makes the whole thing far more casual to her. Not to mention, her suggestions of what to do get shot down by Daniel and Kim, as they simply want to aimlessly drive around, and let what happens happen. Eventually, bored, they decide to raise hell, and beginning smashing pumpkins, hitting mailboxes with bats, and egging kids.
Sam, Neil, Bill, and Harris (who has appeared in both previous episodes) are ridiculed by parents, those handing out candy, and even some girls that Neil has a crush on. Worse, they run into Alan, the bully from the Pilot, and he and some friends rough them up a little, leading to a harsh argument between Neil and Sam. Worse still, Sam gets egged by no other than Lindsay and Kim (not knowing it was him). Lindsay tries to apologize to him, and Daniel offers to drive him home, but he runs back himself, very obviously hurt.
They both get home around the same time, and while Sam doesn't tell their parents that Lindsay was the one responsible, but calls those who did it "dirtbags" while glaring at Lindsay. He then insists he'd not a baby at his mother's concerns, and leaves for his room. After a heart-to-heart with her mother about leaving her to hand out candy herself, Lindsay decides to dress up and finish the night off, but beforehand, speaks to Sam, apologizing. Understandably angry, Sam lets her know that no one thinks she's cool for hanging out with the "freaks," to which she solemnly agrees. Lindsay hands out candy with her mother, and her father talks briefly to Sam, who is reading Crime and Punishment prior to going to bed, choosing to, in a way, leave his childhood behind him.
This episode was far removed from the previous one. Instead of emotional drama insofar as relationships are concerned, this episode focused on the drama within the family.
Let's talk about Mr. Weir, first. Personally, I found him pretty terrible for most of the episode. He wasn't supportive of his wife's interest in Halloween, and also more or less mocked his son when he did decide to go trick or treating. Toward the end, he definitely tried to be more supportive, but overall, I found it pretty weak.
Mrs. Weir's story was perhaps the most disheartening of the episode, I feel. She deeply cares about Halloween, and went all out to celebrate. But when parents actively refuse to accept her cookies, her night goes downhill, and without her daughter by her side, she is very obviously depressed. I am happy that this arch was tidied up nicely, as the final scene really was heart-warming.
Sam trying to hold onto his childhood by trick or treating failed in about every way it could have. I think many of us have had those moments where you weren't sure where you fit on the scheme of things - were you a kid, or ready to grow up? For many people, it's a mix of both. I didn't have much of a childhood, so seeing Sam's childhood pretty painfully ripped away from him was quite sad. More so, I cannot imagine that Sam will easily forgive Lindsay for her actions, and more so, it may change their whole relationship for the rest of the show. Sam's fight with Neil will be far easier to smooth over, but there may be some remaining tension there come the next episode.
For Lindsay, her story is two-pronged - family concerns, and relationship concerns.
She really screwed up by egging Sam, and while it wasn't entirely her fault (she couldn't see who exactly she was egging), you could tell she felt immensely bad about it. Immediately, she wanted to be let out of the car, and go back to Sam. And you could tell the worry was real also - sure, she was scared about getting in trouble, but her apology to Sam, multiple, all had a lot of feeling behind them. With her mother, I think we've all been in a situation in which you don't want to let down a loved one so you grit your teeth and do something you'd otherwise not do. Lindsay's actions her were not ones I could blame, though she did apologize to her mother, and by the end, I think that particular wound had mended.
After finding out that Millie of all people has a boyfriend, though, she is really desperate to get into a relationship. Nick, whom she seems to be at least mildly attracted to, seems a good choice, and I hope that is something she pursues. At the very least, I think she's mostly over Daniel, which is good news for everyone, unless Daniel and Kim break up, and Daniel tries getting with Lindsay. That would be a mess.
Why would Nick be a good partner, though? In this episode alone, he shows his deeply supportive and gentle side. When Lindsay realizes that it's her brother who she egged, Nick is the one who gets people to quit laughing and turn the car around for her. He stood up for her beautifully, though in that moment of panic, Lindsay may not have seen it. Regardless, I do hope for good things in their future.
The rest of the "freaks"? Well, personally, I detest Kim about as much as I detest anyone. While I am sure there are reasons for her bitchiness (her mother, by the sounds of this episode, is one prime candidate), at this moment, it really doesn't allow Kim to be shone in anything than a negative light. I'm sure the time will come when this changes, but I've little pity for her at the moment.
Daniel, I am starting to dislike more and more. He stood up for Lindsay a few times in this episode, but it was more half-heartily and far less passionately than Nick did. While Nick demanded that Daniel let her out of the car after the egging, Daniel was content with just continuing on driving, reasoning that Sam was "fine" and wouldn't be hurt. It just wasn't anything I'd consider impressive, and his character is not one I am much fond of at the moment.
Lastly, as always, Ken didn't really do much. While he laughed at the fact Lindsay egged her brother, he did stop immediately once Nick told him to. Aside from that, he didn't show much character here, which is on par for him.
This episode was quite different than the last one, and initially, I thought it was slightly worse. Not bad by any means, but not as poignant. Upon re-examination, though, I realized that this episode is just as touching as the last one, and in many ways, more so. Again, I give this series' episode my highest rating.
Rating: Superb
Previous episode
Next episode
Plans, of course, don't work out. When given Crime and Punishment to read for a book report, Sam convinces Neil and Bill to go trick or treating with him. They're a bit old, sure, but feeling like a kid instead of reading Crime and Punishment Halloween night strikes him as a good, likely nostalgic idea. Lindsay, meanwhile, is invited to hang out with Nick, Daniel and Kim (which is done in a way which make Nick's attraction for Lindsay pretty obvious). At first, she declines, but after finding out that Millie has a boyfriend, she decides to join them, potentially hoping to get with Nick.
The night goes well for no one.
Lindsay leaves her mother without any warning, and Mrs. Weir hands out her home-baked cookies herself, though many parents aren't accepting them, as they're not wrapped.
Lindsay's night goes downhill first when Ken is with Nick, Daniel and Kim - instead of a double-date like scenario she was considering, Ken being there makes the whole thing far more casual to her. Not to mention, her suggestions of what to do get shot down by Daniel and Kim, as they simply want to aimlessly drive around, and let what happens happen. Eventually, bored, they decide to raise hell, and beginning smashing pumpkins, hitting mailboxes with bats, and egging kids.
 |
| Lindsay, Nick and Ken |
Sam, Neil, Bill, and Harris (who has appeared in both previous episodes) are ridiculed by parents, those handing out candy, and even some girls that Neil has a crush on. Worse, they run into Alan, the bully from the Pilot, and he and some friends rough them up a little, leading to a harsh argument between Neil and Sam. Worse still, Sam gets egged by no other than Lindsay and Kim (not knowing it was him). Lindsay tries to apologize to him, and Daniel offers to drive him home, but he runs back himself, very obviously hurt.
 |
| Neil, Harris, Sam and Bill |
This episode was far removed from the previous one. Instead of emotional drama insofar as relationships are concerned, this episode focused on the drama within the family.
Let's talk about Mr. Weir, first. Personally, I found him pretty terrible for most of the episode. He wasn't supportive of his wife's interest in Halloween, and also more or less mocked his son when he did decide to go trick or treating. Toward the end, he definitely tried to be more supportive, but overall, I found it pretty weak.
Mrs. Weir's story was perhaps the most disheartening of the episode, I feel. She deeply cares about Halloween, and went all out to celebrate. But when parents actively refuse to accept her cookies, her night goes downhill, and without her daughter by her side, she is very obviously depressed. I am happy that this arch was tidied up nicely, as the final scene really was heart-warming.
Sam trying to hold onto his childhood by trick or treating failed in about every way it could have. I think many of us have had those moments where you weren't sure where you fit on the scheme of things - were you a kid, or ready to grow up? For many people, it's a mix of both. I didn't have much of a childhood, so seeing Sam's childhood pretty painfully ripped away from him was quite sad. More so, I cannot imagine that Sam will easily forgive Lindsay for her actions, and more so, it may change their whole relationship for the rest of the show. Sam's fight with Neil will be far easier to smooth over, but there may be some remaining tension there come the next episode.
For Lindsay, her story is two-pronged - family concerns, and relationship concerns.
She really screwed up by egging Sam, and while it wasn't entirely her fault (she couldn't see who exactly she was egging), you could tell she felt immensely bad about it. Immediately, she wanted to be let out of the car, and go back to Sam. And you could tell the worry was real also - sure, she was scared about getting in trouble, but her apology to Sam, multiple, all had a lot of feeling behind them. With her mother, I think we've all been in a situation in which you don't want to let down a loved one so you grit your teeth and do something you'd otherwise not do. Lindsay's actions her were not ones I could blame, though she did apologize to her mother, and by the end, I think that particular wound had mended.
After finding out that Millie of all people has a boyfriend, though, she is really desperate to get into a relationship. Nick, whom she seems to be at least mildly attracted to, seems a good choice, and I hope that is something she pursues. At the very least, I think she's mostly over Daniel, which is good news for everyone, unless Daniel and Kim break up, and Daniel tries getting with Lindsay. That would be a mess.
Why would Nick be a good partner, though? In this episode alone, he shows his deeply supportive and gentle side. When Lindsay realizes that it's her brother who she egged, Nick is the one who gets people to quit laughing and turn the car around for her. He stood up for her beautifully, though in that moment of panic, Lindsay may not have seen it. Regardless, I do hope for good things in their future.
The rest of the "freaks"? Well, personally, I detest Kim about as much as I detest anyone. While I am sure there are reasons for her bitchiness (her mother, by the sounds of this episode, is one prime candidate), at this moment, it really doesn't allow Kim to be shone in anything than a negative light. I'm sure the time will come when this changes, but I've little pity for her at the moment.
Daniel, I am starting to dislike more and more. He stood up for Lindsay a few times in this episode, but it was more half-heartily and far less passionately than Nick did. While Nick demanded that Daniel let her out of the car after the egging, Daniel was content with just continuing on driving, reasoning that Sam was "fine" and wouldn't be hurt. It just wasn't anything I'd consider impressive, and his character is not one I am much fond of at the moment.
Lastly, as always, Ken didn't really do much. While he laughed at the fact Lindsay egged her brother, he did stop immediately once Nick told him to. Aside from that, he didn't show much character here, which is on par for him.
This episode was quite different than the last one, and initially, I thought it was slightly worse. Not bad by any means, but not as poignant. Upon re-examination, though, I realized that this episode is just as touching as the last one, and in many ways, more so. Again, I give this series' episode my highest rating.
Rating: Superb
Previous episode
Next episode
No comments:
Post a Comment