Freaks and Geeks, as I’ve already said countless times, is an awkward and depressing show. Most laughs seem to come out of the viewer’s desire to keep from crying. I cited this discomfort in my less-than-glowing post on the lost episode “Kim Kelly is my Friend,” yet one of my favorite episodes in the series, “I’m With the Band,” is as cringe-inducing as the series gets. Over the course of this episode, Nick realizes that there’s a very good chance he’s not going to make very much of his life. There's never been a high school show in history willing to go to such places. Except Freaks and Geeks.
It’s no secret that Nick wants to be a great drummer. The problem is he’s not very good. The cold open gives us Nick in his own world, drumming away to Rush, but his father comes downstairs and observes the trainwreck that he is. Nick’s been rehearsing in a band with Daniel, Ken, and random Shaun Weiss dude. They’re all interested in nothing more than screwing around, but Nick, the oh so perceptive one, starts to feel concerned that maybe this band won’t be going anywhere soon. He starts pushing for more rigorous rehearsals so that the band may become good. His bandmates aren’t so enthused.
Up until “I’m With the Band,” Nick had been oblivious to the possibility of failure. Now it’s staring him right in the face. His father wants him to join the military, but this isn’t an option to Nick. Since his current band isn’t getting the job done, he decides to audition for a spot on Dimension, “the top-working band in Detroit.”
The audition scene itself is excruciating, as Nick’s jam session with Dimension goes as badly as the audience may expect. The band, which features a member played by series creator Paul Feig, tries to create an easygoing atmosphere during the audition, but Nick’s flameout is spectacular. Afterwards, as Nick wallows in his rejection, Lindsay decides to make a move. She kisses Nick, and the next thing you know she’s Nick’s girlfriend. However, the final scene of the episode makes it clear that Lindsay is already regretting that decision. She’s about to be sucked into Nick’s idealized dream world.
When we’re young, most every kid wants to be a superstar. It isn’t until later that we realize this likely isn’t going to happen. “I’m With the Band” is Nick’s moment of realization, as his dreams are torn down slowly and painfully. However, when most people have this epiphany, they decide to focus their energy on something more realistic. Nick’s happy just hanging out, wailing away on his drum set.
Oh, and there’s a subplot about Sam being afraid to shower after gym class. This has not been an issue for me since my younger says, but I remember the awkwardness of showering with other dudes. Mostly because of the whole towel-whipping thing. Trust me, parents. It’s a problem. One day in middle school all the boys were yelled at for whipping towels in the bathroom, despite the fact I had nothing to do with such deviance. We were ordered to write a short essay on the dangers of towel-whipping, which I did indeed do. Very eloquently, I might add.
This Sam storyline ends in an incredibly broad but somehow effective gag which features Sam running nude throughout the hallways of the high school. Is this not every pubescent boy’s worst nightmare, particularly when he comes across Cindy in the hallway? Nick’s storyline may have been excruciating, but in episode after episode the Freaks and Geeks writers were able to put Sam in a situation that hits a bit too close to home for a man like me. God bless you, Sam Weir.
No comments:
Post a Comment