Discos and Dragons (Freaks and Geeks)

No one involved with Freaks and Geeks was dumb. They knew two things: 1) their show was great, and 2) they were going to get canceled sooner or later. (More likely sooner.) Therefore, creator Paul Feig was determined that his series would not end on an unsatisfying note. Of the 18 episodes of Freaks and Geeks that were produced, the series finale “Discos and Dragons” was the 14^th one filmed. This was a masterstroke, as the legacy of any short-lived television show is highly dependent on how it goes out. We may still look back fondly on a series that never had a proper finale, but so long as there is a distinct “last” episode your series’ longevity is far more likely. As a contrast to Freaks and Geeks, there is Judd Apatow’s college sitcom Undeclared. It never had a real finale—ending instead with a stealth pilot for seemingly another series altogether—and as a result few will place it alongside Freaks and Geeks as one of the better shows of the last couple decades. This was a series that told a story of a few outsiders in a single high school, and “Discos and Dragons” gives us a peek at where they’re all going.

The Little Things (Freaks and Geeks)

Only in a show as great as Freaks and Geeks could an episode like “The Little Things” end up being the weakest the show ever produced. It certainly isn’t bad, but it might be the only episode to feature a plot that could be described as “frivolous.” It features one crucial development—Sam ends up breaking up with Cindy—but the rest doesn’t fit together quite like the best Freaks and Geeks episodes do. The show is famous for telling multiple stories per episode, and giving them each plenty of screen time so that they seem important. Of the three plots contained within “The Little Things,” one is important, another is nice but ultimately lacks impact, and one just seems to come out of another, weaker show. There are Freaks and Geeks episodes I like more than others, but “The Little Things” is one of the few I can’t wholly get behind.

Smooching and Mooching (Freaks and Geeks)

In just 18 short episodes, Freaks and Geeks got through more plot than the average television show does in two-plus seasons; particularly in the arena of romantic relationships. As we never got a second season of Freaks and Geeks, we may sometimes forget just how audacious the show was when it comes to moving past the status quo. It’s hard to see it as a season of television so much as a single 18-part story. Yet in these 18 parts, the two central romantic relationships (Lindsay/Nick and Sam/Cindy) not only meet their beginning, but also their horrible, brutal end. The series—in a bold move—suggests that these relationships could never, ever work. Freaks and Geeks was a show about the fact we don’t live in a happy television dream world, and that extends to high school crushes. In most cases, the dream girl/guy you’re after isn’t all they seem to be.

Noshing and Moshing (Freaks and Geeks)

It’s going to be hard to speak critically about an episode of television that begins with Martin Starr dancing—nay, having a spasm—to an especially silly disco song, yet “Noshing and Moshing” is an episode of Freaks and Geeks that takes its characters so some especially dark places. In one corner we have Neal, who is still bent out of shape over his father’s infidelity; so much so that it’s distracting him from his studies and driving him toward a new, dangerous endeavor: ventriloquism. In the other corner, Daniel has grown increasingly frustrated with his current way of life. At this point in the series, many of the characters are starting to realize what their true identity is meant to be. Yet Daniel—a kid who at first seemed to be rather sure of himself—is now lost in the metaphorical sea. His mother seems to expect him to be the patriarch of the family, Kim breaks up with him, and overall he just seems tired of it all. While Neal is venting his frustrations through his new dummy (sorry, figure) Daniel decides to explore a new group of friends: the punks.

Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers (Freaks and Geeks)

If there’s still any doubt in your mind that Freaks and Geeks is freaking awesome, allow me to direct your attention to a brilliant sequence about four minutes into “Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers.” As Martin Starr’s Bill returns home after a rough day at school, he makes himself a sandwich and sits down to watch some afternoon television. The entire scene—set to The Who’s “I’m One”—gives us a rare glimpse into Bill’s private life, and what it shows us is that Bill is happiest when he’s left alone with his television. Mostly, Bill is not a character who shows a wide range of emotion. He’s usually either indifferent or grumpy. This scene allows us to observe the geek in his natural environment.

Chokin' and Tokin' (Freaks and Geeks)

On the Freaks and Geeks DVD commentary tracks, creator Paul Feig says multiple times that he wasn’t so much disappointed in his show’s cancellation as he was surprised it lasted as long as it did. When you think about it, you have to agree. It is shocking that a high school show as fundamentally depressing as this was picked up at all. It is even more shocking we were given enough episodes to make watching it a worthwhile journey. In contrast, there was a Fox show called Lone Star which was pulled after two episodes this past fall. As universally praised as the show was, there’s no way it will be remembered past this season. Two episodes aren’t enough to gain a cult following. While many people would have liked more Freaks and Geeks—me included—we should be thankful we have 18 quality episodes to go back to time and time again.

The Garage Door (Freaks and Geeks)

Up until this point in our Freaks and Geeks adventure, über-nerd Neal Schweiber has mostly been relegated to the background. Not to say he hasn’t contributed to the show—nay, he’s been fantastic—but the audience has mostly looked to him solely for comic relief. In fact, there’s always been something rather abrasive about Neal’s character. He’s easily the most conceited of the main characters, and while the audience may know otherwise he seems convinced that he’s some kind of hilarious super-stud. In his mind, the girls of McKinley High School are too afraid to talk to him, rather than vice-versa.

Looks and Books (Freaks and Geeks)

Joe Flaherty spent much of Freaks and Geeks playing the angry, strict father. Many scenes were devoted to minutes and minutes of Flaherty hooting and hollering around—often leading to hilarious results. We all know he can be loud, but toward the beginning of “Looks and Books” it’s clear that he’s the angriest he’s ever been. How do we know this? He’s speaking very, very quietly. Thus begins Lindsay Weir’s episode-long re-evaluation of the freak lifestyle she has chosen for herself. In a show all about the search for identity, “Looks and Books” focuses on the identity Lindsay has chosen to leave behind.

The Diary (Freaks and Geeks)

In the latter half in Freaks and Geeks’ existence – once the Lindsay/Nick relationship reached its brutal end – the series started to cycle its characters around and shine a light on each of their personal stories and issues. The Weirs always remained the central family, but only in the later episodes do we get a look at what makes characters like Neal, Bill, Daniel and Ken tick. Freaks and Geeks was a great show from episode one, but in its later episodes it displayed an attention to character – every character – that most shows lack.

We've Got Spirit (Freaks and Geeks)

Throughout my scholastic career, my school mascots have been less than threatening. In chronological order, I have been a Cardinal, a Quaker, an Explorer and a Buckeye. No Wildcats, Tigers, or skull-bashing Yetis to be found. I appreciate this to a degree, as all of these names take more creativity to think up than merely choosing any old animal with big teeth. Still, when your team heads out on the field for battle, being a Quaker or an Explorer isn’t so intimidating. How is all this related to “We’ve Got Spirit,” yet another awesome episode of Freaks and Geeks? Well, only tangentially. This is a show that has always been about the groups of students that live on the fringe rather than the forefront, and “We’ve Got Spirit” offers a new take on the stereotypical “big game” episode. It’s not about the players, but instead it’s about the mascots and the students who would normally only watch these games ironically.

Girlfriends and Boyfriends (Freaks and Geeks)

Few television clichés are as omnipresent as the will they/won’t they relationship. That’s because it tends to be quite effective, so long as it doesn’t feel overly contrived. It’s always good to give the audience something to latch onto from week to week, and creating two characters who could possibly hook up at any moment creates a bit of the necessary weekly suspense. Judd Apatow, in his two forays into television, decided to play with the old will they/won’t they formula each time. His second series, Undeclared (of which I’ve only seen the pilot), would kill the trope early by having his lead characters sleep together in the first episode. Meanwhile, the marquee relationship in Freaks and Geeks would eventually make the audience ask another question: When will it end?

Carded and Discarded (Freaks and Geeks)

Hey, remember when I wrote about Freaks and Geeks? Those were the days, eh? Well, now that I’ve finished “The 007 Files,” among other things, I’ve decided to return to the battlefield of acme and adolescent awkwardness with the episode “Carded and Discarded.” It should be noted that this being my next episode makes the long delay rather apt. During the show’s original run, there was a nearly two-month gap between the airing of “I’m With the Band” and “Carded and Discarded.” So, I really just waited this long to replicate the original viewing experience. I’m a genius, aren’t I?

I'm With the Band (Freaks and Geeks)

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.

Tests and Breasts (Freaks and Geeks)

Despite being the main protagonist, Lindsay Weir is not as lost as Freaks and Geeks characters come. In a show fundamentally about the search for identity in a high school setting, there’s one character that seems more lost at sea than the rest: James Franco’s Daniel Desario. At the beginning of the series, he’s everything a freak should be. However, it becomes clear after a while that he feels unfulfilled with the life he’s been living. This would be further explored in later episodes such as “Noshing and Moshing” and the finale “Discos and Dragons,” but “Tests and Breasts” is the episode that first hints at Daniel’s dissatisfaction.

Kim Kelly is My Friend (Freaks and Geeks)

All in all, Freaks and Geeks was a show that was often working hard to constantly move its characters forward. However, going through the DVD set one will run into an episode such as “Kim Kelly is My Friend,” a stand-alone episode if there ever was one. It never aired during the show’s initial run, and as such watching it by itself is… odd. Many events happen that won’t be acknowledged later, and while it tells us quite a bit about Kim Kelly as a character it provides nothing that isn't provided in later, better episodes. Freaks and Geeks is a show that’s often (intentionally) cringe-worthy, and it’s better for it, but “Kim Kelly is My Friend” provides plenty of cringes without ever creating a feeling that you’re watching something vital.

Tricks and Treats (Freaks and Geeks)

As you move through adolescence, it seems that year after year you surrender a different part of your childhood. There comes an age when you begin to suspect that a large man in a red suit does not, in fact, break in to your house every year to give you that scooter you so desperately wanted. Nor does a comically large bunny cleverly hide baskets of sweets around your house. These revelations all come as we lose our youthful innocence, and as we grow older we choose to abandon the naiveté of our younger days and accept the much less fanciful reality.

Beers and Weirs (Freaks and Geeks)

In the first episode of Freaks and Geeks, Lindsay Weir didn’t seem to have many friends. If she did, she wanted to get away from them as fast as possible. She’s clearly the nicest person in the world, but she attempts to move over to the crowd of slackers and class-skippers. The second episode, “Beers and Weirs”, asks her to take the next step into freakdom. Her parents are going out of town, and to her new friends this means only one thing: par-tay.

Pilot (Freaks and Geeks)

I have not seen the entirety of the first season of Freaks and Geeks, universally hailed as one of the greatest television series ever to be killed in their infancy. Just 18 episodes in Freaks and Geeks was pulled from the airwaves, and fans were left wanting more. Early cancellation can do wonders for a television show, adding to the mystique simply because they didn’t stick around long enough to become old and “lame”. Very little about Freaks and Geeks is mainstream, and therein lies both its appeal and the cause of its early downfall. I have decided to delve into the series, covering each episode as I work my way through it. I will go by no strict schedule or pattern as far as posts are concerned, but this series is so rich and admirable that it’s worth the effort.