Back to High School
“Hey Bill, who’s the bigger geek? Me or Neal. You decide.”
“What… I dunno… Neither.”
“You gotta choose.”
“I don’t know. What’s geek mean anyway? It’s just a word.”
I tend to go through phases in which I’ll rewatch a movie or show that I love and usually remind myself of how great it really is. The show Freaks and Geeks has never gotten old to me, and I’ve recently pulled out the DVDs from the first, and unfortunately only, season. Freaks and Geeks for me (and I’m not sure if anyone would disagree), is among the ranks of shows that should never have been cancelled, right up there with Arrested Development. And this time watching, I’ve found myself analyzing it, admiring the reality of it all.
The show did a lot of things right, but it was this that impressed me the most, showing the truth of high school life. How many of us had friends like Neal and Bill, who stuck with you no matter what, content in their own interests, even if they were heavy on the “geek” side? Or dealt with people like Kim Kelly, the wild, bitchy girl whose insecurities shown brighter than her blond hair. Or had that quiet, lazy friend who only made comments drenched in sarcasm when he did speak like Ken. The constant conflicts that Lindsay faces ring true for any confused teen walking the halls of a high school, wanting to be accepted, attempting to put away facets of her past life, avoiding the weird guidance counselor and still seeking approval from her parents. The dichotomy of right and wrong lays heavily on her as she trips her way through teenage life. Her younger brother, Sam deals with his own issues, his first high school crush, the ruthless bully Allen, and coming to terms with his “geek” nature.
High school is a strange time, and this show portrays that fact perfectly. In fact, the show’s pilot episode begins with Lindsay muttering, “Man, I hate high school.” This is a show that everyone should see if they haven’t already. And even if they have, like me, should rewatch every once in awhile, if anything, to be reminded of how great it is to be out of high school.
