Posted: Jan 15th 2003, 7:34 am
Ok, so I've done my homework now, and I have some thoughts which I'd like to share.
the cheerleader - I actually have a slightly different take on this than you guys. I agree that she's there for scene related fluency etc. But the main significance I see is that who they chose to be crying, is a cheerleader, ie the very person who is meant to represent happy, enthusiastic, 'up' emotions, and to lead the rest of the school in one uniform supportive role etc. I think this is our first indication of a theme of MSCL - surface 'roles' in society don't necessarily tie in with the reality of what is happening. Adults see things differently (according to social norms) than how they are in reality. I think this carries through nicely to Angela's objections to Yearbook and her reasons why she left. Because it seems false and not representative of the truth. 'You agree to have a certain personality or something'. Here, we have seen the 'personality' usually projected on to cheerleaders being smashed.
I always thought it was a very powerful moment.
the number 3 - just noticed this is on Brian's shirt when he's talking to Angela before and after Let's Bolt. Given the other times we have seen '3' in the show later (Katimski's apartment for example) is '3' representative of protection, and love?
graham/angela I love the scene where she's in the towel and he can't deal with it. It just struck me as a perfect way of getting across how Angela's relationships with people all areas of her life are changing. And I believe he says 'if I could tell her, I would'. This would tie in with the idea that he just has no idea how to handle their changing relationship.
'cool' people I also think it is so clever how characters are instantly categorised into 'cool' people by just a few words. Patty and Graham are seen as cool when they make clear that they messed around in high school too. They are not above understanding what Angela is going through. Rayanne is 'cool' the minute Angela says 'Rayanne always knows who's going to be there'. It takes one second, and their status is established.
Also, Angela's black jumper in the year book meeting serves to emphasize her hair colour. The change in her really stands out and it's very visual. In the same scene, I disagree that Brian is wearing a headband. I think his hair is gelled or something.
Sharon has by far the best withering looks IMHO
it's an emergency - Rayanne says this a couple of times in this episode. It's repeated in later episodes too. I think her frequent use of it demonstrates how she is unable to distinguish between things that are, and are not, emergencies. In the parking lot at Let's Bolt, she says it, and very soon it is followed up with a real emergency. I'm not too sure of my ground on this one - what do you guys think?
jordan at the party - what is it he's watching? Anyone know? is there any significance? Something I always wondered is why he doesn't seem to know her name at this point - he talks to her, but in the same way you'd speak to someone you'd never really met. It's a very closed conversation. Angela isn't 'cool' at this point, I think. She looks totally out of place (agree with whoever said that before), nervous, she's covered in mud, and she just looks like she has no idea what is going on. In contrast, at Let's Bolt, he sees her getting into the Squad. She's cool. She's with Rayanne, who Jordan knows, and they are being taken away. It's something that sticks in his mind, and it was the perfect moment for him to see her. She's no longer the boring girl at school who melts into one with all the other Sharon-types. She has broken away from that enough for him to properly notice her.
Angela/Sharon - in the bathroom. 'It's not like one thing' sharon did. This, I think, is one of the best, most true, moments in this episode. Like when you fall in/out of love with someone, you wake up one day and realise that it's happened. You can't pinpoint it to one thing, you just know it will never be the same. There's nothing they did. You changed. You changed your opinion, and you can't pin down why. You want to tell them how you feel, but it's impossible to articulate because you can't come up with a proper reason. Sharon's response to the scene is completely understandable, but it's Angela's who I can most empathise with here. She wants to explain to Sharon, but there aren't any words, or reasons.
Danielle - her manners have always irritated me. If I interrupted constantly while others were talking, I would have been punished. It just really winds me up that Patty and Graham don't do it. Great acting though...
Rayanne's boots - I agree, Candygirl, they're stockings with some fold-over tassel things... hehehe.
Angela's apology to Patty. What's on the TV in the background. Is there any significance to it?
'We had a time' I think this is an amazing link established between Angela and Rayanne. We see that although Rayanne and Angela are very different, they have a chunk of common ground because Rayanne too cares what people think. She inflates a time where nothing exciting really happened, they all hung out in a parking lot, to make herself look good in front of her friends. It brings the episode and the theme of perceptions people have not necessarily reflecting reality, to a close. We see how people's perceptions start to take shape, and a synergie in the personalities of Angela and Rayanne.
So, that's all I have for the moment. More stuff will pop up as we continue to discuss, I think. I'd be interested to know people's views on my ideas.
This is a great idea - thanks Candygirl and Nightjessi.
the cheerleader - I actually have a slightly different take on this than you guys. I agree that she's there for scene related fluency etc. But the main significance I see is that who they chose to be crying, is a cheerleader, ie the very person who is meant to represent happy, enthusiastic, 'up' emotions, and to lead the rest of the school in one uniform supportive role etc. I think this is our first indication of a theme of MSCL - surface 'roles' in society don't necessarily tie in with the reality of what is happening. Adults see things differently (according to social norms) than how they are in reality. I think this carries through nicely to Angela's objections to Yearbook and her reasons why she left. Because it seems false and not representative of the truth. 'You agree to have a certain personality or something'. Here, we have seen the 'personality' usually projected on to cheerleaders being smashed.
I always thought it was a very powerful moment.
the number 3 - just noticed this is on Brian's shirt when he's talking to Angela before and after Let's Bolt. Given the other times we have seen '3' in the show later (Katimski's apartment for example) is '3' representative of protection, and love?
graham/angela I love the scene where she's in the towel and he can't deal with it. It just struck me as a perfect way of getting across how Angela's relationships with people all areas of her life are changing. And I believe he says 'if I could tell her, I would'. This would tie in with the idea that he just has no idea how to handle their changing relationship.
'cool' people I also think it is so clever how characters are instantly categorised into 'cool' people by just a few words. Patty and Graham are seen as cool when they make clear that they messed around in high school too. They are not above understanding what Angela is going through. Rayanne is 'cool' the minute Angela says 'Rayanne always knows who's going to be there'. It takes one second, and their status is established.
Also, Angela's black jumper in the year book meeting serves to emphasize her hair colour. The change in her really stands out and it's very visual. In the same scene, I disagree that Brian is wearing a headband. I think his hair is gelled or something.
Sharon has by far the best withering looks IMHO
it's an emergency - Rayanne says this a couple of times in this episode. It's repeated in later episodes too. I think her frequent use of it demonstrates how she is unable to distinguish between things that are, and are not, emergencies. In the parking lot at Let's Bolt, she says it, and very soon it is followed up with a real emergency. I'm not too sure of my ground on this one - what do you guys think?
jordan at the party - what is it he's watching? Anyone know? is there any significance? Something I always wondered is why he doesn't seem to know her name at this point - he talks to her, but in the same way you'd speak to someone you'd never really met. It's a very closed conversation. Angela isn't 'cool' at this point, I think. She looks totally out of place (agree with whoever said that before), nervous, she's covered in mud, and she just looks like she has no idea what is going on. In contrast, at Let's Bolt, he sees her getting into the Squad. She's cool. She's with Rayanne, who Jordan knows, and they are being taken away. It's something that sticks in his mind, and it was the perfect moment for him to see her. She's no longer the boring girl at school who melts into one with all the other Sharon-types. She has broken away from that enough for him to properly notice her.
Angela/Sharon - in the bathroom. 'It's not like one thing' sharon did. This, I think, is one of the best, most true, moments in this episode. Like when you fall in/out of love with someone, you wake up one day and realise that it's happened. You can't pinpoint it to one thing, you just know it will never be the same. There's nothing they did. You changed. You changed your opinion, and you can't pin down why. You want to tell them how you feel, but it's impossible to articulate because you can't come up with a proper reason. Sharon's response to the scene is completely understandable, but it's Angela's who I can most empathise with here. She wants to explain to Sharon, but there aren't any words, or reasons.
Danielle - her manners have always irritated me. If I interrupted constantly while others were talking, I would have been punished. It just really winds me up that Patty and Graham don't do it. Great acting though...
Rayanne's boots - I agree, Candygirl, they're stockings with some fold-over tassel things... hehehe.
Angela's apology to Patty. What's on the TV in the background. Is there any significance to it?
'We had a time' I think this is an amazing link established between Angela and Rayanne. We see that although Rayanne and Angela are very different, they have a chunk of common ground because Rayanne too cares what people think. She inflates a time where nothing exciting really happened, they all hung out in a parking lot, to make herself look good in front of her friends. It brings the episode and the theme of perceptions people have not necessarily reflecting reality, to a close. We see how people's perceptions start to take shape, and a synergie in the personalities of Angela and Rayanne.
So, that's all I have for the moment. More stuff will pop up as we continue to discuss, I think. I'd be interested to know people's views on my ideas.
This is a great idea - thanks Candygirl and Nightjessi.
I would really love to join in the discussion, so I will try to watch The Pilot tonight and take notes. 
.
