Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
After James Franco’s recent Oscar host controversy, now seems to be an appropriate time to look back on the show that gave him his big break back in 1999. Freaks and Geeks was cancelled after only twelve episodes had aired, though eighteen were made, but today it maintains a cult following and is often voted onto lists of best TV shows of recent times.
The show basically follows the two teenage Weir children trying to get through high school. There’s Lindsay, who rebels against her mathlete roots to forge new friendships with the ‘freaks’, in other words a group of drink and drug addled slackers, and Sam, her younger brother who, along with his two equally geeky friends, spends most of his time trying to be cool and get the girl (and usually failing). Whilst this sounds very simple, there is a lot of emotional depth and unexpected turns of events that make this more profound and multifaceted than many high school comedies.
However, without the cast, the show would not be the same. Many of the lead actors have since gone on to make it big, often in films made by the show’s executive producer Judd Apatow, including Knocked Up, Superbad, Pineapple Express and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, featuring Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, James Franco and Martin Starr. Though others, including the two lead Weirs, have since largely fallen out of the spotlight, the popularity of these films only goes to show the quality of these actors; though they were younger and their talent was still maturing at the time of the show, they still connect with the material and give the show the raw, human feeling that it needs. Commendations should go to Jason Segel in particular, for wrenching many hearts and tear ducts through his portrayal of Nick and his struggle to deal with his love for Lindsay and her rejection.
Though Freaks and Geeks is undoubtedly more serious and mature than the average high school show, it has many comedic touches that make it so memorable and worth your while. The Weir parents are an often hilarious duo, and we can all relate to at least some of their parental mishaps; in fact we can all relate to at least one of the main characters, such is the range of their issues in only two small, outcasted social groups. James Franco in particular has many classic one liners, especially around his stroppy girlfriend, and Seth Rogen’s sarcasm, though less frequent, is always worth waiting for. While the freaks are arguably stronger and more captivating than the geeks, the latter still provide some strong entertainment, such as in their argument over which of them is the biggest geek. The show is very definitely set in the 1980s, as emphasised by the apt soundtrack and frequent cultural references, but there are enough timeless high school issues and wry humour that we can still relate to and love it twenty years after its setting and ten years after it was made; perhaps its early cancellation meant that the show could stay fresh and never grow old, whilst letting these growing actors reach their potential through film.
You must log in to submit a comment.
