I've been rewatching BMW, and it's not very good.
The memories of it...and what age I was when I initially watched it...and the humor that appealed to me, has changed a lot.
I look back at this fondly, but actually watching the episodes...boy oh boy.
It was fine...for what it was...when it was made etc...but it isn't objectively very good For middle/high schoolers going through some of the things, it's ok...but even back then, there was a whole reality it wasn't addressing.
I won't fault it for that...or the many other things that it could be faults for...the acting, the plots, the inconsistency from characters...forget episode to episode, but even scene to scene sometimes.
It's just sloppy.
It's fine. It isn't that big a deal. I do have fond memories...but 8 9 or 10 rating is pretty much out of the question. At its peak it will be a 7...with a lot of 6's and way more 5 and unders...for just being boring.
Usually I have to decide if one scene...or really one line of dialogue is uneoigh to pull it from a 4 or 5 to a 6 or 7.
Most of the time, no.
That's a great line in a mediocre or bad episode.
So...this episode is plugging along.
Fine. Nothing hysterical...nothing too terribly cringe worthy. It is funny to be the same age as the parents yet still identifying with Corey since we are the same age....were when the show was being made.
So...Allen is old at 40. Ha.
Corey...cool not cool.
Shawn...initially wants to know why he wasn't invited...then forgets it and going to class. Bc Shawn wants to go to class. Ok. Then later in the episode...Shawn plays coy about cool, geek etc. Just sloppy to have Shawn have different reactions beginning and ending. It's fine...just could have been better..but hey....just churn out another episode so we can start working on the next episode.
But..I thought this scene was excellent...and really is good to show what kids feel and go through... And what type of relationship shawn and Cory have (even if through the series...the times and reasons these two get into lovers quarrels about the dumbest things strains credibility..but I digest)
Corey goes to chubbies... Don't worry about me, Shawn. I'm just leaving.
Why? I got an order of chili cheese fries. Extra gravy.
No, you're too busy with those other guys.
What other guys?
The other thousand guys at your table.
So they'll make room.
Love that. Shawn being oblivious. Those aren't his lifelong friends. Those are just background players.
It continues.
Cory, what are you talking about?
I'm the worst kind of geek. I'm a geek who didn't know he was a geek.
Cory?
Yeah?
Do I hang out with geeks?
No. That's why I'm leaving.
Come on. You're my best friend, man. You just gotta loosen up.
You don't think I'm a geek?
Of course not.
You think I'm cool?
Of course not.
Then what am I?
You're Cory. I'm Shawn. Just like it's always been. What else do you need to know?
As I watched this episode...it was humming along...then this scene.
So so so good. I can feel the geeks in the writers room writing that dialogue. Geek who doesn't know they're a geek. That's some real life stuff right there.
Shawn's response....you just gotta loosen up.
A geek who's over concerned with stuff....that's just what they need to here. Just loosen up. Shawn....naturally loosened up. Corey...naturally clenched ( randomly and sporadically through the series of course. Consistency. Ehhh)
And to finish the scene off... You're trying to teach me how to be cool.
Huh?
You're trying to show me that it doesn't matter where you go because if you're truly cool, wherever you go is the cool place to be. Right?
Cory?
Yeah?
Shut up.
A very cool thing to say.
Again...as if you didn't get it already...Corey trying to overanalyze and figure out and identify the cool vs uncool thing. That in itself is uncool...which Shawn has to say...stoppppp. Just shut up.
Sometimes...the more you try to do or be x....the less you are and harder it is.
There was more to this and deeper they could have gotten....but I'm sure the writers pulled the reigns back. This is about a 7th grader for 7th graders. Let's not go too deep.
So...that scene I thought was very deep...very true ..very well done...and a high point this far of the show.
I did rewatch everything....and this show did attempt to so heartfelt and crazy over the top ..feeny...fe he he he went. It was a ride...and for the most part, I just went along with it. Did it always make sense. No. Was it always good. No.
Was it always funny. No.
But .. I'll recognize and point out the bright spots when I see them. And this was one.
Now...if I watch this episode later on...I may wonder...after minute 5 10 15...why did I give this a 7. This seems like just another 5er. Maybe a 6er.
It is the tail end.
And it isn't like it's monumentous or anything. It is subtlely powerful.
The memories of it...and what age I was when I initially watched it...and the humor that appealed to me, has changed a lot.
I look back at this fondly, but actually watching the episodes...boy oh boy.
It was fine...for what it was...when it was made etc...but it isn't objectively very good For middle/high schoolers going through some of the things, it's ok...but even back then, there was a whole reality it wasn't addressing.
I won't fault it for that...or the many other things that it could be faults for...the acting, the plots, the inconsistency from characters...forget episode to episode, but even scene to scene sometimes.
It's just sloppy.
It's fine. It isn't that big a deal. I do have fond memories...but 8 9 or 10 rating is pretty much out of the question. At its peak it will be a 7...with a lot of 6's and way more 5 and unders...for just being boring.
Usually I have to decide if one scene...or really one line of dialogue is uneoigh to pull it from a 4 or 5 to a 6 or 7.
Most of the time, no.
That's a great line in a mediocre or bad episode.
So...this episode is plugging along.
Fine. Nothing hysterical...nothing too terribly cringe worthy. It is funny to be the same age as the parents yet still identifying with Corey since we are the same age....were when the show was being made.
So...Allen is old at 40. Ha.
Corey...cool not cool.
Shawn...initially wants to know why he wasn't invited...then forgets it and going to class. Bc Shawn wants to go to class. Ok. Then later in the episode...Shawn plays coy about cool, geek etc. Just sloppy to have Shawn have different reactions beginning and ending. It's fine...just could have been better..but hey....just churn out another episode so we can start working on the next episode.
But..I thought this scene was excellent...and really is good to show what kids feel and go through... And what type of relationship shawn and Cory have (even if through the series...the times and reasons these two get into lovers quarrels about the dumbest things strains credibility..but I digest)
Corey goes to chubbies... Don't worry about me, Shawn. I'm just leaving.
Why? I got an order of chili cheese fries. Extra gravy.
No, you're too busy with those other guys.
What other guys?
The other thousand guys at your table.
So they'll make room.
Love that. Shawn being oblivious. Those aren't his lifelong friends. Those are just background players.
It continues.
Cory, what are you talking about?
I'm the worst kind of geek. I'm a geek who didn't know he was a geek.
Cory?
Yeah?
Do I hang out with geeks?
No. That's why I'm leaving.
Come on. You're my best friend, man. You just gotta loosen up.
You don't think I'm a geek?
Of course not.
You think I'm cool?
Of course not.
Then what am I?
You're Cory. I'm Shawn. Just like it's always been. What else do you need to know?
As I watched this episode...it was humming along...then this scene.
So so so good. I can feel the geeks in the writers room writing that dialogue. Geek who doesn't know they're a geek. That's some real life stuff right there.
Shawn's response....you just gotta loosen up.
A geek who's over concerned with stuff....that's just what they need to here. Just loosen up. Shawn....naturally loosened up. Corey...naturally clenched ( randomly and sporadically through the series of course. Consistency. Ehhh)
And to finish the scene off... You're trying to teach me how to be cool.
Huh?
You're trying to show me that it doesn't matter where you go because if you're truly cool, wherever you go is the cool place to be. Right?
Cory?
Yeah?
Shut up.
A very cool thing to say.
Again...as if you didn't get it already...Corey trying to overanalyze and figure out and identify the cool vs uncool thing. That in itself is uncool...which Shawn has to say...stoppppp. Just shut up.
Sometimes...the more you try to do or be x....the less you are and harder it is.
There was more to this and deeper they could have gotten....but I'm sure the writers pulled the reigns back. This is about a 7th grader for 7th graders. Let's not go too deep.
So...that scene I thought was very deep...very true ..very well done...and a high point this far of the show.
I did rewatch everything....and this show did attempt to so heartfelt and crazy over the top ..feeny...fe he he he went. It was a ride...and for the most part, I just went along with it. Did it always make sense. No. Was it always good. No.
Was it always funny. No.
But .. I'll recognize and point out the bright spots when I see them. And this was one.
Now...if I watch this episode later on...I may wonder...after minute 5 10 15...why did I give this a 7. This seems like just another 5er. Maybe a 6er.
It is the tail end.
And it isn't like it's monumentous or anything. It is subtlely powerful.