MovieChat Forums > Freaks and Geeks (1999) Discussion > What's the saddest part of the show for ...

What's the saddest part of the show for you?

posted 13 years ago by RdVirus777
115 replies | jump to latest

As funny as this show was, it was also really sad at times. The saddest part of the show for me was when Sam finds out Cindy is not the girl of his dreams after all. While I watched the show for the first time there were sad moments however, I always said to myself, don't worry Sam and Cindy will fall in love But once they're in that theater you know things are starting to go south. This show showed how things don't always work out in the end and I loved the show for that but sadly, that's probably why most people didn't watch the show.

We all go a little mad sometimes - Norman Bates

[–] The-Road-Warrior 12 years ago

The entirety of Lindsay's story in 'Books and Looks'. Seeing her cry just tore me up inside.

An honourable mention to Bill's refusal to accept that Fredricks is dating his mum.

And all of a sudden nobody can think of anything to say

[–] BrainFreeze2913 12 years ago

I think the saddest part for me was the last episode, Discos and Dragons where Lindsay and Nick are talking at the roller rink. He tells her he's quit smoking weed and you can see the pain in her eyes after that, saying "Seems like you're having more fun with her than you did with me" and him agreeing, even though he didn't mean it. Mostly because we never got to see what would have happened after that episode which makes it sadder for me.

"The scene when they went to the laser show and "Free Bird" was playing. Nick and Lindsay were sitting apart and everyone around them was making out. And he said something like "I'd be lying if I said this didn't hurt." Broke my heart. "

This scene ^ especially. I just felt awful for Nick throughout the series, didn't have any resolution with his character.

[–] diabeticace 12 years ago

Not sure about sad. But as far as bitter sweet goes I really like the ending of the geeks' story in "Carded and Discarded". Where they let their new friend go sit with the popular kids, knowing that she won't be back.

[–] GoldenMagic 12 years ago

My sad part of the show was when Millie invited Lindsay to their sleepover and late at night Lindsay got up and was leaving it sort of ended their friendship, but Lindsay said they would always be friends.

It was sad because Millie was a real friend to Lindsay and they grew apart this was a sad scene for me.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Redhooks 12 years ago

The saddest part of the show for me was when Sam finds out Cindy is not the girl of his dreams after all.

I agree. The illusion of what you think a person is rarely the truth.

A great song about it is from the latest CD by Rush called The Halo Effect. The lyrics sum up what a lot of boys in high school think about the "popular" girl(s). In truth, the better match is someone you most likely would not think of if you yield to these illusions.

Redhooks

"You don't get something for nothing, you don't get freedom for free." Neil Peart

[–] LameassMadeupUsername09 12 years ago

Not necessarily a sad part, but the scene where Rosso tells Sam the story about how he was once dragged out of a bar by ten rednecks in to an alley and made to (I think) strip and dance. Sam (for some bizarre reason) laughs and asks what happened next, then you see Rosso's face drop and he says "Doesn't matter." It was, in my opinion, the darkest scene in the show and the implications of it made my stomach turn.

The scene where Kim is being terrorised by her mum and stepdad is another horrifying scene.

So, our young men hid with guns, in the dirt and in the dark places.

[–] Flora_Poste 12 years ago

The home environments of Kim Kelly and Daniel Desario made me sad. Also the whole adultery thread in Sam's home life. Parents can be selfish and rotten sometimes, not caring if they screw up their kids. Those parents made a good contrast to Mr. and Mrs. Weir, who were dorky and corny, but earnest and trying so hard to do a good job raising their kids.

[–] pcqgod 11 years ago

The shows creators and cast actually have a good laugh in the dvd commentary at the implication of what happened to Mr. Rosso in that incident.

Which time tunnel did you come through?

[–] sangos_counterpart 10 years ago

Looks and Books was definitely one of the sadder episodes to me. It was the episode where all of the underlying tensions between Lindsay and the freaks comes out. She acts condescendingly, and the freaks are forced to reflect on their futures -- or seeming lack thereof. And Sam's Parisian night suit quickly went from funny-embarrassing to horrifying-embarrassing. When he pushes Alan against the locker, you can tell this is the moment where Sam is completely fed up with being a geek. And the Rosso/Sam scene always makes me feel an odd combination of sad and happy. Happy because his words really do seem to have a positive impact for Sam, but sad because of how dark Rosso's story is. And although it's a disturbing story, I can't help but laugh a little bit because Dave "Gruber" Allen has such great comedic timing.

Other sad scenes: Nick in Discos and Dragons. Regardless of the outcome of the disco competition, the discotheque is about to be closed down. Nick finds something he's good at, and he doesn't even know that it'll be taken away from him. Mrs. Weir in the entirety of The Diary, whether it was cooking the cornish hens or crying on the bed. Lindsay's monologue about her dead grandmother in the pilot episode was also a very emotionally effective scene.

Why would a banana grab another banana? Those are the kind of questions I don't want to answer.

[–] posite 12 years ago

The last scene was the saddest, cause I wish I would go on forever.

[–] rkelleher 11 years ago

I thought Nick's story lines were the saddest. He revealed his vulnerability and sweetness more than any other character but always got the raw end of the deal. He was so obviously in love with Lindsey but his love was not returned. And then his father was so unsympathetic, taking away the one thing Nick was passionate about. My years as a teacher and parent have taught me that you do not motivate someone to do better by taking away their passion.

[–] woodstockalex910 12 years ago

The last episode.

No power in the 'Verse can stop me

[–] Unfrzncavmnlwyr9 8 years ago

For me it has to be the final scene in the aeries. As touching and bittersweet as it is, it's also absolutely devastating because of the series' cancellation. It gives me that final day of summer camp feeling in my gut.

[–] Quicksilver1900 12 years ago

For me, the saddest part of the show is the show itself. We all want to believe that anything is possible, and the future isn't pre-ordained by genetics or other accidents of birth. Young people are always hopeful. But it's clear to everyone what the score is, especially the ones warning Lyndsay that she is derailing her own future by associating with the freaks.

But in this show, we see young people who are disadvantaged compared to their peers; the three geeks by late physical development (Sam), relative unattractiveness (Bill and Neal), or poor social skills (Bill). They are bullied and marginalised in high school, and the show points to a possible future of the same. None of them has any special quality which could lead to a brighter future, ie, they are not super-intelligent geeks. The show also depicts others even lower on the food chain - Gordon, Eli and the girl whose complicated dental brace catches on Lyndsay's sweater.

The freaks are headed for a dismal future as well. Daniel and Kim are notable for their abusive, dysfunctional families, and their alienation. Daniel is apparently sub-par with respect to intelligence, as he was held back twice in school. Kim, though actually exceptionally attractive, is crippled with an explosive temper and poor impulse control, no doubt due to her abusive background. Ken and Nick are somewhat more salvageable - their futures could be better. Daniel and Nick seem to know what is in store for them. Daniel urges Lyndsay not to interfere with Nick going into the army; he sees it as a secure place for him.

There are certainly a lot of heartbreaking moments in this series, but for me, the very premise of this show, with its' pitiless spotlight on the flawed and damaged characters' lives, is desperately sad.

[–] MiCharlie124 11 years ago

"Daniel is apparently sub-par with respect to intelligence, as he was held back twice in school."

I didn't really think he had a lower intelligence, but that he had a bigger desire to be a stoner than a geek. I've known several like him who have done poorly in high school, but succeeded later on after prioritizing what's important.

I agree with the poster who said that the drum audition was painful to watch. Nick just had no clue about his incompetence. Nick probably had the most potential, but he needed more guidance. His father was a totalitarian authority figure who showed little empathy for Nick's feelings and insecurities. Mr. Wier showed Nick what he was capable of when he allowed him to crash at his house for a while and paid for his drum lessons.

[–] ashleythewriter 12 years ago

I don't think that's why people didn't watch the show... And Cindy was annoying. It made me happy when Sam figured that out.

[–] joeishotterthantimberflake 12 years ago

It just killed me with what happened with Cindy and Sam. That is one of the few things I did not like about the show played out. It's inevitable that two people who virtually have nothing in common (especially at that age) won't last long in a relationship, but what they turned her character into was just disappointing. I hope there was more to it if there was a Season 2, but for such a nice girl (she even treated Bill pretty well) to say such mean things to Sam really was sad.

Nick's drum audition was very hard to watch, because you just knew it was going to suck and it just was painful to watch.

[–] archer1267 11 years ago

That was one part of the show that didn't ring true to me. I felt that way about Jan in The Office, too, in her abrupt shift from being a confident, though vulnerable, businesswoman to a hot-mess harridan. Cindy was never the best match for Sam, but she was always at least nice to him. To be so mean and mercenary about the necklace just seemed like a sudden U-turn for the character.

[–] antebellum 11 years ago

I don't know, I think that was kind of the point of the Cindy character. She is a total illusion to Sam--outwardly very pretty, popular, and friendly, but without a lot of depth to her. Bill seems to realize this when they're lab partners and they have one brief conversation. Once Sam starts dating her, and actually learning things about her, he realizes they're incompatible. As they say, he was in love with the idea of Cindy, not Cindy herself. I think that's incredibly true to life.

And about the necklace--are you referring to when Sam gave it to her? Because she accepted it and at least kind of pretended to like it. Or when she threw it at his feet and stormed off? Because that was after he'd just dumped her... I don't think it ruins her character that she was so upset in that moment.