The popcorn that kept
appearing in this ep is yet another example of
the attention to detail that is always present on the show…it's just
the type of thing that a girl Nicole's age would very likely do when
depressed.
Bruce did his usual outstanding job recapping the episode so I'll dive
right into my review and comments. This was, as always, an excellent
episode, and better yet a true ensemble effort where everyone got
considerable screen time, with numerous scenes featuring interaction
between multiple characters.
Also the B-story, with Quinn and Lola trying to cure Nicole's
Algebra-killing obsession with boys, is hilarious and gives Erin,
Alexa, and Victoria a good chance to show off the teamwork they've
developed as Season 2 progressed...this crew is good!
The opening scene, with the three girls kicking off the story, is cute
and informative…we learn Quinn's actual IQ and the fact that Nicole's
a PPNP (Pretty Pug Nosed Prodigy, lol) who pull's a 4.0 average down
without even breaking a sweat…unless she's surrounded by cute guys.
This was a good, solid opening scene with great interaction between
the three girls. Alexa again proves herself a master of facial
expressions…she has a huge repertoire of facial expressions, knows how
to use them, and uses them to good advantage, a talent also owned by a
lady named Lucille Ball as I recall.
Erin and Vicky played straight-man to Alexa-Nicole's angst-filled
rubber-faced antics beautifully…again, this crew has become a team and
scenes like this one show this off beautifully. The opening scene
also led straight into the A-storyline seamlessly and logically as
Nicole dismissed her friends' advice and asked where Zoey might be.
We find her sitting in a chair in Michael and Chase's dorm-room/studio
casting legitimately quizzical glances towards the stars of our show
within a show as Logan lays on his bed, reading and rolling his eyes.
Sean and Chris prove themselves once again to be an awesome comedy team
in this one, taking a fairly simple set-up and loading it with subtle
(and NOT so subtle) slapstick. Meanwhile, Matt and Jamie show off
their own bit of teamwork as they display their characters' basic
conflict…they have this down to an art form by now…then roll right
into the argument which forms the basis of the `A' story.
This leads into a simple but necessary bridging scene around the
now-familiar table…a good solid scene where the three guys, Jamie, and
Vicky perform the type of acting that forms the basis of all
entertainment…that good, solid basic acting that tells a story
through words, inflection and facial expression, and is far more
difficult than it appears. (Try portraying emotion you don't actually
feel while sounding natural and spontaneous…Now try doing it the same
way three or 4 times as they get different camera angles, etc. This is
why car dealers and furniture store owners sound so wooden on TV…they
aren't actors.)
We cut to more popcorn being consumed (bet Alexa didn't want to see
any popcorn for a solid week after filming this one, lol) as Nicole,
Quinn and Lola discuss the solution to Nicole's problems…another quick
but beautifully done little bridge-scene where Alexa, Erin and Vicky
again show their talent off to perfection. Loved the way Erin
portrayed Quinn's sudden enthusiasm for hypnosis…that'd be something
right up Quinn's alley most likely (using an appropriate Quinnvention,
of course). Awesome team-work and timing and perfect emotions,
inflection and facial expressions made this a great little scene. Love
that last little bit of interaction between Lola and Nicole…QUIT
THINKING ABOUT CUTE GUYS!!! SORREEE!! Vic and Alexa's facial
expressions/ gestures/ inflections made this little snippet near perfect.
Also, Lola's acting coach must've done a good job teaching her to cry…
remember the scene in
Time Capsule, lol.
More of the same, good, solid acting as we cut back to the Chase and
Michael show, with the debate between Zoey and Logan, and the girls
watching the show from their dorm rooms and the lounge. Having Lola in
robe with her hair wrapped in a towel as if getting ready for some
serious chillin' was yet another one of those little items of realism
that I keep speaking about…it was a nice touch that tends to make her
character more real. Also, Alexa and Vic's commentary on the `Blowing
up Switzerland because of zits' theory was cute Again, Vicky plays an
awesome straight-man to Alexa's animated portrayal of Nicole. These
two are an awesome team,
and it shows whenever they have a scene
together.
Jamie and Matt's spirited portrayal of the debate was awesome and
perfectly in character for both. And the last bit…
'…And Logan's a moron' `…Why don't you just admit that you're
freakishly attracted to me' (Catch Chase's expression on THAT one, lol)
…was awesome and hilarious…especially the very deserved raspberry
delivered by Zoey at the end (To the not visible but likely very great
relief of Chase, I might add…I DO wish they'd shown Chase's reaction
to …Wanna make out…' `Sure…' `Good..pucker up!' It would likely
have been hilarious)
There was a bit of classic foreshadowing at the end of that scene, as
Michael and Sean note that it might get people talking…aaaaaaaand we…
Cut to Chaos as pandemonium breaks out and Dean Rivers (portrayed very
competently by supporting role veteran Christopher Murray) cancels the
show…and (as Bruce noted), if this had been a real school, that would
have been the end of it. But this is Zoey101…so of course the
pandemonium continues!
This leads into one of the cuter Zoey/Chase moments (Anyone NOT
figured out that those two are girlfriend/boyfriend, they just don't
know it yet?) of the entire series…I loved Zoey feeding him the grapes
…it looks spontaneous and gives us a little peek at just how much Zoey
and Chase actually think of each other. It also has a bit of
foreshadowing…Why would he have given Zoey the DVD's (plot wise) if
they weren't going to cause some kind of trouble. A cute little
bridge-scene, great job by both.
Then we find Nicole in a room loaded with moving lights…the hypnosis
scene! Lights spin! Nicole looks at us with Zombie-eyes! Strange music
swells in the background! A mysterious figure approaches…Oh, it's just
Quinn…but then again Quinn can be pretty mysterious at times.
Great scene, awesome effects and the girls did a great job with
it…another awesome team effort by Erin, Nicole, and Victoria. Only
thing that would have been better would have been showing them actually
hypnotizing Nicole…All KINDS oh hilarity could have ensued there.
Loved the to and fro as Quinn and Lola try to figure out just WHO
Nicole should picture…Nicole's dream-state responses were timed
beautifully and executed equally flawlessly by Alexa. All three girls
kicked butt in the scene (as if that's a surprise).
More good solid ensemble acting as the idea for the TV show is
broached, and another little glimpse of how much Zoey thinks of
Chase…she was thinking of Chase when she sent the DVD in. Another nice
little detail…the kids forgetting their drinks and having to run back
and get them, one of those little details that add a touch of realism.
The general energy and enthusiasm prevalent in the show really come
through here, too.
Alexa turned in an awesome and hilarious performance in the algebra
class scene, and her exaggerated reactions as the three `Cutest Guys
At PCA' morphed into her grandfather were perfect as well as funny.
Classic Nicole there! Oh, and the algebra? The thought of walking into
algebra class and seeing something like that on a test can STILL make
me break out in a cold sweat! That wasn't just algebra…it was EXTREME
algebra.
I liked the scene at the TV station…all of the characters being their
classic selves (Logan really showed off his egomania!) Zoey and Chase
again showed their opinions of each other as they supported each
other…Zoey by not wanting to do the show without Chase and Michael,
Chase wanting her to do it because it was an awesome chance for her
(Note that Logan had pretty much fallen to inconsequential detail in
their minds, lol) . Again, this scene was the good solid acting we've
come to expect from the show's cast.
The scene in the headmaster's office was pure, classic slapstick….and
the show actually parted with reality here, though it was fun to
watch…Bruce nailed it. In a real private school (and a fairly
exclusive one at that) Zoey and Logan would have been history when
they were called to the dean (or Headmaster's) office. And the tomato
in the face would have clinched it. So, as the old saying goes…Don't
Try This At Home…or School.
The final scene was great…gotta love one of Nicole's Cute Guys asking
`WadidIsay,???' perplexed by Nicole's reaction to him…having no idea
that he'd just asked her to help him remove his teeth.
Also, a word about Quinn's scenes here…we get to see her as a more
normal high school freshman in this episode, and indeed we get to see
the relationship dynamic between the characters in some detail
here…Quinn, for example, has apparently gained a bit in popularity
(but then again she IS the Freshman Class's First Lady!). Erin got to
play Quinn straight to a large extent in this episode, and I like her
take on Quinn as a person…she comes across as a truly fun and likeable
person and it was actually kind of refreshing to see Quinn sans
Quinnventions and Science. Quinn has evolved as a character, and Erin
has done an awesome job portraying her.
All in all, another great effort by `The Z Team.'
Rob