Logan, meanwhile, can't make a basket - in a basket on the wall - or
in the trash can.

Michael asks about the change of heart towards Zoey. Chase is
philosophical - he thinks that Zoey and Chase are really supposed to
be good friends. He doesn't want Zoey to be "just another
girlfriend" - a best friend for a long time. But just his best
friend who is a girl - Michael is his best guy friend.

At basketball practice, Logan still can't make a basket. At all.
Coach Keller calls an end to the practice. Logan says he is just in
a slump. Coach Keller goes to get "suh-shi." Logan corrects him -
but he repeats his famous closing line.

At lunch, Logan discusses the free throws. Quinn offers to help -
but Logan calls her a spazz. Flashback to young Quinn being taunted
by other kids - young Quinn protests she is not a spazz - but it
causes her to have an eye twitch. And present day Quinn also has an
eye twitch.

Chase and Rebecca join them - Rebecca seems nice, even knows who is
who from Chase's description. It is a bit awkward - Chase says their
cartoon might get on "tune juice." Rebecca compliments the three
girls.

Logan has a rack of basketballs - but still can't make a basket.
Quinn is there watching - she takes a ball and makes the free throw.
Over and over! Logan asks for help. Quinn asks him to follow, but
when he tries to get the basketballs, she says he won't need them for
a while.

Lola and Zoey are in their dorm room - Lola leaves to do laundry.
Rebecca arrives and makes small talk - but then tells Zoey to keep
away from Chase!

That evening, Quinn, Lola, and Zoey are discussing what happened.
Zoey took it as almost a threat. Quinn is enraged and goes to the
closet and takes out a device that looks like a ray gun. It powers
up and glows on one end. Saying she will be back in ten minutes -
she starts to leave, but Zoey stops her. Twice!

Quinn and Logan are on the basketball court - but Quinn has a
chicken mounted on a remote control car. Logan's job is to catch the
chicken. Quinn makes sure he doesn't! Logan finally trips over a
curb.

A girl is talking to a friend in one of the lounges. She spent the
whole summer making a Q-tip house - modeled after the house of her
dreams. Chase rushes in to find Rebecca - and demolishes the poor
girl's model! Instead of Rebecca - he finds Zoey and gives her the
news: his cartoon he does with Michael has been accepted by tune
juice! She hugs him, then remembers Rebecca is his girlfriend. She
backs off. Chase rushes off to tell Rebecca, demolishing what is
left of the girl's model home - again! She is devastated - why does
she even bother to have dreams?

Logan's second challenge with Quinn - catch balls from a tennis ball
cannon. But she turns the rate to maximum, pelting him with balls!

Chase is still looking for Rebecca. When he finds her she gives her
the news. They hug, too - but she smells Zoey's perfume. She is
enraged Chase told Zoey first.

Logan's next challenge - wear a dress and high heels! So he won't
be self conscious throwing free throws.

Rebecca can't believe Chase told Zoey first. She tells Chase she
doesn't want him to talk to her again. She knows Chase used to like
Zoey, and doesn't think that she and Chase could just be friends
after that. She wants him to go tell Zoey they can't be friends any
more.

Logan still can't make free throws, and is getting frustrated with
Quinn. Quinn tells him to tuck his elbow in when he shoots. It
works! Over and over! She tells him that was the only problem all
along. All the other stuff was revenge for being called a "spazz."
Logan is furious - and Quinn laughs with an evil laugh.

That evening, Chase finds Zoey in the girl's lounge. He tells her
that Rebecca has a problem with their friendship. Zoey tells him
about the dorm room visit. Chase tells Zoey that Rebecca doesn't
want them hanging out or even talking. In a slightly broken voice,
Zoey says all that matters is his happiness. Chase tells Zoey he
dumped Rebecca! Zoey calls her a skunkbag! She asks if it bugs him
that people think guys and girls can't just be friends. They make
another pact - not to let boyfriends or girlfriends affect their
relationship. She punches him for making her think they were not
going to be friends - and starts a grape war!

Closing line - Quinn: "You won't need those balls for a while!"

ANALYSIS:

This is obviously the closing half of the season opener, given the
cliffhanger at the end of 3.1. Certainly no viewer of 3.1 could get
the whole story if they didn't also watch this episode.

I find it very unlikely that Chase has lost all desire for Zoey to
be his girlfriend. What he told Michael - was probably trying to
convince himself as much as Michael. Although - there is a slight
indication that he may have changed and actually be over Zoey. But
friendship is the best basis of lasting relationship, and he may be
adopting a long term strategy of being her soul mate through the
years - eventually leading to marriage.


There is a hint of Clint Eastwood music as hostile Rebecca leaves
the girls' room after telling Zoey to stay away from Chase.

The "B" story contains real a shocker! Not only is there a hint of
flirtation between Quinn and Logan, but there is also a line with a
clear "double-meaning" (something I didn't pick up on - but many
people did). Let's speculate, here, as to the implications:

- Whither Mark? This could signal an end to Quinn's crush on Mark,
she may have moved on to a much more ambitious goal - Logan! The new
Quinn is certainly more beautiful, more grown up, much more daring in
her outfits - and more conventional in the way she talks and fits in
with the others. She may very well have discovered the benefits of
fitting in more, and in the process, adopted their attitudes to what
they want in boys. Quinn, however, being supremely intelligent, may
realize her own beauty - and be content not to let the extent of it
show through until the right moment - a moment selected to grab
Logan's attention. Logan, then, was always a secret crush in spite
of his bad side - but Quinn considered him unobtainable. Now, she
realizes that may not be the case - with new self confidence, she
knows he is within reach!

- Another possibility is that there is no flirtation, but the spark
people see is a reflection of the real life friendship between Matt
and Erin. I consider this less likely, because both young people are
consummate professionals and could portray their characters as
hostile if the need arose.

Either way - the double meaning of the closing line is unmistakable.
I sat on the set and saw the attention to detail first hand - the
double meaning, if not intended - would have been zapped on the spot,
a new take ordered. Yes, folks, Quinn meant it! And I caught a
glimmer of a smile on Logan's face. A worldly guy like Logan would
pick up her hint immediately, hence the glimmer. This just might be
a whole new story arc!

The "B" story includes a view of "young Quinn" - a glimpse into her
past. We learn she was not very popular, and the other kids were
cruel to her.

Quinn tells Logan "it used to be a real chicken" - presumably the
fate of the chicken from episode 1.2, New Roomies.

One wonders how many Q-tip house models were used in the scene with
Chase in the lounge - they usually shoot about five takes!

Zoey's slightly broken voice in the lounge scene is a masterful
touch - the hallmark of a superbly expert young actress. Just enough
to sound heartbroken - not enough to give away her secret crush.

There is a very big change in Zoey's attitude about Chase being in
love. She decides NOT to press the issue in the final scene -
instead leaving Chase a way out by asking about why can't people let
guys and girls just be friends. Obviously - she can no longer even
pretend to be clueless about Chase loving her. Possible conclusions
here:

(1) She knows Chase well enough to know he puts the friendship
first - no matter what his secret feelings might be. She realizes he
might not even be aware of it himself.

(2) She wants to defuse Chase's affection for the moment,
emphasizing the friendship aspect of their relationship.

(3) She is now secure - knowing her crush is being returned. She
feels secure enough to allow Chase to continue his charade.

Either way, the result is the same - the potential upheaval at the
end of "Spring Break Up" has been defused - the result is a status
quo (just as I suspected would be the most likely outcome). However,
the balance is forever changed. Zoey now knows - and Chase doesn't
know she knows.
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