I analyze story arcs below. But the final -
and most important story arc -
was one that I missed. I notice that Zoey 101 has turned 1 year old today. It
has been exactly one year as of this writing (1-9-2006) since the show
premiered. When Zoey 101 first premiered, I did not get Dan Schneider's grand
vision. I fully admit that I, too, had been brainwashed by "Mean Girls,"
"Sleepover," and countless other tween flicks and shows to think of the
popular girls as mean, arrogant, cruel, pushy, domineering, and a bunch more
that are not polite to write down. And - in a role so obviously tailor-made
for Jamie Lynn Spears - my first impression of Zoey 101 was that "it's all about
Jamie" - and not about the others. I was concerned the whole series was going
to be "isn't Jamie pretty / popular / cool" and she would dominate and
subjugate the other girls in the shadow of her greatness. I wasn't sure that
was something even worth watching. The cute girls are eye candy enough - but
that seldom holds my interest for very long - I wanted depth. Fortunately - I
resisted first impressions and continued to watch.
The genius of Dan Schneider soon became apparent as the series continued.
Zoey 101 is a totally different view of popularity. Popularity is presented
in a positive light. There is nobody more popular at PCA than Zoey. Yet she
is not a "mean girl." She is polite, accepting, broad-minded, inclusive, a
helpful mentor, and a benevolant leader. She is not beyond an occasional fit
of anger or prank, but is able to control those reactions in most situations.
I think it is long overdue to show kids that make good grades, and exhibit
leadership characteristics in a positive light. So many TV shows and movies
adhere to the anti-hero approach where a very negative personage is glorified
- one or two good qualities in an otherwise despicable individual are shown to
triumph over good judgement, gentility, and excellence on the part of the
other characters. I could name movies / TV shows, but everyone reading this
knows exactly what I am talking about. It is time to say to kids, you can
make good grades, be popular, be moral, be polite to elders and teachers - and
still be "cool." Particularly important in this is an acceptance by the PCA
kids of teachers like Mr. Bender - who they even call in episode 1.13 when
they are in trouble - calling him a "cool teacher" and even having him
programmed into their cell phones. It is another really good message of the
show that kids can open themselves up to people of older generations - and as
a result open themselves to a world of wisdom and experience that most kids
deprive themselves of.
SUMMARY
Zoey and Dustin are arriving at PCA with their father. They will be attending
Pacific Coast Academy - a formerly all boys school that has just been opened
to girls. Accordingly, Dustin is a returning student while it is Zoey's first
year at PCA.
Dustin has a problem - he needs a bathroom - 10 ounces of water don't fit in a
2 ounce bladder. Zoey is excited about going to a good school. Finally,
Zoey's dad has no choice but to stop and let Dustin go by a tree - but Dustin
decides to wait. He is scared by a squirrel! As they pass by the PCA sign, a
worker is adding to the sign so it says the academy is for boys and girls.
Dropoff for new students is by the fountain. Dustin is unloading luggage.
Chase is on a bicycle - when he first sees Zoey he doesn't pay attention to
what he is doing and crashes into a flag pole, skinning his arm. He catches
the falling PCA flag. They introduce each other, and he says it is great PCA
is now adding girls. Zoey's father tells her she is in Brenner Hall. Chase
meets him, and offers to show her where it is. He is hesitant at first, but
Zoey clearly wants to go with Chase.
Chase is giving Zoey a tour of the campus on the way to her dorm. It ends in
her dorm room - appropriately numbered "101." Zoey is excited because it has
an ocean view. Chase says the best part is the mini-fridge – but they find a
spoiled sandwich in it! Chase tosses it, and warns Zoey to be careful of
pranks. Zoey notices that somebody is pranking Chase - they are pulling his
bicycle up in a tree with a rope! He quickly excuses himself.
Zoey hears a scream from the girl's bathroom and goes to investigate. Nicole
is standing there next to a urinal - she doesn't know what it is! Zoey
explains - it used to be a boy's dorm, but Nicole doesn't know how boys could
sit on it! They quickly figure out that they are roommates and return to
their room.
A new girl - Dana - has joined them. She wants Nicole's bed – and Nicole
reluctantly moves to the top bunk. Dana ins't thrilled with them, but she is
stuck with them. She leaves - telling them to stay out of her way and her
stuff. Nicole doesn't like the top she is wearing, Zoey takes out her
scissors and fixes it.
The girls walk by basketball practice - the coach is talking about tryouts.
Zoey says they should try out. Nicole disagrees - she is terrible at all
sports unless shopping is a sport. The boys see them and walk over. Logan -
their impromtu leader - is confrontational and doesn't want them to try out
because PCA has no girls BB team - all girls are good for is cheerleaders.
Zoey says they will try out for the boys team then. Zoey is aggravated and
challenges Logan to a game - the 5 best boys against the 5 best girls. As
they leave, Nicole looks back at Logan with a big smile.
When Zoey has her tryouts for the girls' team - only a few girls have ever
played basketball before. Quinn asks if exploding a ball with chemicals
counts! Zoey says that the game is about proving that the girls can do
anything the boys can. Nicole says except using those urinal things, which
apparently they don't sit on! All but six girls leave.
Later after practice, the girls are relaxing - and sore. Nicole says even her
hair is sore. She also says that practice was suckish. Quinn asks if that is
even a word.
That evening, a basketball is thrown through the girl's window. Zoey yells
that it almost hit somebody. Logan answers from outside that he was trying
to. There is a note attached saying that the girls got no game. It was
attached with an athletic supporter, which Nicole is curiously fingering.
Zoey tells her what it is, and she screams and gets rid of it!
The boys watch the girls practice before the game. They are still terrible -
and Logan condescendingly tells Zoey the object is to get the ball through the
hoop. She tells him to be quiet. Dustin calls Zoey over to the bleachers -
he is hiding. He can't cheer for the girls or the boys will shave his
eyebrows.
The coach shows up to start the game. Predictably, the only good player on
the girls' team is Zoey. One of her passes knocks Quinn down. Logan and
Michael scare Quinn off the court - still holding the ball. Unknown to the
girls, Dana looks in from the gap in the bushes, and quickly leaves. Logan
finally shows the ultimate in poor sportsmanship when he knocks Zoey down -
making her nose bleed. Logan can't understand why he is boo'ed from both
sidelines. The coach wants Zoey to go to the nurse to have her nose examined,
but she knows she is the only good player. She decides to go back in. The
other girls are discouraged about being humiliated. Dana shows up - dressed
for the game. Quinn is only too happy to leave to make room for Dana. Zoey
asks if she is any good - and she makes a basket from across the court.
With a half time score of 24/6, Zoey and Dana cooperate to make points. The
others pass to them. As the girls catch up, Dustin finally starts cheering
for the girls - as does just about everybody else. With seconds to go, it is
28/27 - and Dana tries one last basket. It doesn't go in – and Logan starts
to gloat. But the coach is so impressed he asks Dana and Zoey to join the
team, with Zoey as point guard. Logan protests that is his position, but the
coach tells him things change. Quinn has re-joined the girls, and her
shoulder hits Logan's as she passes him.
The girls celebrate in their lounge with an after game pizza party. Nicole
gets everybody to cheer for Zoey - and Zoey gets everybody to cheer for Dana.
The boys - except Logan - show up to apologize for being so rough. That was
Logan's idea. Of course the boys also showed to share the pizza and cake.
Quinn turns up the music and says "Let's get the party started, yo!" Chase
asks Zoey if the girls will like PCA. Zoey says they will – after some
changes!
The girls are in the bathroom and have converted the urinal to a nature
diorama with waterfall and water wheel. Quinn makes the final adjustments and
Nicole starts it as they cheer.
CLOSING LINE - Quinn: "Let's get the party started, yo!" --- An obvious
invitation to the series, but also a direct quote from Penny Proud in an
episode of "The Proud Family."
STORY ARCS ESTABLISHED:
(1) Dustin's fear of animals
(2) Chase's crush on Zoey
(3) Chase being a bit clumsy (falling on bike - happens again in 2.1)
(4) Conflict over girls at PCA
(5) Nicole being a bit - naive
(6) Animosity between Nicole and Dana - which becomes central in 1.2
(7) Zoey's athletic ability compared to other girls (except Dana)
(8) Nicole's changing attitude towards Logan
(9) Quinn's somewhat bizarre science
(10) Logan's arrogance contrasted to Chase's gentlemanly nature
(11) Other boys bullying Dustin (expanded to include Zoey's protectiveness in
later episodes)
(12) Quinn's intense dislike of Logan