Anonymous wrote:I'll have to watch again but I feel like it had vibes of the nerd feeling sort of bitter that this gorgeous girl was more interested in the hot guy. If she wasn't attracted to him, she shouldn't go for him.

I don't think Angela was positioned as "the gorgeous girl." She was pretty awkward and uncertain herself.

Anonymous wrote:They should have cast a cuter actor for Krakow. You know, a clean cut hot guy with glasses.

The plot is classic teen/woman angst: knowing the smart/together guy is the better/safer choice but longing for the passion with the sexy/broken/jerk.

this is not the plot at all. I am sorry, but I just rewatched it and it’s fresh. Not until the very last seconds of the series finale does Angela ever see Brian that way or has any idea he is in love with her. At no point is she debating between a safe choice and a risky one. She is completely focused on Jordan. And over time she learns stuff about him and she wants him to be like Brian (she doesn’t know this) but she is not that… and Brian is. And only at the very end does she have that thought for the first time ever. No she is not in love with Brian (yet) but the seed is there.

Another layer to this is the fact that Angela's parents, Graham and Patty, also knew each other in high school. I haven't re-watched as an adult (but parts of this show are seared in my brain) , so I may need someone to confirm that P&G did NOT date in high school because Patty was super popular and wouldn't have given Graham a second chance.

I also don't remember whether that was discussed in front of kids, but I think it's a dynamic they were aware of--goofy dad, still kind of feeling like he's out of his league but not realizing that he's actually become more attractive over the years(?)

Graham is also having a weird moment with someone he is attracted to (not Patty) which Angela sees and definitely feels weird about--not sure if that would make her more interested in being with someone who feels stable/safe or make her more inclined to explore what she can before she is tied down.

I think I need to rewatch. I feel like certain parts will be more painful to watch from the parent/adult perspective!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I was a sucker for Jordan. What can I say…

+1. Jordan Catalano was too dreamy. Brian Krakow didn't stand a chance.

Jordan Catalano is still one of the hottest guys I can think of, even after all these years. Later Jared Leto never held up but damn, he looked good then.

So much this.

I was too invested in her friendship with Rayanne (and Rickie, but mostly Rayanne) to care much about Brian at the time.

Brian grew up to look like Wil Wheaton.

I always rooted for Brian also. That last look in the car!! Those notes!

I was such a big nerd so of course I wanted the nerds to win! The story line with Delia absolutely would have worked for me — all the repressed longing as if from Remington Steele or Moonlighting etc ha.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't watch it buy have heard references for the last 20 years. Why only one season?

To fck with teenage firms of the 90s. Our worst tragedy.

They should have cast a cuter actor for Krakow. You know, a clean cut hot guy with glasses.

The plot is classic teen/woman angst: knowing the smart/together guy is the better/safer choice but longing for the passion with the sexy/broken/jerk.

Best show ever and I’m still bitter that network TV was too stupid to know what it had.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I was a sucker for Jordan. What can I say…

Same. I don’t buy them “longing for each other” if that was the direction the show was headed. Maybe if he had a glow up?

How do you not buy it? The season finale followed the plot from Cyrano de Bergerac. The creator said so, and it was obvious anyway. Nobody roots for hot dumb guy there.

Ew to Jared Leto now. Back then though...mmmm....

I didn't watch it buy have heard references for the last 20 years. Why only one season?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like Paxton v Ben in Never Have I Ever!

Brian had a glow up!

I can see them together as adults, sure. Can’t picture it in high school. Maaaaaybe college.

Anonymous wrote:It's like Paxton v Ben in Never Have I Ever!

Brian had a glow up!