Saved by the Bell, or Life Unexpected?

I can’t even begin to believe that Lux insulted Saved by the Bell in this episode. I mean, that is a transgression worthy of dropping Life Unexpected all together. Fortunately, as much as I love Zack, Kelly, Screech, and the rest of the gang, I can … I guess … agree that the show isn’t nearly as good as it seemed when I was younger. It is funny, though, that the episode in which Lux makes fun of the show plays so much like the clichéd Saturday morning teen drama.

You’d think that Saved would have done several cheating episodes over its run, but, alas, a quick Wikipedia search proves that the original didn’t touch on it, but Saved by the Bell: The New Class did. Lux may have had some success last week, but it was only the beginner’s variety. The eventual lesson of getting caught, provided by Math of all people, was that while Lux wasn’t who Baze and Cate wanted her to be, not being who she wanted to be was much more important. I think, though, that figuring out who she wants to be is the first step.

Bordering on Saved levels of ludicrousness was Cate’s accidental high. Thankfully it was mercifully short lived. I’m still not sure how she can get fired, and then rehired by the same show so quickly. Then, to keep her job after what she said when her mic was hot? She’s the definition of lucky right now. The “my sister slept with you then burnt your bar down” storyline? Not so much a Bayside High School standard, but a little sophomoric nonetheless.

Don’t take these allusions as a negative, as despite its faults, I don’t share Lux’s opinions on Saved by the Bell. Life Unexpected is about the characters more than the story lines to me, so it is easy to look past plots that I don’t particularly love. As the show and the writing crew continues to mature together, I think we’ll see less and less of those.

Notes & Quotes

• “It sounded like a bad episode of Saved By the Bell … which is redundant. So, let me put it to you this way, Screech. Let me in on this, or I tell Mr. Rogers that your cheating.” – Lux
• As much as I may have been pro-Katy Perry this week, I’m anti-Lux showing cleavage like she did at basketball practice … The actress might be twenty, but the character is still sixteen.
• “Of course he slept with your sister, he slept with my sister, he sleeps with everybody’s sister.” – Cate
• “You’re so lucky that Ryan is the type of guy who would never turn his back on family. If he were, he would have never married you.” – Paige
• “What about the midterm last week?” – Cate
  “I … stole the answers from Math’s man-purse.” – Lux
  “It’s a carry all … but that’s not the point.” – Math
• I get that free-for-all, rules-be-darned family sports can be fun, but when trying to teach someone a game, it is not the best approach.
• Ryan and Baze making nice was a … erm … nice touch to end the episode.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Sep 29, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT