Freaks and Geeks - E06

I'm With the Band
First Aired: Saturday November 13, 1999

Nick's future is in jeopardy and he is trying his hardest to make it as a drummer. Lindsay tries to help, but ends up messing things up. Sam is ordered to take a shower in gym class, but he continually tries to duck out of them.

The episode opens with showing Nick pantimoining to a live recording while playing his drum kit. His father comes downstairs and shakes his head disapprovingly. The next day, Lindsay goes to hear his band play, but everyone bails when Nick's father wishes to talk to him. Lindsay stays and overhears the conversation. His father is going to send him into the Army when he is eighteen if he doesn't keep a C+ average. Lindsay tells Nick that they need to practice more and that they currently aren't that great. When the band gets together the next day, Nick brings this up and the band becomes disgruntled after having to perform "Sunshine of Your Love" six times. Ultimately, the band dissolves and Lindsay is to blame. All of the friends are at odds now the next day. Lindsay tries to rectify it by showing Nick a "drummer wanted" flyer for a local band. He goes to try out, but finally realizes he is way out of their playing league. To reassure him, Lindsay kisses him in the parking lot. The next day, all of the friends are talking again and Nick is more at ease with things. However, Kim talks with Lindsay about how Nick told people he and her had sex, leading to a confused Lindsay.

In the other story line, Sam's gym class is told by their gym teacher that they must all now take shows afterwards. Sam continues to refuse to do so, even getting Bill and Neil to join him in protest the first day. The following day, however, they relent and go to take shows. They are summarily harassed by the bigger kids with towel slaps. Sam finally does agree to take a shower, but on the way there, he is waylay-ed by his bully Alex. The bully pushes Sam out into the halls and then takes his towel. Sam then sprints around the school trying to get to his locker, but ends up back in the gym area where the teacher is flirting with another teacher. Sam is depressed about his ordeal and his bully confronts him after school about it. However, a car of football players and cheerleaders come by and applaud Sam's "ballsy" move. His bully leaves in a huff since Sam feels better now.

This was a good episode, a bit better than the couple of previous ones. I think it was and interesting story line for Nick and progressed his character. One thing I don't enjoy too much is that previous episodes aren't ever addressed, it seems. Lindsay and Dan are friends again even though she laughed in his face during the cheating episode. I am also sure nothing will come of Nick's "boasting". As for the Sam story, I think this is a common theme is sitcoms dealing with young boys, so I wasn't terribly impressed with it. Bill and Neil did have some great lines, though.

Score: 3 / 5