Dear Troy 2x9

 

 

Troy has lit a candle and tries to put the moves on Busy, who is very uncomfortable with the whole thing. She pretends to hear his father calling just to get out of his embrace. It's a pretty cringe-worthy moment, especially since Busy is so much shorter than Troy and is clad in overalls. As unwilling as she is, it almost seems like a pedo adult going after a child. She sees that Troy is writing a poem, but he doesn't want her to see it yet. He makes a big show of calling her Elizabeth, which Busy doesn't seem to like much either.

 

 

While Busy was at Troy's house, Amanda was at Busy's doing a magazine sex quiz with Busy's brothers because apparently she has no other friends. Busy asks Amanda to stay for dinner, but Amanda can't because it's Danny's last night before he goes to New York. Amanda laments how lucky Busy is to have Troy all the time, and Busy gives a "yeah right" expression.

 

 

Manny announces that he's living with his girlfriend, Sheila. Sam goes off about how "shaking up" isn't right, etc and says she won't be welcome at the table until there's a ring on her finger. Then for no apparent reason, sad music plays and the camera zooms in on Busy's face. It's like in this episode the writers have just completely given up pretending this kid isn't gay.

 

 

At their lockers the next day, Amanda rambles on about a candy necklace that Danny gave her while Busy tries to subtly cover up pictures of her and Troy on her locker door with a basketball poster. Just then, Troy comes up and asks to speak to Busy privately.

 

 

You'd think that after what happened in their last scene, that he's going to break up with her here. But for all his good qualities, Troy is just not picking up on the obvious negative signals that Busy is giving out. He gives her a ring that his mother gave him before she died, which seems like an extreme present to give someone at thirteen years old. Didn't his father have something to say about this? Anyway, Troy says he's not going to date anyone else. Busy assures him that he can, but he says he doesn't want to. They share this really awkward grandma kiss and some little kids laugh at how lame they are. Troy asks Busy over, but she's practicing with Neon Vomit.

 

 

Amanda looks up the meaning of rings and finds out they are symbolic of eternity. Busy is put out with this because she really only wanted to be friends with Troy. She says that Amanda is her friend and Troy isn't more important. Airhead Amanda actually gives her some sound advice about telling Troy how she feels, but that would be too simple for a TV show. Busy avoids Troy in the next scene and the girls decide to visit Manny and Sheila.

 

 

Manny is wearing a shirt that says Just Do Me and is watching what I think is the same stock basketball footage from the episode White Girls Can't Jump. Sheila changes into a man's flannel shirt which Busy (of course) compliments. Sheila says she got it from an ex-boyfriend and Manny demands that she go change. This is supposed to show why Busy doesn't want to be tied down, but mild-mannered Troy doesn't act like this.

 

 

Busy puts the ring in an empty envelope and writes Troy's name on it. Troy is all sad the next day because Busy presumably gave the ring back. Troy tells her that she didn't even send a note with it. Amanda said in a previous episode that Busy never writes notes and I like the continuity, whether it's on purpose or not. Troy says she doesn't have to wear the ring as long as it means she doesn't want to break up. Busy says she doesn't, although her behavior throughout the episode indicates otherwise.

 

 

Busy plays basketball with Amanda all the while talking about her muddled relationship with Troy. Busy doesn't want to be tied down (like Sheila) and seems to want to stay friends but without having to say she broke up with him.

  

 

Although Busy should have been clearer about her feelings, Troy really does not know how to take a hint. Now he's dropping some candy hearts on her homework and asking her to skip band practice for a special surprise. Busy grudgingly says maybe she'll make it.

 

 

Busy is rehearsing with Neon Vomit when Troy comes in, ready for the surprise. Busy says she's, well, busy, and the Liz, who can speak now for some reason, tells him no groupies allowed. Troy, with all the limited indignation he can muster, tells her to just forget it.

 

 

The next day, on the school announcements, Troy is said to have won an award for his poem called Elizabeth. Busy cries in the restroom and practices on Amanda what to say to Troy.

 

 

Troy won't speak to Busy without this kid Gordon lurking in the background. She apologizes for how she's acted and explains that the ring freaked her out...though she was acting put off before he even gave her the ring.

 

 

Amanda, who has also been lurking in the background, comes up and tells Busy she can go after Troy. Busy says Troy doesn't want her to and that she's a bad friend. Amanda: No...not always.

How comforting. The poignancy of the scene is diminished by the fact that Busy's pants are about five sizes too big. It was all I could see. And that's the last of Troy, a fairly good character, but he was obviously looking for a girlfriend, while Busy just wanted to be friends. It was believable for both characters for it to end like this.

 

Next episode: Amanda has to get used to her mother as a newly separated woman.

 

Amanda's Romance 2x8

Part One

 

Part Two

 

Just separated from her husband in the last episode, Amanda's mother is moving the two of them to an apartment in this one. The money troubles must be pretty bad.

 

 

Amanda and her mother take the stairs and on the way hear some guy doing lame stand up comedy on one of the stairwells. You'd never guess he was supposed to be Amanda's love interest because he looks about 30 years old. I guess there aren't a ton of child actors in Canada. Anyway, the topics of his routine are moving and divorced parents (coincidence x 2). While Amanda and her mother are in their apartment discussing her father, Danny calls asking to borrow a cup of sugar. I know some people say he must've looked her up in the phone book, but they just moved in and wouldn't be listed yet.

  

 

 In Danny's apartment, there's a quick shot of Danny's father sitting in a cluttered room and then Danny starts bashing him within earshot. He likens being in a joint custody situation to being a ping pong ball. He later leaves a small yellow flower at Amanda's door.

  

 

At school, Busy begins talking about some "goof" out in the multi-colored hallways passing out business cards, not realizing at first she is dissing Amanda's new crush.

 

 

To show us just how annoying he is, Danny inexplicably yanks down his own pants when Chrissy refuses to speak to him.

 

 

In class, Amanda has Busy vacate the seat next to her in hopes of sitting next to Danny. Danny comes in class cracking some stupid jokes. The teacher asks Amanda what she would take if she were stuck on a desert island, and Amanda, daydreaming of Danny holding the yellow flower, replies "Just Danny." Danny's answer is "two year's supply of breath mints," which Amanda finds very romantic.

 

 

Busy expresses her disdain for Danny, even though he hasn't really put anyone down yet. After Busy leaves and Chrissy passes by, Danny tells Amanda he doesn't find Chrissy attractive, but rather feels sorry for her.

 

 

Amanda's mom is teaching her some 70's dance moves to some really generic sounding music for the upcoming school dance. Danny arrives and refers to the two of them as dancing elephants, a remark which doesn't get as much response as you'd think. Amanda's father calls and her parents start arguing over the phone, causing Amanda to flee the apartment. Danny finds her and asks her out to the movies, somehow still talking about divorced parents the whole time.

 

 

Busy is out with Troy, but all she can talk about is Amanda and what a jerk her date is. Danny is, of course, one of those annoying people who talk all through a movie. Girly Troy has been crying during the movie and Danny gets in some digs about that. Troy and Busy finally leave. Amanda starts to get mad, but Danny pulls out the "but my parents are separated and so are yours" card and all is well.

 

 

Busy is still angry the next day. Amanda accuses her of thinking that only she deserves a boyfriend. Busy says that dating a middle aged stand up comedian when you're twelve is just weird, and besides, the guy's a jerk.

 

 

Amanda tries to gently tell Danny that he hurts people's feelings with his jokes and gives the wrong impression, but Danny gets upset and rushes off.

 

 

Hey, the music at this dance is the exact music Amanda and her mother were dancing to earlier! Anyway, Troy and Busy comfort Amanda and get her to dance with them while Danny is making a fool of himself and flirting with other girls. Danny dances over to Amanda and again calls her an elephant. I don't get it: the girl ain't fat. Maybe Danny heard about that episode Amanda was anorexic and decided to use it against her. I wouldn't put it past him.

 

 

Busy follows Amanda to the toilet stall she was hiding out in and again tells her how awful Danny is and that he's not worth it. This is only the second boy who's shown any kind of interest in Amanda (Monkey Ears was first). Maybe that's why she feels she doesn't have a choice. Danny actually follows them into the girls' restroom, which again shows what an inconsiderate idiot this character is. Busy threatens him with karate before she leaves. Danny admits to lying about his achievements as a comic and to putting on an act to get attention.

 

 

Amanda quickly forgives him and they kiss...her first kiss, in the school bathroom. She looks quite reluctant to do it, but you can't really blame her because this character IS awful. Some girl flushes the toilet and quickly ducks out without washing her hands.

 

Next episode: Busy dumps Troy.

Break Up 2x7

 

 

Amanda is painting a landscape picture on a large canvas (She's an artist now? Why not.) while listening to her parents argue.

 

 

Amanda isn't noticing the cute boys at the mall the next day. She tells Busy about a childhood fantasy of hers that involves living at the mall. Busy scoffs at the idea but files it in the back of her mind so it will come in handy later in the episode... Amanda asks Busy how her parents' marriage counseling is going, and Busy says things are a lot better.

 

 

Once home, Amanda's parents sit down with her and have the "Daddy's moving out for a while" talk with her.

 

 

Busy seems a little uncomfortable with Amanda's predicament. Mr. Zimm comes in and tells Amanda he's leaving. They share an unemotional goodbye. Busy leaves too, and Amanda is in tears.

 

 

Amanda lays the blame for the separation on her mother and then runs out of the house.

 

 

 

Amanda and her father share a spaghetti dinner at his new apartment. Amanda notes all the job listings in the classifieds and asks why her father hasn't gotten a job yet. Of course, it's not that easy. Amanda gets sentimental that the love seat set has broken up between her parents' homes as well.

 

 

Amanda eavesdrops on a phone conversation between her parents fighting about money. She yells into the phone for both of them to shut up and then storms out.

 

 

She ends up over at Busy's. Amanda wants to go out, but Busy is playing a card game with her brothers and blows Amanda off. Amanda leaves dejectedly and Busy seems almost happy to see her go.

 

 

Amanda goes to the mall and, in an obvious ploy for us to hear her inner dialogue, starts writing in her "diary" on a napkin. Some creepy, nose-picking guy is giving her the eye here. Closing time is announced and Amanda hides under a large bed she had admired at the beginning of the episode.

 

 

A montage follows of Amanda trying on make up and clothes and playing a Sega arcade game. Just when you think this mall must have the worst security ever, we see a camera pointed toward an unknowing Amada.

 

 

Busy's mom noticed Busy's distance toward Amanda and inquires into how she's doing. Busy didn't want to talk to her mother about a problem her own parents have had in the past. Busy admits she doesn't want to talk to Amanda either and has been avoiding her. Busy's behavior isn't so great, but it's nice of her mother to care about her daughter's friend. I told you she was the most likable of the parents on this show. Just then, a call comes in from Amanda's mother reporting her daughter missing.

 

 

Ominous music and loud footsteps introduce us to the mall security guard, who scares Amanda and accuses her of stealing. Meanwhile, Busy and her mother are on her way to the mall. Busy's explanation of why she thinks Amanda is there of "cause she's Amanda" seems to suffice. Amanda sees the Ramone van on the security monitor. The guard makes her swear she didn't steal anything (which doesn't sound too realistic) and then lets her go. The episode ends with Amanda curled up in the fetal position on her bed after a talk with her parents.

 

Next episode: Amanda meets and falls for a really unpleasant guy who constantly makes fun of everyone. 



White Girls Can't Jump 2x6

Part One

 

Part Two



Busy is watching basketball with her father and brothers when her father remarks admiringly that "the blacks are natural athletes." This scene is supposed to excuse Busy's racist comments later on, but I don't buy it. My father was way more racist than Sam Ramone, and I knew never to repeat what he said. Frankie, always the forward thinker, corrects his father's stereotypical worldview. Sam says there's nothing wrong with what he said since he was pointing out a positive trait. Then he goes on to make blanket statements about black people being lazy and not earning a living.

 

Troy is shown bonding with a girl in science class over a DNA model. Busy is introduced to Eve, who is going to help Troy pass biology and who is also trying out for the basketball team with Busy. Eve whines to her friend that all the guys she likes are taken.

 

 

At tryouts, Eve tries to psych out Busy by telling her how hard it will be for her to make the team. However, Busy does well and makes it. When Amanda and Troy come over to congratulate her, Busy says out of nowhere, "Obviously you don't have to be black to be good at sports." Nobody was even talking about race so it's kind of a strange moment. Troy remarks that he has two left feet so that theory doesn't hold water. We find out that Eve is the captain of the team.

 

 

Busy has borrowed some clothes from Amanda in an effort to compete with Eve. I thought Busy thought Amanda's wardrobe was boring. Amanda wonders if Busy is trying to change her image. Nope, that will come in season five.

 

 

Busy and Amanda see Eve flirting with Troy. Busy wonders if Eve is more his type because she is black. Busy sure is focused on race all of a sudden. I don't remember this show making such a big deal out of this interracial relationship, but I guess they did. During the game, Eve won't pass the ball to Busy even when it would benefit the team to do so.

 

 

Busy confronts Eve about her actions. The two get into an argument and Busy says that just because she isn't black doesn't mean she can't be better than her. Eve calls Busy a wop and says that she should stick with her own kind. Busy reiterates what her father said about blacks being lazy and causing trouble.

 

 

Someone has written the word "racist" on Busy's locker. Troy has heard about the fight and is unsympathetic. Busy recounts the argument to Amanda, who is shocked by both Eve's and Busy's comments. Busy blames her father and brother for planting the thoughts in her head.

 

 

Busy is having lunch with Amanda the next day and Eve comes and rubs it in that her and Troy seem to be on the outs. She also says the team took a vote and nobody wants her anymore. Busy still refuses to take responsibility for her own actions as she later blames her family again for her racist tendencies. Busy then admits she's not mad at Eve because she is black, but because of how she's treated her.

 

 

Busy shows up at the basketball game despite the team's vote, which infuriates Eve. Amanda sits with Troy at the game and attempts to smooth things over, pointing out that Eve said stuff about Italians too. Eve and Busy both refuse to pass the ball to each other. Coach calls a time out and Eve starts up with calling Busy a racist again. Busy's team eventually wins, and Busy puts a congratulatory arm around a black teammate to prove she's not racist.

 

 

After the game, Eve tries to strong arm Busy off the team again. Busy apologizes and brings up the fact that Eve called her a wop. Eve tries to say that it's different when Busy says such things because she's white and Eve is black. Is it? They're both obviously wrong, but not every person with dark hair and eyes is Italian. The only reason Eve knew this about Busy was because of an Italian Stallion T-shirt she wore earlier. An Italian person probably doesn't live with the amount of racism a black person does. But still, Eve was being awfully confrontational. Eve's friend and Troy do not support Eve's point of view. Busy admits she was worried Eve would steal Troy away from her. Troy makes a rather trite but impassioned speech about skin color not mattering. The episode ends with Busy and Eve playing a game of one-on-one, still not friends, but perhaps not enemies after this.

 

Next episode: After her parents announce their separation, Amanda hides out at the mall.