Episode Report Card Kim: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Declaration
By Kim | Season 4 | Episode 1 | Aired on 10.09.2001
At dinner, Felicity brings up her mom, and Mr. Porter says that she seems happy. Felicity tries to make more small talk, but Mr. Porter wants to say something. "I think," he begins, "you're wasting your time." Felicity's eyes widen. He continues, "It's my opinion that you've been floating through your experience here, head in the clouds, concerning yourself mostly with relationships with boys instead of planning for what's next." Felicity softly says, "Dad." Mr. Porter steams ahead: "You're graduating college in nine months. Art is fine. I like the arts. I like museums. I love that you're artistic, that you paint. But that is not a life. Felicity, it's time to get back to medicine." Felicity looks hurt as her father brings up a doctor friend of his who also does crafts. Felicity looks at him like he's insane. The waiter comes over, and Felicity excuses herself from the table.
Felicity finds a pay phone and calls Noel, who is "staring at [his] résumé, trying to figure out what's wrong." Felicity tells him that things are bad, and that she doesn't feel him there in spirit like he promised. Noel says that parents are stupid sometimes, and that her father doesn't know Felicity nearly as well as Noel does. Felicity wonders whether her father is right. Noel gains momentum as he tells Felicity that she has to make her own choices, even if some of them are mistakes. Felicity likes what he's saying. Noel tells her that life isn't pre-ordained or on a schedule, and that it's a challenge. Felicity gains strength from his words and says that she's ready to go back in there. Noel tells her to "kick ass and take names." Felicity thanks him and hangs up. I know I'm getting kind of predictable, but I wish that she had called Ben. Although, admittedly, Ben wouldn't have been as good at that little speech, probably.
Felicity sits back down at the table and sighs. She begins by saying that it must seem to her father like she's floundering, but she's in this Honors Arts Program, which is very important. Felicity repeats most of what Noel just said, including that she's not on a time schedule. Her father suggests that maybe she should be on one. Felicity says that's not how she wants to live her life. Mr. Porter replies, "Fair enough. Then I am not comfortable, and neither is your mother, subsidizing this lifestyle." Felicity looks shocked, and then reminds her father that she's in college. Mr. Porter doesn't think that Felicity is any better off than she was three years ago, and wonders where she will be a year from now. Felicity angrily tells her father that he can't come there and judge her. Mr. Porter says that's exactly what he can do, and that she wouldn't be there if it weren't for him. Felicity protests, and her father tells her that she's on the edge of a cliff with regards to her future. Felicity tells her father that he's not even listening to her. Mr. Porter reiterates that Felicity's time at college has been a waste. Felicity's face flushes with anger as she says, "Fine. I don't want you to pay for this. I will pay for this myself." Her father protests that he wasn't saying that. Felicity responds, choking back tears, "It's what I'm saying. I don't want your help. I don't need your critique, okay? I don't need you." Felicity grabs her purse and walks away. Damn. I guess it's her father's right to pull his financial support if he doesn't agree with what Felicity's doing, but whatever happened to encouraging your children to follow their dreams? Felicity is able-bodied and smart. She could work as a temp or a waitress or whatever while she tries to make it as an artist. And there are plenty of art-related careers that she could go into as well. Basically, I think her father is being a control freak, and a dick. Maybe Ben should call him a dick. That would make me happy.
Felicity returns to the loft, where she finds Noel lying on his bed in his suit. She asks what he's doing, and he says he's just lying there. She asks why he's in his suit. Noel says that he put it on to look at himself and figure out what the problem is. Don't get me started. Felicity joins Noel on the bed, and the camera shot changes to overhead. Noel asks whether things got any better with her dad, and Felicity reveals that she's paying for college herself now. Noel asks how she ended it, and Felicity admits that she walked out. Throughout, Noel is eating something, one piece at a time. Apparently, it's candy, and he offers some to Felicity, who takes it. They simultaneously crunch on their candy.