Episode Report Card Kim: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Finally
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 11.23.1998
Elena and Felicity study in the library. Elena is using her infamous M&M studying method, seen here for the first time. Felicity looks over at some happy guy just flipping through a magazine while wearing headphones, and interrupts Elena's studying to point him out. Elena doesn't get it, so Felicity explains that the guy is not at all stressed out. Elena suggests that Felicity go ask the guy what his deal is, so that Elena can get back to her system. Felicity gets up to do just that, and Elena says, "You're not going over there!" Felicity approaches Happy Guy and asks him to remove his headphones. Happy Guy asks whether he was singing, and Felicity takes about two paragraphs to stammer that she was wondering why Happy Guy is so content. Happy Guy says he's on "strict regimen of anti-depressants, which is actually something I wanted to talk to you about." Felicity says, "Me?" and Happy Guy explains that he's been watching Felicity, and that she's always wearing sweaters. Hee! Happy Guy recommends a therapist. Felicity wonders why he has singled her out. Happy Guy says that Felicity "seems a little intense," and that "in general [he] thinks [she] could lighten up." Felicity says that she's trying to, but that college is really hard. Happy Guy offers her a pill to lighten her mood, but Felicity says that she'd rather remain intense. And thus did J.J. Abrams address all the critics of the first few episodes of this show.
Knoll unpacks his bag in his dorm room, pulling out what looks like lingerie. I guess my transvestite story from a few paragraphs up is more relevant than I thought. An advisee knocks, and Knoll stuffs everything back in the bag. The advisee explains that she needs Knoll to get her out of one of her finals. She proceeds to explain the requirements of the final, which are all gibberish to me. Knoll comments that he must have picked up the wrong bag at the airport. Knoll smells "the Fourth of July," and the girl replies that Richard is having a barbecue in his room. Knoll takes off to investigate.
Knoll enters Richard's room, all angry. Richard doesn't see the problem. Knoll explains that it's against building code. Richard thinks that it's safe because the window is open. "Mack the Knife" plays in the background, establishing that this is the jazzy standards episode of Felicity. Richard explains that he got hungry; Knoll reminds him, "This isn't a typical human reaction to hunger," and says that he's going to report Richard. Knoll proceeds to list off all of his problems (which are, in fact, Knoll's problems and not Richard's): he had to buy a coffin for his uncle, he picked up the wrong bag at the airport, he's starting a new relationship, and he's in the midst of finals. Knoll orders Richard to put out the barbecue, and leaves, slamming the door.