Episode Report Card Kim: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Last Stand
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.05.1998
FVO says, "Finally, the thing you're not going to believe." I thought her being over Ben was the part we wouldn't believe. Guess not. I didn't believe she was over Ben, anyway. Felicity is doing some filing at her work-study job in the admissions office. FVO says (and we see) that her supervisor came up and told her that "a young man" called and asked whether it was possible to access college application essays -- specifically, he wanted to see Felicity's. The supervisor said no, and the caller hung up without leaving a name. The supervisor congratulates Felicity on "having an admirer." Felicity looks shocked as the supervisor (who is an older lady, probably in her late sixties at least -- and this is important later) walks out.
Knoll is typing some stuff into his computer when there is a knock at his door. He tells the person to hold on, as he tells himself that he's just "finishing a really bad sentence." I know how that feels, brother. Remember when Knoll wasn't an insufferable prig? Remember when I didn't use the phrase "remember when" ten times per recap? Knoll answers the door, and Felicity is standing there. He's happy to see her. She tells him that she finished the floor calendar. He looks at it and pronounces it "perfect." Felicity asks him whether he called the admissions office to ask for her essay. Knoll doesn't understand. Felicity tells him to forget about it. Knoll really wants to know why she asked. Felicity looks at him for a minute, trying to figure out how much she should tell him, and then asks to come in. Knoll says sure, and they walk into his room and close the door.
Once inside, Felicity hesitates, and then tells Knoll she finds it really easy to talk to him. Knoll smiles and says he feels the same way. Felicity says that when she asked him "that question" and he said yes, it made it harder for her to talk to him. Knoll says he needs to clear something up, regarding his saying he had feelings for her; he says he gets feelings for people all the time, because he's "a sensitive guy." Knoll says that he gets crushes on everyone. Felicity's all, "You do? Oh. Okay." Knoll tells her not to "blow it out of proportion," and blames it on the RA/new freshman relationship, explaining that it was "a power trip kind of thing." Do you think he's explaining way too much? Yeah, me too. Knoll concludes by saying that he does have feelings for Felicity -- he likes her -- but "it's all just natural and unromantic as hell." He looks at Felicity to see whether she bought it, and then asks whether he's blushing. Felicity replies, "Sort of." Knoll stands up and takes off his flannel shirt (don't worry, he's got another shirt underneath) as Felicity sits down. She reminds Knoll (and the audience) that she read Ben's college application essay. Knoll looks relieved that they're changing the subject, and sits down, saying that this is about Ben. Felicity gets weirded out, and stands up to go. Knoll tells her it's okay, and she sits back down. Felicity says that she thinks Ben is uncomfortable that Felicity read his admissions essay when he hasn't read hers, so she thinks he might have called the admissions office to try to get it. Okay, at this point in their relationship, she is assuming that Ben thinks about her way too much. And that Ben is smart enough to come up with that plan. Knoll clarifies that Felicity doesn't want Ben to see her essay. Felicity says, "No way -- mostly because it's about him." Knoll smirks and asks, "Your college application essay is about Ben?" Felicity ignores him and tries to get things back on topic by saying that she can't show Ben her essay, because it would be humiliating. Knoll says that her instincts are right, but I think Knoll has an ulterior motive. Felicity says, "Okay. [pause] I think I'm going to." Knoll wonders if she was asking for his advice, and Felicity says she was "using [him] as a bouncing board." I'll bet Knoll would love it if Felicity used him as a bouncing board, if you know what I'm saying. Felicity talks, as if to herself, saying that she's not going to hand it to Ben, but will mail it instead. Felicity, decision made, gets up to leave, and Knoll goes after her, saying that he thinks it's a mistake, and that "this is coming from someone who doesn't even slightly have a crush on you." Felicity considers for a millisecond, and then says she's still going to send Ben the essay. Knoll tells her not to come back unless she's going to listen to him, and Felicity laughs at him and thanks him as she walks out.