We start off with the collection of scenes shown "Previously, on Felicity," which include Knoll's "I never want to see you again" speech to Felicity, Felicity's "you're not strong enough" speech to Ben, and Felicity's inner monologue about getting her hair cut.
This week's episode begins in the laundry room with Meghan squinting at Felicity and saying, "Wow." Felicity asks if she means "'wow' good, or 'wow' bad." Meghan speaks for everyone at my house (which included Wing Chun and deborah) and says, "Definitely, 'wow' bad." I mention that I think Felicity looks like a young boy and deborah says that she looks like a young boy with gender issues, what with all the blush she is wearing. Then it occurs to me that Felicity really looks like Ryan Philippe. If the hair and the gender confusion fits....Anyway, Felicity says that she doesn't think it's that bad and Burkey appears out of nowhere and says that he thinks she looks "hot." Meghan informs Felicity that Burkey's opinion "doesn't count."
Here come the new and improved credits, which show Keri Russell's new hair.
Felicity is in her dorm room, in the half-light, dictating another tape to Sally and she says she did something drastic: "I dropped Pre-Med." As an afterthought, she mentions cutting off her hair. She also tells Sally that everyone -- even strangers -- have been reacting to her hair, and we see various strangers telling her that hair is "great" or "amazing." Okay, we get it, the writers want us to view this ill-advised hair cut as a good thing. But, it isn't.
, Felicity is at her desk when there's a knock at the door. It is a blonde advisee named Ruby, who is "having the hugest[sic] crisis," in one breath and telling Felicity that her hair is "amazing" in the . Ruby also asks her if she just broke up with someone. Felicity admits that yeah, she kinda has. Ruby tells her that her hair makes her "a totally new you." The point of Ruby's visit is to tell Felicity that she is going to drop out because she can't get into the art history course she wants, which is Norwegian Landscapes. Ruby's grandmother used to have wallpaper with "the most beautiful Norwegian scenery on it," which Ruby extrapolated based on the fact that it had windmills on it. Felicity gently points out that windmills are Dutch. It looks like Ruby is going to have a meltdown upon hearing this news, so Felicity quickly backtracks. She suggests that they "look at the catalogue together" to find something else for Ruby. Felicity gets engrossed in all of the art courses and it is suddenly all about her and no longer about Ruby. So, Ruby serves her a reality check, and Felicity points out the course called Costumes of Czarist Russia. Wing, deborah, Ruby, and I all think that sounds good. Ruby says, "You really saved me" to Felicity, and she asks her if she can have her course catalogue, like its existence was unknown to her before talking to Felicity. This scene is to let the viewers know that Ruby is kind of ditzy. Remember that; it'll explain some stuff later in the show. Felicity looks pleased with herself and Ruby leaves.
Felicity is back to telling Sally that her encounter with Ruby led her to totally rearrange her schedule. Felicity says that she'd be happy taking just one of the many great art courses available, but her Pre-Med schedule doesn't allow room for any courses other than Pre-Med.
Felicity and Elena are in a lab together, each wearing safety goggles, and Felicity is drawing a palm tree and a bunch of dots with a stick, in a white substance which could either be sand or sugar, which is piled on the lab table. Elena notices that Felicity is putzing around and not working and she suggests that Felicity is distracted by thoughts of Ben. Felicity says that's not it, because she rearranged her Dean & DeLuca schedule and her "routes to class," in order to work the "out of sight, out of mind" angle. Felicity then asks Elena if she's checked out the incredible art classes in the course catalogue lately. Yeah Felicity, that would be likely, given Elena's hard-driving Pre-Med attitude. Elena quickly clues in and she forbids Felicity from quitting Pre-Med. Felicity insists that she's not quitting, but neither of them looks convinced.
Felicity bounces into the Admin office to drop out of Pre-Med. An overly animated university employee feigns interest and wishes her a "good semester" as everyone around my television laughs because we've all been university employees at one time or another. Felicity thanks Ms. Admin, who is not Susan Ruttan, but who sure looks like her, and leaves.
Ben and Sean are struggling with a bed frame on the street when Julie approaches with a bag of groceries in her arms. Ben tells her that it's his "new bed; the old one had a broken leg." Julie says that she remembers it while Sean looks like he's swallowed a bug at the mention of Julie and Ben's former carnal knowledge. Julie makes it worse for Sean by saying that the new bed looks bigger. Ben tells her that it is and Julie remarks that the old one "was too small for two people." Sean cuts off that line of discussion none too subtly before he suffers an aneurysm. He doesn't think much of the topic either because it is Julie's announcement that she's found a new apartment. Ben seems thrilled and Sean is bummed. Julie tells them that they can start looking for their "permanent roommate." I wonder why, because they didn't have nor need a third roommate last year. Did I miss something?
Knoll and Richard, the annoying guy from last season, are eating in the kitchen of Knoll and Elena's apartment. Knoll is telling Richard that "Brigid, the girl from the party, the one who gave me her phone number, but it turned out to be for Ray's Original Pizza," is in one of his classes. For some reason, we can hear pigeons cooing loudly in the background. Knoll tells Richard that he's going to ask Brigid out again, and he asks him if "that 's crazy." It appears that Richard, a geek with no discernible social skills, is Knoll's relationship guru, much the same way that Sean, a geek with no discernible social skills, is Ben's relationship guru. For the record, Richard doesn't think it's crazy. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Take the hint, Knoll. She's not interested, that's what the fake number was all about. Richard damns Knoll's dating efforts with faint praise until Knoll says that the more Richard talks, the more he is convinced it is a bad idea. But, Knoll being Knoll, doesn't know to quit when he's ahead, so he decides to ask Brigid out again. Richard really reminds me of John Cage from Ally McBeal in this scene.
At Epstein Bar, Elena wonders if Felicity's dropping out of Pre-Med isn't a "knee-jerk reaction to breaking up with Ben." Felicity attempts to assure her otherwise. Elena berates Felicity for dropping out and says that without having Felicity as a lab partner, it could affect Elena's GPA. As if. Elena is confident that Felicity will be back. Knoll bolts in and flops down at the table, interrupting them without giving Felicity a second glance. He says, "I just bought a shower curtain and put it up myself. The bathroom is now fully functional." You da man, Knoll! Watch out Bob Villa! Knoll turns, looks at Felicity, and snorts, "Ohmigod. I didn't even recognize you." All the more reason you shouldn't have so rudely interrupted them, Knoll. Assknoll snidely says, "So you have a bad hair year. Go buy a hat." Felicity wonders if his Assknollishness is "making [him] feel better." He says, "I feel great." Felicity says that she thought they could get past it, but obviously, they can't. Assknoll says, "Obviously." Felicity leaves and Elena says, "That was a very jerky thing to do." Assknoll responds, "I wasn't the one who cut her hair."
Back in Felicity's room, she continues to record a tape for Sally. She says that she feels bad about the Knoll situation, but they can't be in the same room together, "so that [is] that."
Knoll and other students arrive in an art class and he walks up to Brigid, who is attaching paper to an easel. Brigid, who is sporting two thick braids down her back and several skinny ones on either side, doesn't recognize Knoll. He reminds her where they met and that she gave him a fake phone number. She apologizes and he tells her that he is going to ask for her number again, but says that he's in the mood for Chinese food this time. Knoll takes the seat to her.
Felicity's voice-over states that she's "really in the mood for this new class, but then something happened [she] hadn't planned on." As she walks into the room, she sees Knoll. Knoll sees her and gives her a Knollstril-flaring, contemptuous look.
It is the end of class, and Professor Sherman, played by a remarkably non-cleavage-baring Sally Kirkland, pairs up the students for a homework assignment. Felicity and Brigid are partners and Knoll is stuck with some dude seated beside him. Felicity and Brigid introduce themselves and Knoll scowls. The professor says, "And one more thing, critiques start Friday. They can be quite difficult for newcomers so be prepared to shore up those fragile self-esteems [sic]." Felicity pronounces the prospect to be "nerve-wracking." Brigid is actually very attractive in this scene, despite her weird hairdo. She is what Courteney Cox Arquette would look like if she wasn't so busy being Maria Shriver's Skeletoresque doppelganger.
Outside the art building, Knoll thinks he's in Casablanca and says to Felicity, "Of all the classes in this school, you had to come into one of mine." Knoll, Humphrey Bogart, you ain't. Felicity actually apologizes to him. Then Brigid comes out and says to Felicity that she'll call her. Knoll quickly adds that he'll be calling Brigid. Whatever, Knoll. Then, he tells Felicity not to bother him and he won't bother her. Gee, will you make the same promise to all the viewers? While rolling her eyes, Felicity says, "Fine."
Ruby is back in Felicity's room and she is whining to Meghan that "it's impossible to know which computer to get, what do you think?" Meghan is absorbed in her armpit shaving (ew) and doesn't answer. Felicity arrives back and Ruby says, "Thank god," and she whimpers about not knowing whether to buy a PC or an iMac. Felicity assures her that there are "a million computer stores on Broadway." Ruby says, "they've already confused [her]." Meghan says, "What about Knoll? Isn't he Mr. Genius Computer Guy?" Um, no and no. He has an iMac, when he should at least be using a G3 and have his name on the list for a G4. I've admitted it before, I have an iMac, but they are the lowest common denominator of computers. They really only require that users have pulses, and no other special computer knowledge or skills. Felicity stammers and Ruby asks if Knoll is a friend. Felicity tries to dodge referring Ruby to Knoll, by saying that she doesn't have his number. Meghan tells her to look up Knoll Crane in the student directory. What kind of directory lists off-campus addresses and phone numbers? My school had like 30,000 full time students, and I assume that this fictional school in the middle of New York has that many or more, so how could they possibly compile all that info at the beginning of the school year? Not to mention that it seems awfully reckless to make that information available to any old potential stalker or telemarketer. Anyway, Ruby asks if he really is Mr. Genius Computer Guy, and Meghan confirms it. Felicity gives Meghan the stank-eye when Ruby leaves, and says, "Thanks a lot." Meghan replies, "No problemo."
Sean and Ben are in the loft, interviewing a potential roommate, who is wearing a surplus Mary Tyler Moore Show wig, which hasn't been styled since the late 70s. Sean dismisses him on the basis of the guy's waaay bad hair. I have to agree with Sean on this one.
Felicity and Brigid are seated in the park and Felicity is doing a portrait of Brigid's hands. Felicity worries aloud to Brigid about the upcoming critique. Brigid thinks that Felicity will do fine but Felicity is unsure. Brigid asks her if she knows Knoll, and describes him as "pretty persistent." Brigid doesn't want to lead him on, when it won't go anywhere. It turns out that Brigid is involved with someone else. A woman. Wing asked deborah and me who wanted to bet that Brigid would hit on Felicity before the end of the episode. Deborah and I agreed that Brigid would make a move on Felicity before the end of the season. Stay tuned, kids. Turns out that Brigid's girlfriend "transferred to Bennington last semester." They discuss the difficulties of long-distance relationships, and seem to bond over the fact that all relationships are tough. Hands up, who would like to see Felicity explore the grass on the other side of the fence?
So, Richard is back at Knoll and Elena's apartment, commiserating with Knoll about the fact that Felicity is Brigid's partner. Richard states that Knoll "is up the creek." Knoll says, "I am?" Richard says, "Yeah, it's the classic ex-girlfriend sabotage manoeuvre." Like he would know anything about girlfriends, ex- or otherwise. Knoll isn't sure, but Richard smells a conspiracy. Just then, Ruby shows up at the door. She tells Knoll that Felicity and Meghan are her R.A.s and that they suggested that she talk to him about getting computer advice. Knoll grimly says, "Felicity sent you?" Bitchard starts to trash talk about Felicity and when Knoll goes to get a pen to write down Ruby's number, Bitchard closes the door in her face. Knoll opens the door and tries to explain, but Ruby just leaves. The door closes again, and I hope that Knoll kicks the shit out of Bitchard.
Elena and Felicity are at a flower stand discussing how Felicity felt when she found out that Knoll invited Brigid to the River Café, because that's where he took Felicity on their first date. Would that be the first date that ended before they got to look at the menu because that's when Knoll decided to tell Felicity about Hannah? Just wondering. Anyway, Elena thinks that Felicity is jealous. Felicity denies it. Elena bandies about some gratuitous passive-aggressive stuff about Felicity no longer being her lab partner.
At the loft, Julie is taking down a poster, which she has attached to the wall with gum. Classay! Ben helps her and although it looked like they were heading for a kiss or a grope, they don't. She tells him she wrote a lot of songs over the summer with titles like, "When Ben Dies." ["No mention is made of when Julie intends to send a royalty cheque to Lili Taylor's character from Say Anything... -- Wing Chun] Julie tells him that "break-ups are hard, but you get over them, eventually." Ben smiles weakly and leaves the room.
Felicity's voice-over says that it has been a week since she broke up with Ben, as she walks in slow motion down the street. She sees Ben on the street, while she ponders that maybe you don't get over break-ups, you just learn to live with them. So much for her changing her routes to class to avoid Ben.
In the art class, Brigid tells Knoll that she wants to talk later. Knoll asks Felicity, "What did you say to Brigid about me?" She says, "Nothing," and tells Knoll to talk to Brigid himself. He then tells her not to send her advisees to him for help because they aren't friends. He also rants on about staying away from each other. Felicity suggests that she could drop the class if it is such a problem for him, and he thinks it is a good idea. Bite me, Knoll.
Felicity approaches the same happy-go-lucky Admin office employee to ask if she can switch to another section of Drawing 10. Ms. Admin tells her they are all full and that Drawing 10 is a prerequisite to all other drawing classes. Felicity babbles excitedly about dropping out of Pre-Med and how Ms. Admin was so nice about it, and she wants to know if there is another art class she can take. Ms. Admin says, "Yes, just as soon as you take Drawing 10." Ah, there's that jaded university employee attitude that we all know and love.
Julie sits on the front steps of her new apartment, waiting for her new roommate Susan. Susan's sister is moving to town, so Julie won't be moving in after all. Too bad, so sad. Not. Juliea Rodentia looks crushed, but tries to play it off.
Felicity goes to Knoll's to explain that she couldn't switch sections. Mr. Maturity-is-my-middle-name Assknoll gets huffy and tells her that every time he sees her, "it reminds him that [she] chose Ben over [him]." Hey, way to prove her right again. And again. He asks, "What is it about him, or about me --?" I don't know where to start and neither does she. She finally does say, "What if I told you that I made a huge mistake and I never should have gone with Ben, that make it any better?" After a long pause, Knoll says, "You're just saying that because Ben broke your heart." No, duh. Glances are exchanged, Knollstrils are flared, and Felicity asks him what he wants her to say. He says, "I don't know. Nothing." More glances, more flares, then Felicity leaves.
At the loft, a cute chef guy is cooking omelettes as part of his roommate interview. Julie arrives and bemoans the fact that she "can't even boil an egg." You forgot to add that you can't sing or play guitar either, if you're cataloguing your inadequacies. Sean says that she makes a "mean bowl of cereal." Julie mentions that she's had a crazy day and she tells cute chef guy that he's "going to really love living here," and she leaves the room.
At Epstein Bar, Knoll spots Ruby and he apologizes to her by saying that he "was sort of a jerk the other day." Ruby says, "Sort of?" Knoll replies, "But not as bad as my friend, right?" She tells him that's nothing "to be too proud of." They start talking iMac and E Machine specs and Ruby tells him she bought an iMac. Knoll gets a little charge (and I do mean little) out of that and he proclaims Ruby a "Mac person." I'm on my fifth Macintosh, and I've never called myself a "Mac person," and now I never will.
Elena comes to Felicity's room to passively-aggressively badger her some more about dropping out of Pre-Med. She asks to see what Felicity has drawn, and when she shows her a sketch of a hand, Elena pronounces that it is "pretty good." Maybe Felicity can do sketches for anatomy textbooks, and then they'd both be happy. Felicity worries aloud about the critique, AGAIN. Okay, we get it! Elena says, "I don't want to get all mushy or anything, but um, I'm proud of you, you made a tough decision and you're sticking to it." Instead of stopping there, she has to stick the knife in once more, and say that Felicity is making her life hell. Way to be supportive, Elena.
Felicity walks into the art class and hands Professor Sherman, who is thankfully still not revealing her boobs, her sketch. The professor asks the class for comments. When no one volunteers, she starts viciously deconstructing the drawing. Then all the toadies in the class start trashing the drawing. Professor Sherman Tank praises a lame-ass drawing of a knapsack over Felicity's drawing. Hey lady, why don't you learn to draw on some eyebrows before you start dissing other people's drawings? Why the hell would people who are drawing experts take the class? That's why they're there, TO LEARN and to be coached, not to be humiliated. Man, I so would not put up with they Gestapo teaching tactics that are prevalent on hour-long television dramedies. Knoll finally pipes up, "I think the detailing is nice." Sherman Tank immediately derails him and moves on to trashing the perspective, "which doesn't work at all." Yeah, I've got your perspective, RIGHT HERE!
Back in the classroom, Felicity is staring at her drawing and Knoll comes up and stands by the easel. Felicity blithers about possibly being "on a psychotic break" and having to rethink dropping out of Pre-Med. Knoll reminds her that Sherman Tank is notoriously hard on new students. Well, who else would be taking the class that is the prerequisite to all other drawing courses? Knoll tells her that her hair isn't so bad and that he likes it. Felicity says, "What was I thinking?" Knoll thinks she's referring to her haircut, and she says that's not what she meant. She apologizes again for hurting him. He says, "Turns out Brigid is gay, by the way." She says, "I know."
At the loft, Sean, Julie and Ben assemble for breakfast and Julie makes her patented mean bowls of cereal. Ben says, "Y'know, I'm not the biggest omelette fan." And Ben and Sean ask ratus girlus to stay. She accepts.
Knoll and Felicity meet in the dorm hallway and make almost pleasant small talk. She says she's sticking with art and invites him to come up to the roof with her to sketch. Just then, Ruby arrives and she invites Felicity to join them on a walking tour of Bleecker Street. Felicity declines and she watches Ruby and Knoll walk away. Knoll and Ruby on a date -- didn't I tell you that she was ditzy?
Then we get Sally's voice-over thanking Felicity for her tape, and commending Felicity's bravery for doing what she always wanted to do. Sally says, "The hardest part about moving forward is not looking back." With that, Felicity turns away from watching Knoll and Ruby leave. The end.