Why Jordan Can't Read



The answer to that question regarding the title of the episode is never really addressed. But it does set up a misunderstanding between Jordan and Angela when he finds and returns a love letter she had written to him on a class field trip to the museum. She wanted to know what he thought about the letter and it dawns on her that he can't read. Later, this leads to their first "real" kiss and everything seemed to be on the upswing for them as a "couple". But what goes up, comes down when he stands her up the following day because he didn't want to meet her parents. I thought the whole exchange between the two of them when she was asking him out on a "date", followed by the aforementioned "meet the parents" request  was spot on. It was awkward, scary and exhilarating, which made the scene all the more better because of it.

So they finally give Danielle (Lisa Wilhoit) something to do other than jumping around and reciting a cheer-leading cheer by having her getting a crush on Brian. It was cute but weird. Why would anyone get a crush on him of all people? He comes off as a stalker with the way he looks at Angela. Some would say it's pining, I say it's something more. And speaking of Brian. I get that he has a major crush on her, but who the hell keeps popping up at someone else's house unannounced and using the "return my book" excuse to start a conversation only to start yelling about whether or not Angela and Jordan are a couple? And to do it with Angela's parents in the house just makes it more unbelievable.

Strangers In The House



This was one of the more stranger episodes of the series. Pun intended. With Sharon's Dad having a heart attack and ending up in the Hospital for surgery, it sets off a chain reaction where everyone around reacts to the news in their own way. Sharon's boyfriend blows her off when she needs comfort, so then she seeks out Brian, which leaves him thinking there is a potential for a relationship between the two. Angela's mom has Sharon staying over at their house to take care of her while her Dad recovers. Sharon then uses Brian to make her boyfriend jealous (implied) but to also flaunt it in Angela's face...in her own bedroom no less.

Sharon just rubbed me the wrong way with how she was acting, not because she was scared of losing her father, but the fact that she feels entitled to sympathy from everyone and when Angela doesn't give it to her, she acts out on it regarding Brian by inviting him over. And getting back to Brian, who later is over at Angela's house, he takes it upon himself to answer the phone. Dude, who does that? No one is calling for him. He has no boundary issues at all. And even if the Pizza guy is calling back, he still should not be answering the phone. Just sayin'.

Even though I liked the reconciliation scene between Sharon and Angela at the end of the episode, it doesn't change how off putting most of the episode was. Still a good episode though, just....strange.

Halloween



This was not one of their better episodes. It's one thing to have the kids break into school after hours for some cheap thrills on Halloween night, but it's another to have Angela conversing with a Ghost of s student who died a long time ago. This definitely took me out of the story and in a way cheapened the episode because it wasn't sticking to the type of stories being told up to this point and was out of character. Having said that, there was one winning moment where Danielle (Lisa Wilhoit) dresses up as Angela as her costume. Her impersonation of her was spot on and got a laugh out of me because of it.

Other People's Mothers



With a title like Other People's Mothers, you know exactly what you're getting. This one leans heavily on the parents and I can't remember this being as boring as it turned out to be. And I guess that was the intent so that Angela would have a gauge between her family and that of Rayanne's who is out of control with her drinking and drugging as she throws a house party. I found it very stupid of Rayanne's Mother to criticize her about her drinking when she obviously condones it by reminding her to drink in moderation. Really? That's what you call good parenting, allowing your 16 year old daughter to drink in moderation? Dumb doesn't begin to even describe Rayanne's mother.. With all the sh*t hitting the fan when Rayanne OD's and needs to get her stomach pumped, Angela realizes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

But for the episode as a whole, it really was a boring one at that. And more than anything, it reminded me exactly why they eventually got rid of the parents on Beverly Hills: 90210 .

Life Of Brian



This is a great episode in spite of it being a Brian-narrated one wherein he tells us what a complete ass he is and in spite of the fact that the writer(s) suddenly wrote Jordan as a dumb stoner-dude which was completely out of character, based on what has come so far.

Getting back to Brian. He is just so f ucking annoying.  He is so indecisive and wishy washy about everything. It has nothing to do with him being a teenager with a lack self confidence. It's just that he comes off so condescending to others when he doesn't get what he wants. He was a d ick for treating Delia like that by dumping her as soon as he thought he had a chance with Angela at the school dance, a chance that he fabricated in his own mind.

At least Delia and Rickie had a cool moment at the end when they were the stars out on the dance floor. When What Is Love stated playing, I half expected to see the Butabi Brothers appear.

Self-Esteem



How did Angela and Jordan go from just "knowing each other existed" from the last episode during the dance to suddenly making out in the school's Boiler Room? The writers completely jumped the whole process of getting them to this next level with awkward dates and all that. Yeah, I know that kids in school do exactly that. But this is a show and seeing those moments helps make a series what it is. Just sayin'.

It's too bad that Jordan shuns Angela in public because he is embarrassed to be seen with her. Why? What could he possibly be embarrassed about with her? I dunno. With the threat of losing her, he finally manage to man up and take it public down the hallway. Props for the song that plays during this closing scene. It really made it much better. It took long enough, but now they are starting to give Rickie something to do other than just following Rayanne around.

Pressure



Jordan wants sex. Angela wants sex. Not gonna happen. She is scared. That's pretty much the entire episode in a nutshell. I did find it particularly amusing that Angela ends up talking to Brian of all people  about sex without the knowledge that her father was laying on the couch in the next room, hiding from being seen so as not to embarrass her and most likely himself. I'm sure he was mortified and relieved at the same time when Jordan came over and she told him that it wasn't gonna happen.

On The Wagon



Angela and Rayanne's friendship is on the outs, but who's to say why. Is it because of Rayanne's increasingly odd behavior because she is on-the-wagon or is it because at times the actress A.J. Langer's portrayal of her is a bit manic? Whatever the case may be, this episode had Rayanne on full extreme mode and was really irritating. It was embarrassing watching her "sing" with Frozen Embryo's. Out of the debacle that was her debut as a "singer" came 30 Seconds To Mars.

It may sound like I'm bashing on A.J., but I'm not. I actually like her as an actress. But she was way out there in On The Wagon, most likely to high-lite the chaos of trying to stay sober and still be the "life of the party". I'm sure it doesn't help that she doesn't have a conventional family. It's not gonna help matters much when her own Mom is still drinking margaritas in front of her for breakfast.