You don't do that to a friend. (10 Things I Hate About You 1x12: "Don't Trust Me")
Another great show that is not a big headliner, so I doubt many of you (if any at all) are watching it. I won't recommend it to those who want deep emotional issues and profound social commentary, complex plots, or outstanding acting (let me be clear: I'm not saying the acting is bad. I'm just saying it's not outright Oscar-worthy). But if you like cute, fun, lighthearted comedy-drama with a nostalgically 90s feel, then this is definitely a show you will enjoy.
Anyway...
One thing that really bothered me about this episode is how black & white it was (er... bad pun definitely not intended) in terms of the Joey/Bianca/Chastity triangle. I mean, I get it: Bianca is the protagonist. She's the one we're supposed to root for. But guess what? For once, Chastity is not the bad guy here. When Bianca told Joey, "Chastity has convinced all the other cheerleaders that I'm breaking the Girl Code," as if said accusation were some heinous lie, I physically cringed. Because you know what, Bianca? You are breaking the Girl Code. And shame on you for not seeing it!
I'll be the first to admit that Chastity is kind of a bitch. She was a terrible girlfriend to Joey, and not a very good friend to Bianca, either. But nonetheless, it was Bianca's choice whether or not to be friends with Chastity. Nobody forced her. And if she truly did/does consider Chastity a friend, then what she did was a clear violation of that. Pure and simple.
The writing in this episode makes it out as if it's ridiculous to fault someone for dating a friend's ex, as long as the couple has clearly broken up. But I disagree, strongly. An ex dating your friend is not the same as dating a stranger. It's awkward, painful, often even humiliating. I'm not saying you can never date anyone who has dated someone you know; and sometimes, you end up choosing love over friendship. But if you care about the friendship at all, if you want to be a decent person, then you at least try to MAKE SURE YOUR FRIEND IS OKAY WITH IT before you start dating their ex. And you sure as heck don't start going out with them mere days after the couple has broken up. Even if it's your friend who initiated the breakup... you respect the relationship that has ended, and you give them time to move on, before you pounce on their leftovers like a piece of meat.
What's worse is: Bianca knew that Chastity wasn't over Joey. She didn't want to get back together, but she wasn't ready to see him dating someone new; and she told Bianca this, in no uncertain terms. If Bianca were a real friend to Chastity, she wouldn't have just kept the relationship a secret (which still would've been better) - she would've told Joey that they need to cool it until Chastity has moved on. If she and Joey really care about each other, they could have waited to be together.
Instead, Bianca plays the innocent victim in all this while practically rubbing her new relationship with Joey in Chastity's face, and Chastity is the one who gets painted as the villain (along with anyone who's being a real friend and standing by her, instead of taking Bianca's side). I ask you: how is this fair?
Other random thoughts:
✖ How does Patrick being an ass only make him hotter? Seriously... how?
✖ Cameron is tall. Boy-howdy! He needs to stop trying to date short girls, maybe. (Which makes shipping Cameron/Chastity really hard, let me tell you. >_>)
✖ Oh yeah, I ship Cameron/Chastity. Come on, don't tell me you guys don't see it! True, they've barely said a word to each other all season... but still, how awesome would it be if they hooked up? Queen Bitch and the Geek: it's classic, man. (I blame Freaks and Geeks for this. And Buffy to a lesser extent.)
✖ I'm realizing: Joey is kinda shallow. I still like him... but I would like him more if he understood that having the "whitest teeth" is not the most important characteristic in a boyfriend. And that whole "I'm Joey Donner" argument? I mean, he's a nice guy, but he needs to get over himself.
✖ I love smug!Kat. So, so much.
✖ I'm a little annoyed that it's been so long since the first half of the season, I can't remember if we already knew Mandela was gay. But! How cute is it that she has a girlfriend now? I love how Kat just assumed "when you're in a new relationship" was about her and Patrick, and then was proven wrong. ...I totally called that, by the way. :P
✖ Ack. Is everybody going to start saying "Katrick" now? Please, no.
PS: I know I'm an episode behind here; but I haven't seen the new one yet. So if you have, no spoilers, please.
Anyway...
One thing that really bothered me about this episode is how black & white it was (er... bad pun definitely not intended) in terms of the Joey/Bianca/Chastity triangle. I mean, I get it: Bianca is the protagonist. She's the one we're supposed to root for. But guess what? For once, Chastity is not the bad guy here. When Bianca told Joey, "Chastity has convinced all the other cheerleaders that I'm breaking the Girl Code," as if said accusation were some heinous lie, I physically cringed. Because you know what, Bianca? You are breaking the Girl Code. And shame on you for not seeing it!
I'll be the first to admit that Chastity is kind of a bitch. She was a terrible girlfriend to Joey, and not a very good friend to Bianca, either. But nonetheless, it was Bianca's choice whether or not to be friends with Chastity. Nobody forced her. And if she truly did/does consider Chastity a friend, then what she did was a clear violation of that. Pure and simple.
The writing in this episode makes it out as if it's ridiculous to fault someone for dating a friend's ex, as long as the couple has clearly broken up. But I disagree, strongly. An ex dating your friend is not the same as dating a stranger. It's awkward, painful, often even humiliating. I'm not saying you can never date anyone who has dated someone you know; and sometimes, you end up choosing love over friendship. But if you care about the friendship at all, if you want to be a decent person, then you at least try to MAKE SURE YOUR FRIEND IS OKAY WITH IT before you start dating their ex. And you sure as heck don't start going out with them mere days after the couple has broken up. Even if it's your friend who initiated the breakup... you respect the relationship that has ended, and you give them time to move on, before you pounce on their leftovers like a piece of meat.
What's worse is: Bianca knew that Chastity wasn't over Joey. She didn't want to get back together, but she wasn't ready to see him dating someone new; and she told Bianca this, in no uncertain terms. If Bianca were a real friend to Chastity, she wouldn't have just kept the relationship a secret (which still would've been better) - she would've told Joey that they need to cool it until Chastity has moved on. If she and Joey really care about each other, they could have waited to be together.
Instead, Bianca plays the innocent victim in all this while practically rubbing her new relationship with Joey in Chastity's face, and Chastity is the one who gets painted as the villain (along with anyone who's being a real friend and standing by her, instead of taking Bianca's side). I ask you: how is this fair?
Other random thoughts:
✖ How does Patrick being an ass only make him hotter? Seriously... how?
✖ Cameron is tall. Boy-howdy! He needs to stop trying to date short girls, maybe. (Which makes shipping Cameron/Chastity really hard, let me tell you. >_>)
✖ Oh yeah, I ship Cameron/Chastity. Come on, don't tell me you guys don't see it! True, they've barely said a word to each other all season... but still, how awesome would it be if they hooked up? Queen Bitch and the Geek: it's classic, man. (I blame Freaks and Geeks for this. And Buffy to a lesser extent.)
✖ I'm realizing: Joey is kinda shallow. I still like him... but I would like him more if he understood that having the "whitest teeth" is not the most important characteristic in a boyfriend. And that whole "I'm Joey Donner" argument? I mean, he's a nice guy, but he needs to get over himself.
✖ I love smug!Kat. So, so much.
✖ I'm a little annoyed that it's been so long since the first half of the season, I can't remember if we already knew Mandela was gay. But! How cute is it that she has a girlfriend now? I love how Kat just assumed "when you're in a new relationship" was about her and Patrick, and then was proven wrong. ...I totally called that, by the way. :P
✖ Ack. Is everybody going to start saying "Katrick" now? Please, no.
PS: I know I'm an episode behind here; but I haven't seen the new one yet. So if you have, no spoilers, please.