SEASON 9

[valentina warner]

SEASON 9


After finally finishing watching season 9, here is how i list my character on preferences:

1. BLAIR: even though the writers did everything to turn her into a POD, in the end she showed everyone that she really is 'the girl with the golden heart', by using her own money to buy 'Eastland' (her second home, and the one place where she truly made the best friendship ever!).

2. NATALIE and BEVERLY ANN (i just can't make up my mind)
NAT: because she became the most independent of all the girls and she never lost her great sense of humour! I admired her greatly for standing up to her grounds, and for her adventurous spirit by moving to Soho with a bunch of strangers! (it made me wanna be 20 again, and wish i had a friend like her!)
BEVERLY ANN, because she is the only one who showed kindness, by taking 2 street urchins under her wings: ANDY, and a wild teenage girl from Australia named PIPPA who was an absolute stranger! (our 'spiky short haired blond' really is MRS G's sister!)

3. PIPPA: i found the way she just crashed into the girl's life and Beverly Ann's very refreshing! Imagine coming all the way from Australia on your own, to be be intimidated by a POD named JO???? (lucky for her that she was instantly adopted by the most loving person after MRS G: her sister BEVERLY ANN!)
I also loved her Aussie accent and her great sense of humour too!

4. TOOTIE:all she did was talk about JEFFREY non stop (in a way she became the NANCY from season 1, who only babbled on about ROGER lol!)and
to be honest i liked her a lot more during the early years and especially season 1! She was so adorable back then!
I have to admit that she turned out to be the prettiest one of them all though!

5. JO: she became the biggest and meanest POD of them all! I hated how on more than one occasion she mocks BLAIR, always calling her shallow, insensitive, spoiled etc.... (she should look at herself in the mirror lol!).
BLAIR turned out to be the nicest one of the two: on one episode she even asked at the beauty parlor if they had a magazine with cars on it, knowing that's the kind of books JO likes to read (it shows what a caring and attentive person she was).
In the end, POD JO marries a stranger she hardly knows, and who turns out to be a goof! (a very handsome one indeed and the best looking one of them all, but without personality!)
Result= 2 PODS!

6. URCHIN ANDY: his presence was always unnecessary to me, and the only meaning of him being on the show at all, was having BEVERLY ANN adopt him and make him part of her life! (without our 'spiky short haired blond', he was invisible!)

About the guys:
I absolutely loved the pairing of BLAIR and CASEY: they had the greatest dynamic, and he was so handsome too! It was a shame they split in the end though.....

NATALIE and SNAKE made a great pairing too: both were funny and complemented each other! (in the end it's a mystery whether they remain together or not)...

TOOTIE and JEFFREY were absolutely made for each other: the sweetheart as they say, and the one you were sure would remain on each other's side forever and ever!

JO and RICK were the biggest farce/joke and had absolutely NO chemistry whatsoever! (he was a joke, and she was a POD!)

Lastly: watching the last 2 episodes of FOL makes me almost wish there had been a season 10!
BLAIR's devotion for 'Eastland' was heartwarming, and she truly became the new MRS G! I loved how well she handled JULIETTE in LEWIS in the end (after their 'heart to heart' talk) and managed to let her stay at 'Eastland'.

Those 2 last episodes really are the beginning of the end! It brings us back to the roots and shows us where it all began: as an all girls (except now with boys too) boarding school where it introduces us the naughtiest and most bad behaved girl, who 9 years later would become the headmistress, so she can keep the school where she felt truly at home and made the best friends, but most of all, where she met the most inspiring person who would have the greatest influence on her, MRS G, a 'feisty red haired' housekeeper with the biggest heart, but also the wisest mind!

To conclude, it came to my attention how the writers tried to recreate the main characters: the banker's daughter was supposed to be the new BLAIR? The mean girl so to say, (except that she didn't have the 'heart of gold' nor the chemistry our 'golden haired girl' had with MRS G.).
And JULIETTE LEWIS was probably meant to be the new JO: going to 'Chulagga bars' with fake IDS hee hee!

My guess, is that JULIETTE LEWIS would have become the main girl (had there been a season 10) and i could have easily seen her as BLAIR's favourite girl and confidante, with plenty of more 'heart to heart' talks....

Before i finish: that teacher that was after BLAIR was awful and way too old for her! (It made MR BRADLEY look like a prince next to him hee hee!)

Overall, i found season 9 better than i thought, and in a way the last chapter was left opened....

PS: season 7 still remains my least favourite of them all!

Comments, anyone?

[80s Dude]

I like Tootie in the early years when she became Eastland casino magnet and was an astute businesswoman.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I like Tootie in the early years when she became Eastland casino magnet and was an astute businesswoman.

Same here: TOOTIE was adorable and funny in the entire season 1! (no wonder she was kept on after the FOL reboot!)

[Sitcommania]

I like Season 9, but I wish they had spent more time developing Jo’s relationship with Rick and Blair’s relationship with Casey. Too bad George wasn’t there, either. Closing Over Our Heads feels arbitrary. I don’t care for the Eastland ending just because it feels shoehorned in. The kid actors are a little obnoxious. If there had been a season 10, I’d rather see it set in the house with Bev and the 4 girls and Andy, sans Pippa.

Speaking of Mindy’s podcast, she says Facts lasted until ‘89. I feel like I’ve heard her say this elsewhere. Mindy, whaddya smokin’?

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I like Season 9, but I wish they had spent more time developing Jo’s relationship with Rick and Blair’s relationship with Casey. Too bad George wasn’t there, either. Closing Over Our Heads feels arbitrary. I don’t care for the Eastland ending just because it feels shoehorned in. The kid actors are a little obnoxious. If there had been a season 10, I’d rather see it set in the house with Bev and the 4 girls and Andy, sans Pippa.

Speaking of Mindy’s podcast, she says Facts lasted until ‘89. I feel like I’ve heard her say this elsewhere. Mindy, whaddya smokin’?

You like URCHIN ANDY over PIPPA???? (you must be the only one!)
I found that kid really annoying, and like i said: he wasn't necessary to the show until BEVERLY ANN adopted him, and even then he still irritated me!
PIPPA on the other was really cool with her Aussie accent, and she had the greatest sense of humour!

But i kind of agree with the kids (except maybe JULIETTE LEWIS): that girl named ASHLEY was a pain on the neck and the most obnoxious one of them all!

And yes, i also would have loved to see more of BLAIR and CASEY's relationship (even JO and RICK for that matter, to make it more believable!): that last 'middle aged' teacher from Eastland who was after her was a creep!

[Sitcommania]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

You like URCHIN ANDY over PIPPA???? (you must be the only one!)
I found that kid really annoying, and like i said: he wasn't necessary to the show until BEVERLY ANN adopted him, and even then he still irritated me!
PIPPA on the other was really cool with her Aussie accent, and she had the greatest sense of humour!

But i kind of agree with the kids (except maybe JULIETTE LEWIS): that girl named ASHLEY was a pain on the neck and the most obnoxious one of them all!

And yes, i also would have loved to see more of BLAIR and CASEY's relationship (even JO and RICK for that matter, to make it more believable!): that last 'middle aged' teacher from Eastland who was after her was a creep!

I’ve never liked Pippa lol. I could take or leave Andy, honestly. But I would have to choose him over Pippa.

[Impressions]

Season 9 was a mess. It's like they had no idea what to do with the characters.

Jo became the resident mean girl for no good reason and married someone she or the audience barely knew and it wasn't believable. Also, what was her career path? She wanted to become a social worker in season 9?? What? What did she actually study in school, anyway? Didn't she end up as a cop in the Reunion movie? I thought she was interested in fixing bikes for a living? What exactly was her career?

Blair was being groomed for a lawyer, and suddenly she pivots to become headmaster of Eastland? What?! It's like they made her that just for the sake of the plot and did not fit her character at all. It would make MORE sense if she took over her father's textile company since she was SO obsessed with beauty and fashion. Someone else should have been the headmaster. I just couldn't see Blair as it.

Tootie became a babbling idiot. I just couldn't stand her this season. That's all I have to say.

Natalie moving to Soho made sense. I never saw what she liked in Snake.

Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa were unnecessary characters and I don't really feel the need to comment on them.

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I like Season 9, but I wish they had spent more time developing Jo’s relationship with Rick and Blair’s relationship with Casey. Too bad George wasn’t there, either. Closing Over Our Heads feels arbitrary. I don’t care for the Eastland ending just because it feels shoehorned in. The kid actors are a little obnoxious. If there had been a season 10, I’d rather see it set in the house with Bev and the 4 girls and Andy, sans Pippa.

Speaking of Mindy’s podcast, she says Facts lasted until ‘89. I feel like I’ve heard her say this elsewhere. Mindy, whaddya smokin’?

I remember her saying that too in her Mondays with Mindy. She actually tried to CORRECT someone saying it ended in '89, when someone said it ended in '88.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Impressions

Season 9 was a mess. It's like they had no idea what to do with the characters.

Yes. It's like they didn't even know who the characters were.

Jo became the resident mean girl for no good reason and married someone she or the audience barely knew and it wasn't believable.

That marriage was so quick I got whiplash watching it.

Blair was being groomed for a lawyer, and suddenly she pivots to become headmaster of Eastland? What?! It's like they made her that just for the sake of the plot and did not fit her character at all. It would make MORE sense if she took over her father's textile company since she was SO obsessed with beauty and fashion. Someone else should have been the headmaster. I just couldn't see Blair as it.

I didn't mind the headmaster part, as it made sense to me that Blair was just taking a break from lawyerdom to take on something that fell into her lap unexpectedly. In other words, unlike Jo's eventual social-worker-to-cop career change, it's actually explained in the script. Maybe Blair could have used her legal expertise to help Eastland in future episodes, had there been any.

I remember her saying that too in her Mondays with Mindy. She actually tried to CORRECT someone saying it ended in '89, when someone said it ended in '88.

It's so weird. Everyone knows the series ended in 1988. Even counting the reruns after the finale would only take the show to September 1988.

[valentina warner]

Am i the ONLY one who can see the potential in BLAIR running 'Eastland' as the new headmistress?
For one: nobody loved that school as much as her (she spent the most important years of her growing years there, she even said it was like her second home, and it was the only school she'd never run away from, and where she made real friends).
The fact that BLAIR gave her own funds to save 'Eastland', shows us what a generous soul she was and how much that school meant to her, so in the end: i'd say she did most of the growing of all the girls.

I know season 9 had a lot of POD moments, but i feel that the ending was the best part: it's basically where it all began, 9 years earlier with the most charismatic girls in history, who not only shone, but gave their best performances!
As for the new kids: they were okay, but they could never compete with the Lost girls in a million years....

[Impressions]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Am i the ONLY one who can see the potential in BLAIR running 'Eastland' as the new headmistress?
For one: nobody loved that school as much as her (she spent the most important years of her growing years there, she even said it was like her second home, and it was the only school she'd never run away from, and where she made real friends).
The fact that BLAIR gave her own funds to save 'Eastland', shows us what a generous soul she was and how much that school meant to her, so in the end: i'd say she did most of the growing of all the girls.

I know season 9 had a lot of POD moments, but i feel that the ending was the best part: it's basically where it all began, 9 years earlier with the most charismatic girls in history, who not only shone, but gave their best performances!
As for the new kids: they were okay, but they could never compete with the Lost girls in a million years....

I couldn't her see her in that role. It didn't fit her character. Yes, she was passionate about Eastland, but that didn't excuse the horrible attempt at the writers to get her into this role. There was absolutely no build-up to the school closing. Were we ever given any reason why her father wouldn't buy it? Suddenly she was thrust into being headmaster after being a lawyer. It's like the writers had hap-hazardly wrote this storyline to have a spin-off. It felt forced. The only Blair thing that she did in those episodes was hang a portrait of herself on the wall.

I personally don't think they gave her enough time to grow into the role. She was thrown into the shenanigans. No orientation. No nothing. She just spent her entire savings to save the school and it seemed like everyone treated her like crap. I don't think the writers made her look successful in that role, but then again, that may have been boring.

I also didn't like any of the new Eastland children and the writers ran out of ideas with this episode. They were all about "me me me" and had bad attitudes. This plot was so bad that they used a recycled storyline from "The New Girl" (Part 1) when the Eastland girls went to the Chug-a-lug bar. Yikes. Really? That's the best they could come up with?

The ending made no sense. I didn't get the chicken suit with Rick. I got that Natalie was in New York, but she couldn't be there to take the picture with the rest of the cast? The last episodes were disappointing and I don't think the show ever got proper closure.

It's like the writers wrote these episodes in a few hours.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Impressions

I couldn't her see her in that role. It didn't fit her character. Yes, she was passionate about Eastland, but that didn't excuse the horrible attempt at the writers to get her into this role. There was absolutely no build-up to the school closing. Were we ever given any reason why her father wouldn't buy it? Suddenly she was thrust into being headmaster after being a lawyer. It's like the writers had hap-hazardly wrote this storyline to have a spin-off. It felt forced. The only Blair thing that she did in those episodes was hang a portrait of herself on the wall.

I personally don't think they gave her enough time to grow into the role. She was thrown into the shenanigans. No orientation. No nothing. She just spent her entire savings to save the school and it seemed like everyone treated her like crap. I don't think the writers made her look successful in that role, but then again, that may have been boring.

I also didn't like any of the new Eastland children and the writers ran out of ideas with this episode. They were all about "me me me" and had bad attitudes. This plot was so bad that they used a recycled storyline from "The New Girl" (Part 1) when the Eastland girls went to the Chug-a-lug bar. Yikes. Really? That's the best they could come up with?

The ending made no sense. I didn't get the chicken suit with Rick. I got that Natalie was in New York, but she couldn't be there to take the picture with the rest of the cast? The last episodes were disappointing and I don't think the show ever got proper closure.

It's like the writers wrote these episodes in a few hours.

I absolutely see your point of view, Impressions!

I also felt that the new kids were crap!!!!
For one, ASHLEY was a clone of BLAIR: they tried to turn her into the mean girl (the way they did with BLAIR when she clashed with MRS G on the 'Pilot') but i just wasn't working!!!!
Same thing with JULIETTE LEWIS: was she supposed to be the new JO? (the rebel running into bars and wanting to leave school)????

And yes, even though i loved the idea of BLAIR as a headmistress, she just wasn't really appreciated: that teacher was horrible and rather patronizing!!! (i'm really glad she didn't take any crap from him!)

In answer to your question on why DAVID WARNER didn't give BLAIR the money or helpeld her with 'Eastland': basically, he wanted her to grow up and show him she was an adult.

The ending with RICK hiring a guy in a costume chicken was really bad, but worst of all, was the way TOOTIE treated NATALIE by hanging up the phone on her, claiming she was waiting on a phone call from JEFF???? (is this the way to treat the person who's been your best friend for 8 years????)

Frankly: TOOTIE was the biggest airhead/pod by then (along with JO) and i could barely stand her!!!!

[Impressions]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I absolutely see your point of view, Impressions!

I also felt that the new kids were crap!!!!
For one, ASHLEY was a clone of BLAIR: they tried to turn her into the mean girl (the way they did with BLAIR when she clashed with MRS G on the 'Pilot') but i just wasn't working!!!!
Same thing with JULIETTE LEWIS: was she supposed to be the new JO? (the rebel running into bars and wanting to leave school)????

And yes, even though i loved the idea of BLAIR as a headmistress, she just wasn't really appreciated: that teacher was horrible and rather patronizing!!! (i'm really glad she didn't take any crap from him!)

In answer to your question on why DAVID WARNER didn't give BLAIR the money or helpeld her with 'Eastland': basically, he wanted her to grow up and show him she was an adult.

The ending with RICK hiring a guy in a costume chicken was really bad, but worst of all, was the way TOOTIE treated NATALIE by hanging up the phone on her, claiming she was waiting on a phone call from JEFF???? (is this the way to treat the person who's been your best friend for 8 years????)

Frankly: TOOTIE was the biggest airhead/pod by then (along with JO) and i could barely stand her!!!!

Thanks for the additional details.

Yes, the ending felt like a clone of season 1 and 2. Some of the girls felt like archtypes of previous characters. Ashley was a clone of Blair, Terry was a clone of Jo, Sara was a clone of Natalie, Adam was like a clone of Andy, Jennifer was a clone of Tootie.

And there were just too many girls and boys. Obviously the writers didn't learn ANYTHING from season 1.

I'm glad the show didn't go on for a season 10, because it would make absolutely no sense to keep the show going with all the girl's leading separate lives and would no longer be able to be under one roof. Jo was married. Blair was running Eastland. Natalie was living another life in NYC. Tootie would have probably gotten married to Jeff and then moved to London to pursue acting. Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa had no reason being there in the first place.

It just would not have worked.