What topics should FOL have done, but didn't?

[Impressions]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I can't ever imagine Blair being critical of beauty contests, except when she loses. That would be a Molly thing. Something where they had some disagreements in this area in the first season. If not Molly, then it sounds like something Natalie would oppose.

I think Natalie was indirectly body shamed in "Sex Symbol". The producers and writers were very careful about not directing fat jokes toward Natalie/Mindy.

I was thinking that episode would be a lesson to Blair that not all beauty pageants are positive experiences. Maybe she has a change of heart after someone tries to sabotage her, she gets mistreated or another girl, like Molly, opens her eyes to the pitfalls of beauty pageants. But judging how shallow Blair is throughout the series, it’s unlikely that she would have this character arc.

Yes, “Sex Symbol” did a little body shaming to Natalie. But elsewhere in the series, we don’t really have another that addresses the girls’ weight again (or maybe they didn’t want to addresses weight again). I’m actually surprised they didn’t do another episode on the subject of dieting or exercise (especially with the ‘80s fitness boom) since the girl’s weight came under scrutiny from producers and celebrities like Joan Rivers. They could have dealt with the “weight” issue later on in the series and maybe even directly addressed Joan River’s “Fats of Life” comments and have the girls go on a diet or have a body positivity episode. But maybe that would be ahead of the show’s time.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think we did get "sex offender on campus" and an abortion episode. A homeless episode would have been very nice

I must’ve missed those episodes. Which ones were you referring to?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Impressions

I must’ve missed those episodes. Which ones were you referring to?

Episode 3-02, "Fear Strikes Back" - Natalie is assaulted on the way back from a Halloween costume party, and is afraid to go outside following the experience, and episode 4-02, "The Source" - Natalie is under pressure to reveal her source for a controversial article on a schoolmate's secret abortion she has written for the school newspaper.

[Impressions]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Episode 3-02, "Fear Strikes Back" - Natalie is assaulted on the way back from a Halloween costume party, and is afraid to go outside following the experience, and episode 4-02, "The Source" - Natalie is under pressure to reveal her source for a controversial article on a schoolmate's secret abortion she has written for the school newspaper.

Oh that’s right! I forgot about those episodes.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Impressions

Oh that’s right! I forgot about those episodes.

Yeah, I know what you mean. There were so many episodes. I tend to forget about the episodes from the OOH era.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Impressions

I was thinking that episode would be a lesson to Blair that not all beauty pageants are positive experiences. Maybe she has a change of heart after someone tries to sabotage her, she gets mistreated or another girl, like Molly, opens her eyes to the pitfalls of beauty pageants. But judging how shallow Blair is throughout the series, it’s unlikely that she would have this character arc.

Yes, “Sex Symbol” did a little body shaming to Natalie. But elsewhere in the series, we don’t really have another that addresses the girls’ weight again (or maybe they didn’t want to addresses weight again). I’m actually surprised they didn’t do another episode on the subject of dieting or exercise (especially with the ‘80s fitness boom) since the girl’s weight came under scrutiny from producers and celebrities like Joan Rivers. They could have dealt with the “weight” issue later on in the series and maybe even directly addressed Joan River’s “Fats of Life” comments and have the girls go on a diet or have a body positivity episode. But maybe that would be ahead of the show’s time.



I must’ve missed those episodes. Which ones were you referring to?

I strongly disagree with you concerning BLAIR: i totally see her having an 'eye opener' and a change of heart concerning the 'Beauty pageant' contest.

Sure BLAIR was 'shallow' to an extend, but she also showed us some dept and loyalty when concerning her friends, and i can see very well MOLLY or MRS G teaching her a lesson, about how not being part of a 'Beauty pageant' is not the end of the world (remember on the episode 'Breaking point', she learns it the hard way, that not being a president isn't that important).

BLAIR is probably the most interesting character on FOL, due to the fact that she started out as really shallow, but she is also the one who does the most growing, by coming out of her shallowshell and showing us, that after all she has a 'heart of gold' and a great loyalty in friendship

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

BLAIR...is also the one who does the most growing, by coming out of her shallowshell and showing us, that after all she has a 'heart of gold' and a great loyalty in friendship

I don't know about that. Jo gives her some pretty stiff competition in that department.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I don't know about that. Jo gives her some pretty stiff competition in that department.

Not really: JO was always the popular one among the 'Core of 4' , whereas BLAIR is the one TOOTIE and NAT made fun of, and even ganged up on her a couple of times.

On the episode 'Kids can be cruel', the 3 of them laugh at BLAIR and make her look like the 'bad' guy (when in reality NATALIE is the one who was responsible for the prank).

JO really had it easy all along, but BLAIR had to work more on her 'rich bitch' image to prove them wrong, and show them that deep down she was more than meet the eyes....

['80sSitcoms]

I don't think you can say "Not really". You watch "The New Girl" and then an episode from season 8 and try to say she "hasn't really" changed. Some would tell you she changed more than Blair.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I don't think you can say "Not really". You watch "The New Girl" and then an episode from season 8 and try to say she "hasn't really" changed. Some would tell you she changed more than Blair.

I suppose the 4 of them changed: JO did in the way that she 'softened' towards BLAIR and they bonded really more on the later seasons.

['80sSitcoms]

Well, there's a whole lot more, but yeah, lol.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, there's a whole lot more, but yeah, lol.

I'd say, there's a whole lot more for the 4 of them (not just for JO)

[80s Dude]

An Eastland girl fights against the school’s strict dress code

Jo did that discreetly. She always dressed like Oscar Madison.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Jo did that discreetly. She always dressed like Oscar Madison.

It's true. But she never wore "street clothes" in class. The most I ever saw Jo rebel with, in terms of the uniform, was wearing her tie loosened, or wearing the "wrong" color (blue tie with a blue sweater, or maroon tie with the maroon vest... a strict no-no).

The dress code was never one of her fights. Treat Eastland teachers badly, sure... maybe even get them fired. But ya gotta maintain the proper Eastland attire in class.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It's true. But she never wore "street clothes" in class. The most I ever saw Jo rebel with, in terms of the uniform, was wearing her tie loosened, or wearing the "wrong" color (blue tie with a blue sweater, or maroon tie with the maroon vest... a strict no-no).

The dress code was never one of her fights. Treat Eastland teachers badly, sure... maybe even get them fired. But ya gotta maintain the proper Eastland attire in class.

Yes that's right: JO did get that poor English teacher fired in the episode 'Front page', and she wasn't supportive of GAYLE in the episode 'Teacher's pet' (although in the end she apologizes for being rotten to her).

[Sitcommania]

Originally Posted by triple19

Hello,

I'm a longtime fan of FOL. I've posted a couple of times under an unregistered name, and have been reading other posts. But now I've decided to join the fun.

Okay, enough with the intro..here's my question. It's one that I haven't seen addressed on the boards before.
As you now, FOL has has done some serious episodes dealing with topics like drugs, drinking, divorce,religion, sex, and death.
What serious teen topics would you have liked to have seen covered by the show, but weren't because they might have been too controversial?
Here are a few that I thought of off hand: teen pregnancy, AIDS, and abusive relationships.
Let me know what you think.







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Natalie: A flashback within a flashback..I'm so brillant it scares me

A gay male character would have been interesting. As would a story about HIV/AIDS. Bullying would have been a good topic, too.