sub par or weak episodes

[jamesanthony]

What are some episodes that you all think are just not up to this show's standard? I don't care much for year 1 so I would rate those shows on their own terms (in other words a weak episode from year 1 would be weaker than what I thought of the other year 1s in general).

From the Debbie Allen era two that I find not that good are the one with En Vogue and the one with Lena Horne. Both are unusual in that they have only one plot rather than several different threads going on simulataneously. To me the En Vogue episode is dull. The Lena Horne episode seems to totally revolve around her and how unaffected she is by stardom (yet the audience claps when she makes her entrance-clapping from the audience was very rare on this show)). Both of these are from the latter half of season 6, in fact the Lena Horne show is the last one in the syndication package, suggesting that they knew full well that the show was on its way out at that point. The children's musical number is dull, Jennifer Lewis' performance is ridiculous and the only decent acting comes from Lou Myers. Everyone else seems to be kissing up to the guest star. For a better Lena Horne guest appearance, check out the second season of Sanford and Son. Or for that matter Sesame Street. Fortunately, the two part finale is a much much better affair.

Overall I can watch episodes of years 2-6 five times and still find something new or entertaining about them.

[CCRYDER1968]

All in all I'd have to say the entire last season was weak.I felt they were "trying to hard" at that point.

I actually liked the first season and I like all the others as well except,as I said,the last.

[jamesanthony]

Originally posted by CCRYDER1968
All in all I'd have to say the entire last season was weak.I felt they were "trying to hard" at that point.

In what way do you think they were trying too hard? I like how the threads from past seasons carry through into year 6, for example they make reference to a lot of things that happened in all the other years. Also we got to see Whitley and Dwayne believably mature. Some things about year 6 that are minuses: Jaleesa and Terrence are never mentioned again and Col Taylor is only in 11 episodes, Ron and Kim's relationship made no sense to me, Bumper Robinson's acting skills were not that good in his role IMO and he and Terrell are virtually regulars but are listed as guest stars.

On the plus side: It was good to finally see Freddie's mother, the digit ho episode was good as were the three episodes with Dwayne and Whitley's mothers, the one with Tupac and the one with Montell.

[CCRYDER1968]

I just feel the show started taking itself too seriously,especially the storylines with the "new" kids.It wasn't that "fun" anymore.Just my personal opinion.

[jamesanthony]

Originally posted by CCRYDER1968
I just feel the show started taking itself too seriously,especially the storylines with the "new" kids.It wasn't that "fun" anymore.Just my personal opinion.

Dorian and Lena were somewhat farfetched as a couple to me. Terrell and Charmayne would have made a little more sense and if there were a season 7 or a spinoff they probably would have gone out. I liked that they didn't just stick these 2 together automatically though; one of the good things about this series was that most of the romantic relationships took time to develop: Ron was eyeing Kim from year 4, Whitley liked Dwayne from year 2, Ron and Freddie had a love hate thing from early in year 5. Poor Gina's only romantic interest was a batterer.

Yeah, I can see where the plots with the newer students were a bit heavy handed. I didn't care much for the dance contest episode although there is some other thread in that episode involving the older characters that I enjoyed (forgot what it is).