Lowell's Checkered Past - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 09-19-2003, 08:31 PM

Lowell's past life history is VERY confusing on "Wings".....

Sometimes an episode will state that Lowell grew up with Joe, Helen, Brian, etc. An older Nantucket resident (Joe and Brian's coach, their mother, etc.) will refer to "The Mather Kid" or "The Mather Boy" and remember some dumb thing that Lowell did when he went to school with the Hackett brothers, Helen, etc.....

But then there are OTHER episodes where it seems like Lowell didn't grow up with the Nantucket gang, but moved to the area later in life. In fact, in the pilot episode, Brian had NO idea who Lowell was....Joe had to introduce them to each other!

Does anyone else here find Lowell's background to be filled with contradictions?

Adamantium · 09-20-2003, 10:50 AM

Yeah.

Well let's see:

In "Legacy" Joe introduces Brian to Lowell. He says the Mather family has been on the Island for five generations. So, alright, Lowell could have lived on the Island all his life, without knowing Brian.

Maybe in highschool, Lowell wasn't friends with the trio. That might explain why when Miss Jenkins omes, Joe says "Hey Lowell, you remember Miss Jenkins". Joe could have known Lowell went to the same highschool as him.

I'd still like to see an animated version, called "Wings Babies". Featuring baby verisons of Joe, Brian, Helen, Lowell and Roy. Fay would be the babysitter.

losthighway · 09-20-2003, 06:42 PM

That’s not a bad idea TVAdam.

As for the inconsistencies I think it was a classic example of the writers taking out an artistic license….I’m sure they had some idea where they wanted to go with the characters when they first created the show, but they really didn’t know exactly where the story would take them, and how characters would relate to each other, so they had to make changes on the fly. The same was true with the development of the Helen and Joe storyline. When they first started writing for those characters I don’t think the writers knew they would eventually have them marry, but the story just developed that way. Of course it would be easier if writers knew how long a series would last….then they could write plot points and stories to build to those moments. But they couldn’t say we’ll break them up in season 2 and then around season 5 we’ll bring them back together, because they have no idea if they will ever see a season 5.

wingshock · 09-24-2003, 12:01 PM

I forgot about that intro in Legacy. It definitely seemed to me that later in the show Lowell had known Joe & Brian... like when they talked about playing sports, and they went to the same reunion, didn't they? They definitely knew the same French teacher! (I loved that Lowell speaking French). BON!

But yeah, those inconsistencies are bound to happen... look at Happy Days. In the pilot ep, Ralph Malph was the "new kid" who'd just moved to town. Later there was an ep where Potsie talked about riding in a red wagon with him with they were little boys.

Love,

Wing<><

Chocoholic · 09-24-2003, 02:00 PM

I think that Wings was actually pretty good at not having too many plot inconsistancies. The only other big ones that I can think of are Helen's sister being named Lorraine in an early episode and the big-faced girl having two different names. (I think there's more than one big-faced girl. We ARE talking about Antonio here!

)

Happenstance · 09-24-2003, 09:08 PM

I can think of several inconsistancies.

1. In "Stew in a Stew", during the Faye/Joe flashback meeting Brian says it was 6 years ago. Now since this epi happened near the end of season 3, that would mean that this meeting took place 3 years before the show started, well when Joe sells the airline in "Wingless" he says he's owned Sandpiper for 8 years. I suppose it could have taken Joe 3 years to get his business off the ground, but would Faye have waited that long possibly with no income coming in?

2. Season 7, "Sons and Lovers", Roy hasn't spoken to R.J. in 6 years. Problem: That would mean they stopped speaking in season 1, not season 2 when R.J. comes out. Of course we all know that ep was filmed in the first season and held over but the "Sons and Lovers" episode could have been fixed.

3. In "Legacy" Faye doesn't know Joe has a brother or was engaged to Carol, in "Stew in a Stew" Joe "tells her his tale of woe, Injun Joe". Of course Faye could have forgotten since she was hammered.

There are others I just can't remember them off the top of my head at the moment. Anybody else have any?

nantucket_wings · 09-24-2003, 09:28 PM

how about Lowells reference to Sconset Sal being his godmother in " Marriage, Italian Style "

Chocoholic · 09-25-2003, 10:44 AM

I just thought of a couple of more.

1. Lowell says in one or two episodes that he has no sisters, yet he named his sister's twins. (Nancy and Fancy Mather

)

2. I think Antonio once mentioned that he was the oldest in his family, but in the episode "I've got a Secret" he confessed to wearing his older sister's wedding dress.

3. In the first episode, Joe said that Brian was more of a "piece of popcorn stuck bwtwen the teeth for 28 years", making me think that Brian was 28 years old and Joe was 30, but in the 3rd season, Joe turned 30. Maybe Joe and Brian were 28 and 26 in the first season.

4. Several references were made in the early episodes about Brian attending Princeton, but that fact was forgotten in later seasons. In one of the last season episodes, Joe said that Brian didn't even go to college.

pilotguy · 09-25-2003, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy

Several references were made in the early episodes about Brian attending Princeton, but that fact was forgotten in later seasons. In one of the last season episodes, Joe said that Brian didn't even go to college.

WOW, that one's a BIGGIE! The whole character theme of Brian throughout most of the show's run was the fact that he was a guy who had an impressive higher education and could have done just about ANYTHING that he wanted to in life...but he kept screwing up every good career opportunity that came his way with his immaturity!

Happenstance · 09-26-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Joe said that Brian didn't even go to college

Really? I don't remember that. What episode was this in? That's a big plot hole given the numerous other mentions of Brian's educational past.

AngeFaitore · 09-27-2003, 05:15 PM

At times "Wings" has the consistency of an Anime Comedy.
All the guys are hentais (Okay, Bunnie was, too) and the girls are just there for fanservice.
I *HAD* to say that!

-gary_co · 10-01-2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Happenstance
Really? I don't remember that. What episode was this in? That's a big plot hole given the numerous other mentions of Brian's educational past.

I think it was Just Call Me Angel when he was comparing himself to Brian and why he should've been the hero.

Also, in Legacy, Joe is berating Brian for getting a full-ride and then dropping out.

09-19-2003, 08:31 PM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Lowell's Checkered Past Lowell's past life history is VERY confusing on "Wings"..... Sometimes an episode will state that Lowell grew up with Joe, Helen, Brian, etc. An older Nantucket resident (Joe and Brian's coach, their mother, etc.) will refer to "The Mather Kid" or "The Mather Boy" and remember some dumb thing that Lowell did when he went to school with the Hackett brothers, Helen, etc..... But then there are OTHER episodes where it seems like Lowell didn't grow up with the Nantucket gang, but moved to the area later in life. In fact, in the pilot episode, Brian had NO idea who Lowell was....Joe had to introduce them to each other! Does anyone else here find Lowell's background to be filled with contradictions?

09-24-2003, 12:01 PM	#4
wingshock Way, Truth, Life <>< Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2003 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 308	I forgot about that intro in Legacy. It definitely seemed to me that later in the show Lowell had known Joe & Brian... like when they talked about playing sports, and they went to the same reunion, didn't they? They definitely knew the same French teacher! (I loved that Lowell speaking French). BON! But yeah, those inconsistencies are bound to happen... look at Happy Days. In the pilot ep, Ralph Malph was the "new kid" who'd just moved to town. Later there was an ep where Potsie talked about riding in a red wagon with him with they were little boys. Love, Wing<><
	__________________ http://wingsfanfic.homestead.com

09-24-2003, 09:28 PM	#7
nantucket_wings " Wing Nut " Senior Member Join Date: Apr 08, 2003 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 1,042	how about Lowells reference to Sconset Sal being his godmother in " Marriage, Italian Style "
	__________________ Stace aka: Nantucket_Wings

09-27-2003, 05:15 PM	#11
AngeFaitore This Week's Logo Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 30, 2002 Location: Something somewhere, in some way at some point and time Posts: 690	At times "Wings" has the consistency of an Anime Comedy. All the guys are hentais (Okay, Bunnie was, too) and the girls are just there for fanservice. I HAD to say that!
	__________________ Ange Faitore The Closing Logo of the Week: The Viacom "V" of Death. Thomas Haden Church: The Power of a Laugh http://www.geocities.com/thc3_31_60/Thomas.html

09-20-2003, 10:50 AM	#2
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Yeah. Well let's see: In "Legacy" Joe introduces Brian to Lowell. He says the Mather family has been on the Island for five generations. So, alright, Lowell could have lived on the Island all his life, without knowing Brian. Maybe in highschool, Lowell wasn't friends with the trio. That might explain why when Miss Jenkins omes, Joe says "Hey Lowell, you remember Miss Jenkins". Joe could have known Lowell went to the same highschool as him. I'd still like to see an animated version, called "Wings Babies". Featuring baby verisons of Joe, Brian, Helen, Lowell and Roy. Fay would be the babysitter.

09-20-2003, 06:42 PM	#3
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	That’s not a bad idea TVAdam. As for the inconsistencies I think it was a classic example of the writers taking out an artistic license….I’m sure they had some idea where they wanted to go with the characters when they first created the show, but they really didn’t know exactly where the story would take them, and how characters would relate to each other, so they had to make changes on the fly. The same was true with the development of the Helen and Joe storyline. When they first started writing for those characters I don’t think the writers knew they would eventually have them marry, but the story just developed that way. Of course it would be easier if writers knew how long a series would last….then they could write plot points and stories to build to those moments. But they couldn’t say we’ll break them up in season 2 and then around season 5 we’ll bring them back together, because they have no idea if they will ever see a season 5.

09-24-2003, 02:00 PM	#5
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I think that Wings was actually pretty good at not having too many plot inconsistancies. The only other big ones that I can think of are Helen's sister being named Lorraine in an early episode and the big-faced girl having two different names. (I think there's more than one big-faced girl. We ARE talking about Antonio here! )

09-24-2003, 09:08 PM	#6
Happenstance Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 08, 2003 Posts: 29	I can think of several inconsistancies. 1. In "Stew in a Stew", during the Faye/Joe flashback meeting Brian says it was 6 years ago. Now since this epi happened near the end of season 3, that would mean that this meeting took place 3 years before the show started, well when Joe sells the airline in "Wingless" he says he's owned Sandpiper for 8 years. I suppose it could have taken Joe 3 years to get his business off the ground, but would Faye have waited that long possibly with no income coming in? 2. Season 7, "Sons and Lovers", Roy hasn't spoken to R.J. in 6 years. Problem: That would mean they stopped speaking in season 1, not season 2 when R.J. comes out. Of course we all know that ep was filmed in the first season and held over but the "Sons and Lovers" episode could have been fixed. 3. In "Legacy" Faye doesn't know Joe has a brother or was engaged to Carol, in "Stew in a Stew" Joe "tells her his tale of woe, Injun Joe". Of course Faye could have forgotten since she was hammered. There are others I just can't remember them off the top of my head at the moment. Anybody else have any?

09-25-2003, 10:44 AM	#8
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I just thought of a couple of more. 1. Lowell says in one or two episodes that he has no sisters, yet he named his sister's twins. (Nancy and Fancy Mather ) 2. I think Antonio once mentioned that he was the oldest in his family, but in the episode "I've got a Secret" he confessed to wearing his older sister's wedding dress. 3. In the first episode, Joe said that Brian was more of a "piece of popcorn stuck bwtwen the teeth for 28 years", making me think that Brian was 28 years old and Joe was 30, but in the 3rd season, Joe turned 30. Maybe Joe and Brian were 28 and 26 in the first season. 4. Several references were made in the early episodes about Brian attending Princeton, but that fact was forgotten in later seasons. In one of the last season episodes, Joe said that Brian didn't even go to college.