Everwood Confidential
Since this episode is my least favorite of the entire series I thought I'd quickly watch and then post my thoughts quickly:
Good moments:
1. When Harold found out at the end that his dad loved him.
2. Ephram's date with Laynie until Ephram turns all weird and not so nice.
3. Andy and Harold talking about parenting. The story of Harold making Bright cry at least four times is hilarious. Flashback on one would have rocked.
In this episode, we see bratty Ephram come out again... I hate that Andy has to apologize for not letting Ephram go to a bar at 15 without a chaperone. Why is that even in play? Andy can be wrong but he's not here. Ephram really does turn into a brat since he throws things back in Andy's face. He goes with the trust and not wanting him to be happy. It is immature and repetitive. It also reminds me of Ephram not listening to Andy a year later when Andy tries to stop Ephram and Madison considering the legality and just knowing it was a recipe for disaster. If Ephram would have actually listened to his father instead of throwing a two year old fit about Andy not wanting him to be happy, he not only would have avoided two fights that made him look stupid, but he wouldn't have impregnated Madison either.
So I can and will continue to hate Madison but Ephram is entirely responsible for why bad things happen. He should have listened to his father, period. He didn't go there. We see what happened and his poor choices affected everyone involved. I can also get mad at Andy for his behavior at the end of season 2 and 3, but again, who caused all of this to take place? Ephram. Andy tried to stop it and Ephram simply wouldn't listen to him. Yes, we can hear the song and dance about teens not listening to parents but in most cases, we are talking about teens complaining of wanting to stay out later, not wanting to get into a bar at 15 or dating someone who produced jailbait and then impregnating this woman.
Anyway, this is why I am a huge fan of Andy Brown. He tried, he really tried.
The biggest thing to come out of this episode is the following dialogue:
Quote:
LAYNIE: He could be a pro.
EPHRAM: I am a pro.
LAYNIE: I'm having a good time, Ephram. [beat] I just, I don't know. Yet the other day when I saw Amy, I thought you maybe liked her or something.
EPHRAM: Oh, Amy and I? Oh no. We're totally just friends. I mean, we hung out a bit. But we talked about your brother a lot. It was all Colin all the time. I tried to get her to diversify but no luck.
LAYNIE: It's so ironic.
EPHRAM: What's that?
LAYNIE: Her being so devoted to him when he was going to break up with her.
[Laynie looks to see Ephram's reaction.]
EPHRAM: Wh-What are you talking about?
LAYNIE: Well, I mean, he was thinking about it at least. He told me a few days before the accident. He liked her but not as much as she liked him.
EPHRAM: Did you tell Colin that when he came home?
LAYNIE: Well, I didn't have the heart. Now I don't have to. He's fallen in love with her. And this time, it's pretty equal.
EPHRAM: So Amy has no idea?
LAYNIE: Well, no.
EPHRAM: None?
LAYNIE: No.
EPHRAM: You cannot tell her. You cannot tell her.
LAYNIE: Why would I tell her? I'm not an idiot.
EPHRAM: Well, I, I didn't mean it like that. I just...
LAYNIE: I know what you meant.
[Silence. Ephram puts his hand to his forehead like he can't believe he just did what he did.]
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Finding this out about Colin breaking up with her before the accident was very interesting. I think it further promoted Amy's fantasy about her and Colin thinking they were this big thing when they really were not. They were a childhood romance that was destined to end sooner or later. The accident, IMO, prolonged the inevitable and of course there was his unfortunate death but I really think this bit of news was to show that Amy's dedication to Colin, while noble, did not necessarily stack up to what the true reality of their relationship was pre-accident. It can be debated as to what Amy/Colin developed after the accident and before his death... was it real? Or was it based on a lie because of what we found out in this very episode regarding Colin having plans to break up with her?
Okay, those my thoughts. Not the greatest episode. In fact, my least favorite of the series. It just didn't flow properly, and the future Madison pregnancy looms (while watching this from the beginning) because of Ephram's poor choices since he refuses to listen to his father. It is frustrating to watch an episode like this knowing that Andy tried really hard, he was the best father he could be and it simply wasn't enough because he wasn't listened to. I love Ephram but this is true in my mind so it's very frustrating. I understand that the bottom line is Ephram simply cannot trust his father. But why is that at this stage? What has Andy done in the episodes and moments leading up to this? Andy has done a 180. He has been great. They have come a long way. I do not understand why this strong lack of trust still lingers and is not at least 50% better. I am not saying they are perfect but they are certainly better than Ephram is portraying. They are not like they were at the beginning of the series. Ephram just goes back to that, and that is why he feels he rules over a bar decision and dating/impregnating Madison. Again, Andy tried.
I realized I came down on Ephram hard but anything that connects to Madisongate will do that to me. I also hate how Andy got the blame for so much in late season 2/3 when he tried so hard and wasn't listened to back in season 1 during this time period. I still love you, Ephram, I just wish you would have listened to Andy! LOL