jediwands

Jerry D

Thanks for the new thread Michelle. It feels so great to be discussing this wonderful show in depth again.

jediwands

You’re welcome, and I completely agree. There is something magical about Everwood.

everwoodfan52

Thanks, Michelle! Love what you did with the OP!

everwoodfan52

New Discussion Question:


What were Ephram & Bright's best and worse moments as friends to each other?

Jerry D

This is a good but tough question Betty. By this, do you mean Bright and Ephram as friends to each other or friends to someone else?

jediwands

^ Wondering this as well?

Thanks.

everwoodfan52

I should have clarified that. Friends to each other.

everwoodfan52

Discussion Question:


What were Ephram & Bright's best and worse moments as friends to each other?

Jerry D

Ah, okay, thanks!

jediwands

Good question! Need to think about it.

break the window

Thanks for the new thread!

Every time I see these questions, I draw a blank realizing I haven't seen these episodes in binge watch in ages. I forget things all the time lol

I'll have to think on this one and see what others come up with and it might jog my memory

flowermoon77

This is probably an unpopular opinion but I really don't think the friendship between Bright and Ephram was one formed out of much substance or compatibility. I really more so think it formed just because those are the only two male main characters that age on the show so if they were no longer antagonistic to one another they had to become friends. Thats not to say they haven't had some cute moments over the years but I still think their friendship is kinda convoluted. I also feel similarly about Hannah and Amy but thats a discussion for another day.

Tbh I really don't think Ephram was a very good friend to Bright at all over the years. I think in many ways he took him for granted and didn't appreciate how much Bright supported him over the years. Ephram has always been a person who enjoys solitude and never really seemed to care one way or the other if he had any friends. Their friendship kind of just randomly formed toward the beginning of season 2 when Bright just began to spend time with Ephram as he felt less connected to his other friends. This likely occurred due to a mixture of events such as not being on the football (I think thats the sport he played) team anymore, dealing with his grief over Colin, and watching as his sister's depression slowly tore their family apart. He probably just didn't connect with his old friends the way he used who seem like they are probably stupid bros for the most part. I think he wanted a more serious friendship and Ephram was just the easy person he drifted toward to provide that (plus I think Ephram's sense of humor finally started to grow on Bright).

Honestly I think Ephram in the beginning just let it happen and passively reciprocated this hanging out. However over time he formed a genuine connection with Bright and started to rely on him as someone to talk to especially when dealing with The whole Madison thing. Can you imagine Ephram having to deal with The Who EM relationship in season 2 without Bright. He may have given terrible advice but Ephram just desperately needed someone to talk to. For the most part though their friendship seemed completely on Ephram's terms. As Bright pointed out it was always about his problems with Madison or whatever even though Bright was dealing with a lot of bad stuff in season 2. Even if Ephram could argue that he didn't know about the college thing he knew to some extent that stuff that was going on with his family and still dealing with his own sadness over Colin's death. I can't remember a single instance in which Ephram asked Bright about any of that stuff over the course of season 2 without Bright prompting him.

Their friendship felt entirely one-sided. Bright was always there for Ephram even if he gave really awful advice he always cared and tried his best. This seemed to only worsen in season 3. I know Bright made some bad decisions in season 3 but I feel like he still deserved a lot more from Ephram. After Ephram started dating Amy he basically stopped talking to Bright. He even said at one point that hanging out with him now that they aren't in school together is somewhat of a chore. I would be more sympathetic to this if it weren't for the fact that Bright supported Ephram throughout season 2. It was like now that he had Amy to support him he didn't need Bright anymore and he just dropped him.

Yes many of Bright's issues in season 3 were completely self-inflicted but that doesn't mean Ephram still couldn't have supported him. And Bright sleeping with girls in Ephram's studio wasn't a good thing for him to do and I'm certainly not condoning his behavior but it still feels like that was just a cry for help. If Ephram really cared I think he should have pushed back to reiterate his support for Bright after their fight and realized that he needed him at this time. He even said he looked miserable so he knew things weren't going great for him but he was so caught up in Amy he didn't care enough to look out for him. And then they just make up so easily in the season without any talk about what happened. Of course then Ephram leaves both Amy and Bright when Rose has cancer which was another terrible move. I know Bright told him to go but in that situation you should tell your friend that of course you will stay and be there for them especially when you know how horrible it is to lose a mother. And I'm not even getting into the fact that he also broke Amy's heart at this time. I found it extremely unbelievable that Bright also didn't seem to care much about that either but whatever.

Now getting to season 4 I didn't really have that many issues with their relationship in season 4. I think it was a lot more of a two sided friendship at that point. But it is interesting to note that when Bright was dating someone for the majority of a season he still found time to spend with Ephram. I know they were living together so it was much easier but he still made an effort and didn't just hang out with his girlfriend. If you compare that to when Ephram was dating Amy he barely hung out with Bright at all. And I know he was dealing with all his Juliard stress in season 3 and Bright was imploding a little but he still could have tried a little harder. And a part of me imagines that after the season now that he's back together with Amy he will go back to spending most of his time with her and dedicating very little to his friendship with Bright.

Overall while their friendship had some genuinely touching scenes it just didn't always feel earned considering the lack of time or effort Ephram seemed to ever put into supporting Bright despite Bright always being there for Ephram even if he did give him bad advice. I just think Ephram always had this mentality that his problems were the worst and more important than everyone else. I also think despite him becoming closer to Bright and caring about him a part of him just always kinda saw Bright as stupid and felt like he was superior to him. I do think this got a lot better in the final season but before that their friendship was so one sided.

Sorry for the rant. Also I wanted to reassure everyone that I really don't hate Ephram even though this post maybe makes it seem like I do. I actually really love him.I just think that despite all of his wonderful traits one of his worst is he tends to believe his problems are worse than everyone elses. And Bright is the person he seems to express this poor quality around the most. I just think when it comes to him he can be really thoughtless and seem their friendship as one of convenience. Just watching the two of them on screen this always really bothered me. So what are everyone else thoughts? I know a lot of people love their friendship so I'm prepared to hear the voices of dissent come at me.

Jerry D

To be honest, I didn’t think all that much of Bright and Ephram’s friendship. I saw it as mostly a friendship of convenience and on Bright’s part, it filled a void left by Colin’s death. Ephram was a loner in many ways especially when he first came to Everwood, and I enjoyed his friendships with Will and Kyle, but most of the focus of the show seemed to be on his relationship with Madison (unfortunately) and Amy and his relationship with his father and to a lesser degree his sister. I’d have to re-watch the episodes to really look at Bright and Ephram’s friendship more closely to really answer your question Betty.

jediwands

You're welcome!