topherkraz78

MistyMountainHop

I had an interesting thought about Eric.

The show depicted him as half-assing his chores, but it also showed him as taking his paying jobs very seriously -- to the point of him getting Employee of the Month at Price Mart. So I wonder if Eric really did become disciplined under Red's parentage but began to slack off once he got into high school (and pot). But the ol' discipline snapped back into him once he was earning a paycheck.

I'm not counting Eric in season 6 when he worked at the Holiday Hotel. His characterization was wonky during that season.

msstock87

Maybe the fear of him losing his job, made him work really hard at his jobs, which is why he worked harder at his jobs rather than his chores.

MistyMountainHop

And yet, Red was his boss at Price Mart... it's all so very weird. I wonder if Red threatened to give Eric more hours at Price Mart if Eric didn't do his chores.

msstock87

Maybe, their were moments where Red really seemed proud of Eric at Price Mart.

MistyMountainHop

I loved the scene where Red tells Eric he's proud of him -- and wants more for Eric's future than Price Mart.

msstock87

That is one of my favorite Red moments ever. I love it when he actually has serious moments with Eric, they seemed to be more rare as the series went on.

twentysevenseconds

that scene, too. It was moments like that that revealed Red's true characterization -- he was so hard on Eric because he really wants what's best for him. He wants Eric to have more than he had, like any good parent. Eric and Red's conversation in "Hunting" is another of my favorite moments between them.

I don't find the thing about Eric's chores so weird, though. I mean... what kid works hard at their house chores? I don't think that's necessarily an accurate measure of Eric's drive to succeed.

jessec12

So true. I love some of their nice moments early in the series.

msstock87

I loved their conversation in "Hunting" too.

As far a the chores go, I actually was one of those weird kids that actually did work hard at their chores, but I may be a rarity.

MistyMountainHop

Yes, totally agree. In "Hunting," we learned when Eric and Red's relationship turned south. It also implied Eric and Red might've been close-ish. Their last scene in "That Wrestling Show" (115) where Red hugs Eric makes me think this was likely this case.

My comes from the fact Red was Eric's boss at Price Mart. Why would Eric work so hard under him there but not at home? He clearly thought he could get away with slacking off at home (and he managed to), so it would follow he'd think he could get away with the same thing at Price Mart.

Now, had Eric's boss not been Red, I'd have no problem with Eric's differing work ethic. But I've seen (adult) kids who work with or under their parents, uncles, etc. and they think they can get away with murder since they're family.

msstock87

I really liked Red and Eric's scenes in "Hunting" and in " That wrestling show". Any time we get to see them really talk seriously.

jackiehydelover

I really liked their good-bye when Eric leaves for Africa. I thought it was a nice send off

msstock87

I haven't watched that scene in awhile since a lot of season 7 is kind of fuzzy in my brain, but I will have to re watch it again.

MistyMountainHop

I like how Kitty clings to Eric in the last episode of season 7. She's hugging him, and he's trying to get away, backing off, and she's still holding onto him.