Young Americans - Episode Discussion - Episode 8 - Will Bella Scout Her Mom?

**wolkenfuehlen** · 03-17-2008, 01:13 PM

See also:
Episode 1 - Pilot
Episode 2 - Our Town
Episode 3 - Kiss and Tell
Episode 4 - Cinderbella
Episode 5 - Winning Isn't Everything
Episode 6 - Gone
Episode 7 - Free Will

Scout invites Will for vacation. Aww.

Is it me, or is Will acting a bit like it's Finn's fault that the funds for the scholarship ran out? Here we go again with Will's "lost puppy"-look...

I think you can really tell during the Jake/Bella scene by the coffee shop that Jake enjoys having someone to talk to, besides Hamilton.

I adore the cuteness of Jake/Ham when he convinces her to shower with him. Ham looks as if he can't really believe Jake agrees. Aw. Bless him. But kids, please, lock the door! It would save you much drama. *sighs* Finn's facial expression when he walks in is priceless. He's all "huh? What the hell is going on?!"

Bella breaks her promise not to tell Scout about Will's scholarship after what, five minutes? Wow, she's such a good friend.

Charlie Banks is such a sweet dad, telling Bella there's nothing to worry and that he will find a way to fix it. He would do everything for his two girls.

But Bella realizes she has a shot at changing things, too, because her mum contacted her and she knows where to find her.

Will, sitting by the road, feeling sorry for himself again. I absolutely love the look on Ham's face when Will approaches the car. It's like "hehe, you all thought me and Jake were gay, but think again!"

Scout looks so hopeful when he finds out Bella went to Carson to see her mum. Awww.

The Fernando scene is made of cute.

Seriously though, keep your eyes on the road, Bella!

The scene with Scout and Sean entering the cabin is hilarious! "Jake? What is he doing in a dress?" "She's a girl!" "A what?" "A GIRL!"

Ham is so right. None of them can apparently keep a secret.

Scout really just wants to help the people that he cares about. I may have said that before, but I think he's an amazing friend.

Scout provoking Sean - ah, boys.

The moment where you see Jake and Ham sleeping cuddled together is so cute. It always makes me squee.

I love the Will/Bella friendship..

The railroad scenes are so cute. I love that song, too. You can see how happy Jake and Ham are to finally be themselves in front of their friends. And the Will/Scout kiss!! Hehehe.

So Bella's mum wants contact to her daughters again and apparently cares for them, but doesn't have any problem with them losing their home and income? She could've at least warned Charlie about it, couldn't she?
I think Bella built up hopes of how it would be to see her mum again for 10 years and I guess the actual meeting must've pretty much been a worst case scenario. Poor her.

Yay, so we (more or less) resolve the season's storyline of "are Scout and Bella really siblings?". Too bad the two don't find out.

The goodbye scenes for everyone are so perfect. Jake/Ham make me smile so much. I mean, "who said it's over?"

The Bella/Scout hug on the other hand breaks my heart. Scout is so close to tears.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Two questions:

1) Why do you think the auction was called off? (Or wasn't it?) Was it Bella's visit at her mum's? Did her mum sign it over to Charlie and/or the girls? Or did Charlie find another way to fix things?

2) What do you think would've happened to Jake in fall semester? Did Finn know she's a girl? If so, would he tell? Would she have been expelled from Rawley, or could she maybe have enrolled at Rawley Girls? How else could this have continued?

Peetch Mälba · 03-18-2008, 04:13 AM

Okay, so I haven't seen this ep for over a year, but here's what I remember (I am rewatching, but it's taking a while...

)

When Finn walks in on Jake and Hamilton in the shower - what does he see? Two guys going into the same shower, or one guy with boobs? It kind of determins what's gonna happen next. Are they gay or is Jake busted?

Scout's expression in the cabin when he finds out that Jake's a girl - priceless. "He's a what?"

When Will kisses Scout on the railway... I mean come on - that's just adorable.

They are going on a vacation together... oh well, so many fanfics about that...

**wolkenfuehlen** · 03-18-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peetch Mälba (View Post)

When Finn walks in on Jake and Hamilton in the shower - what does he see? Two guys going into the same shower, or one guy with boobs? It kind of determins what's gonna happen next. Are they gay or is Jake busted?

That is, sadly, something I don't think we will ever know for sure. On the one hand, how could he not have noticed she is a girl? She may not have the biggest cleavage, but she is most certainly noticably female. And there also was a bra somewhere there, too. On the other hand, everything happened so incredibly fast. And I think I would've maybe had a stronger reaction if I was him and one of my students suddenly turned out to be a girl?! I really don't know.

Quote:

When Will kisses Scout on the railway... I mean come on - that's just adorable.

They are going on a vacation together... oh well, so many fanfics about that...

I love the way you think.

Will/Scout is definitely canon.

Peetch Mälba · 03-19-2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolkenfuehlen (View Post)

That is, sadly, something I don't think we will ever know for sure. On the one hand, how could he not have noticed she is a girl? She may not have the biggest cleavage, but she is most certainly noticably female. And there also was a bra somewhere there, too. On the other hand, everything happened so incredibly fast. And I think I would've maybe had a stronger reaction if I was him and one of my students suddenly turned out to be a girl?! I really don't know.

But then again... Finn was covered in water and feathers and he does that thing with his eyes as if he didn't see exactly what happens. And he does wear glasses at time... maybe he didn't see, maybe it was just blurry. He says "Jake?" - maybe he isn't sure it is Jake, cuz it's blurry?

**wolkenfuehlen** · 03-22-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peetch Mälba (View Post)

But then again... Finn was covered in water and feathers and he does that thing with his eyes as if he didn't see exactly what happens. And he does wear glasses at time... maybe he didn't see, maybe it was just blurry. He says "Jake?" - maybe he isn't sure it is Jake, cuz it's blurry?

Yeah, that's definitely a possibility, too.

But maybe he says "Jake?" because he can't believe it's her?! I really don't know. This is something I've thought about for more than 5 years now and I still haven't made up my mind.

darkheartagram · 03-23-2008, 09:23 PM

Episode 8 is my favorite because it is by far the cutest.
I REALLY wish there was a sequel just like everyone else.
I mean they had such a good set up for season 2!

**wolkenfuehlen** · 03-24-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkheartagram (View Post)

I mean they had such a good set up for season 2!

I agree! There are just so many unanswered questions. What will happen to Jake, to the gas station, to Bella/Scout/Sean? I guess we'll never know.

street serenade · 03-24-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peetch Mälba (View Post)

But then again... Finn was covered in water and feathers and he does that thing with his eyes as if he didn't see exactly what happens. And he does wear glasses at time... maybe he didn't see, maybe it was just blurry. He says "Jake?" - maybe he isn't sure it is Jake, cuz it's blurry?

Those are my thoughts exactly. I imagine if the show had returned for a second season they would've used the Finn didn't have his glass on explanation, and he just assumes Jake and Ham were two boys havin' some soapy fun in the showers.

The final sequence with the Somewhere Over The Rainbow cover...just makes me go ''Awww.''

Peetch Mälba · 03-25-2008, 02:06 AM

It's definatley a cute episode.

If they had made a season two, they couldn't just take away the storyline with Jake/Ham, it was far too interesting and had far too many fans. Maybe stretch to Jake being found out and enrolled to Rawley girls (also to introduce some new characters). The girl pretending to be a guy - pretending to be gay with the straight guy - that might just be too hardcore queer for American TV.

But what do I know.

street serenade · 03-25-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peetch Mälba (View Post)

The girl pretending to be a guy - pretending to be gay with the straight guy - that might just be too hardcore queer for American TV.

But what do I know.

True, true.
Though I like where Nicky took it in those YA fanfic episodes, where they continue the charade and you see them deal with what it means (to appear) to be a gay couple with closed minded people around you(there was one specific episode/fic where Hamilton gets kinda slapped around by some Rawley guys during a camping trip or something). It would've been kinda cool if there had been a S2 for the WB to actually take it there.

Peetch Mälba · 03-25-2008, 10:07 AM

Dealing with LGBT issues on national television. I'm there. Still, I think it's too hardcore. If a season two would've had Jake still as a guy I think they might have dialed the gay part down and the part with where they are boyfriend girlfriend up (like the date in Gone).

street serenade · 03-25-2008, 12:03 PM

Oh, I'm agreeing with ya totally that they never would've gone there, I'm just saying that's where I would've liked to have seen things go personally.

Peetch Mälba · 03-26-2008, 02:10 AM

Definatley. I'm the one actually getting payed to work with LGBT issues, so yeah, I'm all for.

**wolkenfuehlen** · 03-31-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peetch Mälba (View Post)

If a season two would've had Jake still as a guy I think they might have dialed the gay part down and the part with where they are boyfriend girlfriend up (like the date in Gone).

Yes, I agree.

I personally think they would've kept boy!Jake for another season. It just gives you lots of possibilities, storyline-wise. You could, for example, have episodes where other students or teachers come close to finding out the secret, andf the gang all helping to prevent that.

street serenade · 04-08-2008, 03:11 PM

Yeah, Anja.

Randon note: I never cared for Will's narration much, until the last episode and that very last segment. I don't know if it's the song playing in the background or what, but it just seems so...cute and sad.

And I kind of like the open ending in a way. Just having it fade out on the scholarship letter. Simple and sweet.