zoomaces

That’s awesome. I’d love the reboot if Ben/Felicity and Sean/Meghan don’t get destroyed.

zoomaces

That is the best way to describe Noel.

I never noticed the music until you mentioned it. I completely agree.

Agreed. I was glad she told Javier and didn't go back to Noel for support since that's the last thing we need. But yes, the minute she told Javier just feels like the countdown of how many will find out before Ben. It sucks even if Felicity needed to tell someone. I was thinking the first person was going to be Elena, however.

Is the actor now a regular where he's going to appear just as much as all the mains?

Agreed. Noel shouldn't have felt guilty for receiving the money. I guess it proves he does have some decency wondering about how it feels to receive the money. But yes, it was nice of him to give Sean that money. I hope this is a sign they will get something together for a business since it doesn't appear as if either of them are set as far as career.

Those were wasted scenes. Instead, we could have had the storyline off screen or only with Meghan's family... then Meghan telling her parents to take a hike and be done with it.

Granted, they did get married so it makes sense the families would want to meet and all. But like you said, the scenes seemed super filler.

It was strange why they had to break up after deciding not to get married. I guess Tracy felt hurt Elena didn't agree with what he said about why he wanted to marry her. But it kind of feels like Lucas and Peyton in a way. Like Peyton, Elena didn't want to break up, she just wasn't ready for marriage. Lucas didn't like the news, and apparently Tracy didn't either.

Elena and Tracy so bumpy you would think connects to Donald Faison and Scrubs. It kind of sucks but I get the feeling Tracy is who the writers want Elena to ultimately end up with. So it feels like the writers are putting up obstacles to delay the reunion.

I love when Felicity hyped up Ben. I think it shows evolution since S1 Felicity was changing Ben's paper. Now, she knows he has the intelligence and shouldn't give up on his goals. At the very least, she supports him and that's wonderful.

Yes, the Organic Chemistry class is not off to a good start!

zoomaces

Good question!

Although, Sean eventually says he thought her parents liked him... which was weird... when did they spend time together?

Good point.

Same.

My dad and sister are wizards in science and math.

Michelle is not. LOL.

Right? Hello.

He did say that. You're right. But then when Felicity said she didn't need their help financially he kind of slightly backed down. I just feel like they would never ultimately let her struggle regardless of what they said.

I don't know why I thought this. LOL.

It could be that I still don't understand why Lynn disappeared. I liked the Ben and Lynn friendship and it was just dropped.

I think about... never. LOL.

I know.

That is true.

Good!

Exactly. You would think taxes are in the equation and yes, no idea how much he gave Sean. It was never stated how much but didn't sound like only a few hundred, it was thousands.

I think you're right.

Right.

zoomaces

4.6 Oops…Noel Did It Again



Felicity’s Birthday


It’s Felicity’s 21st birthday, and everyone puts together some very sweet gifts:


1. Javier makes a beautiful photo album.

2. Elena gets her some really nice gloves (thinking of the Vermont trip which was so sweet).

3. Ben gives her a brilliant, classic, sled, and plans a weekend trip to Vermont to see the snow.



Mr. Covington & Stupid Lauren


Ben gets a call, and Mr. Covington is back in town and back in the hospital, this time 67 days sober and dying of liver failure. This Lauren (Ben's dad was helping her) is the one who calls Ben, and she’s very pushy and irritating about how Ben needs to forgive Mr. Covington and how he should handle his enormous request, that Ben should have power of attorney and not resuscitate if it comes to it.

Thoughts:

- Who the hell let Andrew Covington be a sponsor when he’s only been sober for 67 days?

- Mind your own business, Lauren. I’m glad he’s been “like a father” to you but he’s been like a monster to his actual son. She was so out of line multiple times with Ben giving her superior attitude and acting like she's known Ben's dad forever and her opinion should count. Get lost, moron.

- Of COURSE Mr. Covington shows up with a stressful demand of his son. It is insane. Ben did not respond to his phone calls so he should have gotten a clue that his son is done with him being a horrible father for years. His potentially terminal illness is sad, but Ben should not be pulled back into this, making serious decisions and having to emotionally be all twisted up once again by his father. Lauren’s insistence that she knows Ben’s relationship with his dad better than he does is disgusting.



Vermont


So obviously the Vermont trip is on hold, and of course Felicity’s extremely sweet and supportive and great about it while Ben processes how he wants to handle all of this – and when the time comes for Ben to honor his dad’s wish for a natural death, Ben finds it much harder than he would have thought. I do not blame him and believe Ben made the correct choice... seeing if maybe a miracle could happen that saves his life. Ben is not Julie. Ben will not give up on life that easily, even if it is his father's life.



Lauren


So is this the new Avery?

Lauren is not patient through this process. Shut up, Lauren. I despise her already.



Noel


In the meantime, life goes on. Noel despises his job as a guidance counselor, which makes sense since he is the one that needs major mental health therapy and assistance.

But the weird part is he seemed to really take pride in being an RA, and suddenly he has no interest in student concerns. At any rate, he’s taking lots of different job interviews, and in the meantime he weirdly places two freshmen who hate their dorm in Elena and Felicity’s apartment? How does that work? They’re extremely annoying and Elena hates them, but Richard is VERY pleased and seems to think he has a chance with one or either of them.



Richard


But after their dance party, Richard storms up to Elena and complains that both girls have a crush on Noel, and that Noel gets all the girls, even slept with Felicity. Unfortunately, he’s ranting right as Elena’s leaving a message on the loft answering machine, so then they have to sneak into the loft and delete the message. They do a great, sneaky job, but it doesn’t really matter, because Noel is the devil.



More Noel and I cannot believe he actually told Ben


So Felicity tells Noel that Ben’s dad is in town so she’s not doing anything for her birthday, and he seems kind of outraged on her behalf. She doesn’t tell him the whole story but very sweetly says she’s fine skipping birthday festivities, and then later Noel sees Ben holding flowers (for his dad) and giving Lauren a long hug on the sidewalk as they talk about Mr. C. Noel obviously assumes (and let’s be honest, he hopes) that this is Avery 2.0 (which has me wondering as well), so he confronts Ben, who has exactly no time or energy for Noel’s jealousy while he’s dealing with a dying dad. Ben says Noel needs to get over Felicity because it’s been years since anything happened between the two of them, and then Noel just totally tells Ben that he and Felicity slept together. I am floored and not in a good way. Noel, you are Satan, himself, you prick.

We don’t see Ben talk to Felicity about this... instead, he goes straight to the hospital and tells the doctor to put his dad on life support, because it seems like he can’t lose two people at once – but we do see Noel tell Felicity what he did, and she’s so incredibly upset, probably not least because she knows she just broke Ben’s heart while his dad is dying.

I seriously cannot believe Noel told Ben like that. It reminds me of someone demonic just waiting to cause destruction.



Felicity and Cavallo


Felicity wants to do a good job as Cavallo’s TA, and he offers to take her to lunch to discuss her student critiques. Elena’s having McGrath flashbacks and warns Felicity that this is weird behavior. Sure enough, Cavallo kind of holds Felicity’s hand during lunch, and she’s so anxious about it, but upon Elena’s (as usual, great) advice, confronts him and tells him that it made her uncomfortable. He said it definitely should make her uncomfortable if he were making a pass, but he wasn’t (BS) he’s in a committed relationship and not interested in straying. But still, Felicity seems relieved... until one of the students from their class, Gretchen, shows up to meet with Cavallo, and he walks out of the room with his hand resting on her lower back. Vile.

This series likes showing men in positions of power being predatory and gross. We are in NYC... are they related to Trump?



Meghan and Sean


Meghan and Sean are battling over the name of their new fashion company. Meghan wants “Meghanalomania” and Sean wants “Sean’s Shirts,” but they end up settling on the name Sarah bestowed on them weeks ago: Shmeghan!



Bethany Joy Lenz


I didn’t know she was a guest star.



John Ritter


I still cannot believe he was on the show and died about a year after this role.



Sean and Felicity


It was a blink and you miss it scene but I liked Sean asking Felicity about the names of the new business with Meghan.



Ben and Felicity


I adored all the Ben and Felicity scenes (the hugs are so intimate, they are so meant to be) and I’ll remember them since Noel being Satan telling Ben means we won’t be getting sweet Ben and Felicity scenes for a while. It sucks they didn’t get to go to Vermont…



Javier


I love the continuity of showing Javier regularly on the screen once again. His issues with toilet paper on campus is hilarious.

Javier offering that student a job was sweet.



Ben’s mom


Where is she? Why does Ben always have to deal with his dad without his mom around? She’s a terrible mother.



Felicity and Noel


I hope she never speaks to him again. He had absolutely no right telling Ben. It was an evil act. Even Richard had the sense not to do something so hurtful and ridiculous. Elena and Richard are running around in order to delete the voicemail.

Never in 1 million years, did I think Noel would be that cruel and tell Ben. It was not his secret to tell. Sickening. Felicity should dump him as a friend. This entire time she never gave him one indication their sleeping together meant dating in the future. Felicity absolutely only wants to be with Ben. Shame on you, Noel.



Felicity's love for Ben


When she found out Noel told Ben, you could absolutely see and feel her world completely falling apart. Felicity was devastated, you could feel the pain consuming her and the amount of love she has for Ben is indescribable. She made a mistake. But she loves him more than anything, and you can see it. Noel didn’t even exist in that moment. It was all about Felicity realizing her life in her mind was coming to an end since Ben found out she cheated on him.

This is a horrible moment, but it also indicates without a shadow of a doubt that no triangle ever existed. Noel is like a nothing in this ridiculous triangle.

Ben and Felicity from day 1 and eternally.



Noel and Lauren


Noel told Ben since of course he did. Prick. What he did to Jane was psychotic and criminal. What he did to Felicity and hurting Ben is up there as his second worst moment on this show. What a creep. Maybe the show will surprise me and I'll start feeling neutral again but right now? Screw you, Satan.

I am also convinced Lauren is the new Avery. Prove me wrong, show.



The Cheating Is Finally Exposed


I think there will be part of Felicity that will be relieved that it’s finally out in the open, and I feel like most of the audience, myself included, is relieved it’s finally out in the open, too.

But I still hate how it went down and most importantly, when it went down, with Ben’s dad actively dying (unless a miracle takes place).

The way Felicity asks Noel “Why would you do that?” slayed me, gutted me. I felt every ounce of her heart breaking and her mind filled with confusion and despair.

Alexa

I had NO idea BJL was in this???? I dont remember that whatsoever. lol.

UGH so Noel TELLS BEN?????? God I hate him so much.




I dont think i want any more reboots lmao.

Yah I just think its too late to care about Sean;s backstory, we are in season 4 lmao. But I always felt like Sean had way too much screentime. I'm starting to feel that way with the actor on Alias too. It's clear the writer just likes the actor lol.

I guess maybe they thought he was just a casual fling type of boyfriend and it wouldn't last.


Maybe you aren't taxed on money that is ffrom an inheritance or alimony because its considered a "gift" i really have no idea lol. i thought maybe he gave Sean 5k or something but I have no idea how much debt he is in. Felicity would need what, 10-12k for her college? Tho idk what it might have cost back then.

zoomaces

LOL. It makes sense because she has like two scenes and barely says a line or two. Blink and you miss her sort of thing.

Yes. I had no clue this was happening, like none. I thought he was finding out in a different way (more innocent/mistake) but no… Noel the prick had to go there.

I have a feeling if it happened Felicity would start off single, finding her way back to Ben. Not sure I’d like that. If they’re together and the drama is elsewhere I wouldn’t mind it.


I guess that childhood friend bond between Abrams and Grunberg never breaks. LOL.

Good point. They probably never thought it would last. And of course there’s a difference between casually dating and marriage and how parents feel about that for their child depending on the significant other.

Yes, if I remember correctly the lawyer didn’t talk taxes, he said outright Noel was getting that exact amount, so you’re right… a gift could be the case. Yes, it was in the thousands for Sean and 5K sounds right. 10-12K sounds right for tuition back then too. So technically Noel could have covered both you would think.

ds44

Noel is a jerk, but felicity is too nice.

zoomaces

I cannot believe he went there.

To me, he looked either mentally unstable or evil, maybe both.

Felicity should dump him as a friend. That was so damn wrong.

Elena and Richard are freaking out thinking Ben’s going to find out via the answering machine. Even RICHARD knew how wrong it would have been.

But the episode is clever in that due to Richard and Elena… is actually how I thought he would find out… a mistake/innocently (if not from Felicity).

Nope, it had to be Noel… out of vindictiveness and jealousy.

I’m shocked Ben was so calm. I was almost cheering for Ben to beat the crap out of Noel.

I do think that is why Ben demanded that his father go on life-support while they figured out if he could get some sort of transplant… Ben did not want to lose both, Felicity and his father.

If you look at it this way, maybe the cheating revelation does indirectly, very indirectly, save his father. Maybe Ben does not demand life-support otherwise. It’s weird to say, but maybe that is the case. Of course, this is all dependent on his father living somehow and I have no idea if he lives or dies.

But yes, Noel is TRASH. Felicity better be PISSED as hell at him.

ds44

I need to watch. I don't remember if she is or not. All I know is that sometimes I wish Felicity was less passive.

I dislike Lauren, but not as much as Noel or Lauren. Everything with that sl is TOTALLY justified imo. All of this could have been solved if Felicity just told Ben the truth. Rip off the bandaide. You can't have a decent relationship with this secret hanging over you. Most of the series, it was Ben messing up and while he made mistakes this one was Worse imo.

zoomaces

That’s why I wonder if the writers wanted to even it out… inside their minds, they thought Ben has messed up multiple times (broke up early S2, anger a little scary like the lamp incident, not believing her about Randy, Avery) so let’s have Felicity cheat to even the score and not make her so passive. I wonder.

I don’t know if I can compare one to the other and say this was worse than this. In my mind, they both made mistakes. Yes, cheating is the worst but if you go cumulative it might even out. So it doesn’t matter in my opinion. They’re messy before they get it ultimately right and I expected this as far back as S1.

I can understand why the writers might have wanted Felicity to do something a little reckless. Not just to even any score but also to not make her appear too angelic. They wanted her to make some mistakes.

I just wish it didn’t involve Noel.

Alexa

That's the thing, I dont trust reboots. They might kill favorites off or break up OTPS. NOPEEEEE.


Yeah Shu, Felicity is WAY too nice and always giving Noel so many chances, its insane. She needs to stand up for herself more. BTW, where are you at in the show?


I personally think Felicity sleeping with Noel is way worse than Ben and Avery, cuz he technically didnt cheat with her until after he asked Felicity for space. And it was just a kiss, he didnt sleep with her.

zoomaces

That’s true about reboots. Anything goes. I just don’t know if Abram’s would be that reckless.

On paper Felicity physically cheating is way worse, especially with Noel.

Felicity was pretty emotionally screwed up during the entire Avery debacle though. My heart broke for her when she broke down after he said he needed to figure out what he felt for the witch. She even goes to where Ben and Avery are together declaring her love for Ben and Ben was all okay bye now.

It is also interesting that it was Noel, who told Felicity that Ben and Avery kissed, and it was Noel, who told Ben about the cheating. Parallel.

The emotional aspect Felicity was so upset over.

The physical aspect Ben is going to be so upset over.

But Felicity did cheat, 100%.

I just can’t get out of my head how the Avery situation affected Felicity. Because it affected her greatly. And it is this slow methodical process from the moment Ben goes to that Knicks game with Avery and he told Felicity there was nothing to it. She knew better. It’s like she wasn’t trusted or believed, and that to me was despicable. I will never watch those episodes again, they are so horrible or if I do, I will skip through all the Avery stuff.

And then if you compare the cumulative…

Outside of Felicity cheating which is bad of course there’s nothing else she’s done to Ben that’s severe.

There’s a few things Ben has done that has sucked.

I actually think Felicity not telling Ben about the cheating and reuniting with him is even worse than the cheating, too.

ds44

I am going to start 401 this weekend. Prob binge the first few. I had to renew my disney plus subscription. Also, I'm apartment hunting plus report cards are due soon.

I disagree. Ben messed up for five episodes, but what Felicity did here coupled with the fact that this dude is always around and in her life and Ben is expected to just be cool with it is not even not by a long shot. But, don't worry they will give her the upper hand once again.

I don't think the breakup was considering Ben messing up. That was him not being ready. JJ has said that multiple times. Also you have to factor in the network and they were always wanting a true triangle. But, I will take this over what we were supposed to get--- a SA.

I think her not telling him, cheating with a person she calls her friend and confident who she expected him to just be cool with always being around is where she messed up. I also don't think Ben will be upset about the physical alone. I think he will be upset that it was NOEL. He wasn't some random. This is a boy who has been told I love you and been show everything BUT that.

I think trying to have your cake and eat it is worse. But, I still love Felicity and that is 1000% all on Keri

zoomaces

Yes we can agree to disagree because I think the cumulative of what Ben has done to Felicity is pretty bad. One moment of cheating which is bad still doesn’t overtake the many moments Ben hasn’t acted perfectly. Felicity has put up with a lot and if I’m her I would have broken up with him plenty of times.

And like I said, the emotional manipulation even indirectly during the Avery situation I simply will never accept as okay. It’s not. Felicity was borderline gaslighted. And it was gross.

So I guess I am in the minority here but I think it’s fairly equal as far as crap that has happened to the both of them.

I’m also not stupid enough to believe that Ben isn’t going to start something with Lauren because it’s pretty damn obvious that’s going to happen. He does that with women that are vulnerable and in his mind, need to be saved. Infuriating AF.

ds44

I definitely think Ben messed up. I do not believe he gaslit her. But, he did mess up but cheating plus with noel and then keeping it from him is BAD. It's okay to say she messed up. Is it equal not now, but it will be. Yes, Ben is the King of Captain Save a Hoe. But, I cannot and will never hold the S2 break up against him. The thing is time is a factor. It goes with what I say about her being passive. Scratch that she is passive-aggressive and they didn't know what else to do with Noel. His whole existence is based on being there when Ben messes up. But, I think the lying is worse than the actual cheating imo. It's worse than Ben being confused. She should have just dumped him at South Hampton and then they could have found their way back but they chose this stupidity.

Ben can be with whomever he choses after what Felicity did with the lying and the sleeping with her bff.

But with that said. I still like this angst. I love how much their love shines through it. These two are messy. I love messy that is my JAM. But, its not for everyone. I love when I can feel the love and the pain so palpably.