First, I'm surprised there haven't been reviews already written and posted for this groundbreaking episode. The premise gives us a frank depiction of one young man's struggle concerning his sexual orientation. There are occasional leaps in logic in the storyline, but most of that is forgivable.
One thing that did seem illogical was when Zeke Remsen (Brian Byers) a friend of Willie (Gary Frank) said he had come back from school to talk to him. Yet it takes Willie and Buddy (Kristy McNichol) finding him inside a taco joint to make that reconnection. Why hadn't Zeke already dropped by the family home? Or at least called and left a message he was back in town?
Another sticking point for me, and this is also a tiny quibble, is how Zeke could have gained access to a bar when we are told later in the episode that the court is treating him as a legal minor. So did he have a fake ID? Then there is the fact that his physically striking a cop is glossed over, and the judge showed compassion and dismissed the charges (all off-screen). I don't think the court system works that way, now or then, where charges for assault would just be dropped because the defendant was struggling with his sexuality.
Yes, the writers (two female writers) were trying to make the audience root for the kid, and I don't begrudge them that. But a bit of realism and less glossing over of the crime would have gone a long way. On to what I did like, what I did think was successful in this episode...
The show seems to be at its best when it is about core relationships. This episode provides plenty of that. The subplot focuses on Buddy's attempts to learn how to dance, and her need to bond with older sister Nancy (Meredith Baxter Birney). I thought those scenes were well written and sincerely played. There is also some good bonding between Buddy and Zeke, when he helps teach her some moves since Nancy is busy; though, Buddy has a small part in the main plot involving Zeke's orientation and arrest.
The writers make a point of focusing on the long-time friendship between Willie and Zeke, hence the title. And we see reflected through both of them their individual core relationships with the parents (Sada Thompson and James Broderick). Not only does Doug Lawrence (Broderick) help provide legal representation for Zeke, he also tells Zeke outside court that he considers him another son. Earlier in the episode, Kate Lawrence (Thompson) makes a point of not exactly consoling Zeke but offering strong emotional support the way his own mother might have done.
One thing that slightly amused me was dialogue about The Book (not the Bible, but another Book) that says it's normal for young teens to have same sex attractions. The scene referencing this featured a heart-to-heart between Doug and Willie in Willie's bedroom, with Doug even admitting there was a male person in his youth he had a crush on. This seemed to be written and performed in earnest. But I think it sort of ran the risk of implying that same sexuality was a phase that teens may experience briefly then grow out of...which wasn't really the case for Zeke or viewers watching the episode back in late 1976. And probably for some viewers watching it today, all these years later.
One thing that did seem illogical was when Zeke Remsen (Brian Byers) a friend of Willie (Gary Frank) said he had come back from school to talk to him. Yet it takes Willie and Buddy (Kristy McNichol) finding him inside a taco joint to make that reconnection. Why hadn't Zeke already dropped by the family home? Or at least called and left a message he was back in town?
Another sticking point for me, and this is also a tiny quibble, is how Zeke could have gained access to a bar when we are told later in the episode that the court is treating him as a legal minor. So did he have a fake ID? Then there is the fact that his physically striking a cop is glossed over, and the judge showed compassion and dismissed the charges (all off-screen). I don't think the court system works that way, now or then, where charges for assault would just be dropped because the defendant was struggling with his sexuality.
Yes, the writers (two female writers) were trying to make the audience root for the kid, and I don't begrudge them that. But a bit of realism and less glossing over of the crime would have gone a long way. On to what I did like, what I did think was successful in this episode...
The show seems to be at its best when it is about core relationships. This episode provides plenty of that. The subplot focuses on Buddy's attempts to learn how to dance, and her need to bond with older sister Nancy (Meredith Baxter Birney). I thought those scenes were well written and sincerely played. There is also some good bonding between Buddy and Zeke, when he helps teach her some moves since Nancy is busy; though, Buddy has a small part in the main plot involving Zeke's orientation and arrest.
The writers make a point of focusing on the long-time friendship between Willie and Zeke, hence the title. And we see reflected through both of them their individual core relationships with the parents (Sada Thompson and James Broderick). Not only does Doug Lawrence (Broderick) help provide legal representation for Zeke, he also tells Zeke outside court that he considers him another son. Earlier in the episode, Kate Lawrence (Thompson) makes a point of not exactly consoling Zeke but offering strong emotional support the way his own mother might have done.
One thing that slightly amused me was dialogue about The Book (not the Bible, but another Book) that says it's normal for young teens to have same sex attractions. The scene referencing this featured a heart-to-heart between Doug and Willie in Willie's bedroom, with Doug even admitting there was a male person in his youth he had a crush on. This seemed to be written and performed in earnest. But I think it sort of ran the risk of implying that same sexuality was a phase that teens may experience briefly then grow out of...which wasn't really the case for Zeke or viewers watching the episode back in late 1976. And probably for some viewers watching it today, all these years later.
