Freaks and Geeks 1.15

Noshing and Moshing

Neal Schweiber's parents throw a party. Neal has turned to ventriloquism since he found out that his father was cheating on his mother. Barry, Neal's brother is home from college. Neal wants to tell him about their father but he doesn't know how. Neal almost gets beat up for bringing his dummy to school with him. Bill and Sam warned him but he wouldn't listen.

Lindsey doesn't want to go to the Schweiber's party until she sees that Barry is going to be there. She gets detention for standing up to a bully who is harassing another girl. She winds up hanging out with Barry at the party and they make out.

Neal finally tells his brother only to discover that Barry already knew about their father's extramarital affairs. Neal's father wants him to do his ventriloquism act at the party. Neal does but he works all kinds of disparaging remarks about dentists into his act. His father shuts the show down before it is over. Neal's mother comes to see him in his room. He finds out she already knows about his father's infidelity. 

Kim and Daniel break up. He shows an interest in Jenna, a girl that dropped out of school. She's a punk rocker. She tells him about a show at a punk club. He gets all dressed up, spikes his hair, and goes to the club with Nick and Ken. He tries to have fun but when he sees Jenna making out with another girl he loses interest in the punk thing. The episode ends with him going to see Kim.

Thoughts

This episode opens with a previously on Freaks and Geeks recap in which the events of 1.12 (The Garage Door) that focused on Neal and his father are summarized.

Daniel and Neal get spotlights in this episode. Early in this show it seemed like Sam and Lindsey were always the focus of the show. Sam hasn't been in the spotlight much in the last few episodes. Lindsey has been in the spotlight a little more than Sam in that same stretch of episodes but she also seems to be sharing the spotlight with her friends a little more than before. 

This is a pretty good episode. It isn't heavy on humor but it makes up for that with some great character moments.