There are many voice-overs, as folks formulate their resolutions, in some cases to Dick Clark's ABC New Years' show. Considering how shabbily the network handled the series, it's ironic. Of course, Angela decides to consider whether to be less introspective and finally settles on not doing Jordan's homework anymore. Mixed in with some good resolutions are those like Kyle's: "spend more time with the dog... and Sharon." I'm sure she'd be flattered. Rickie needs to find a place where he really belongs. Rayanne to stop drinking, Brian to "stop obsessing over Angela Chase," as if that's going to happen. And Jordan: "Wait a second. Isn't tonight New Year's Eve?" It makes for a cute, tight opening sequence without being talky, especially with the great visuals and editing, which permeates this episode. The opening montage is practically a trademark device, part of what makes this series great.
The whole idea of resolutions is a decoy. It's really about persons deciding what they want. And after a two-episode hiatus, Katimski and Hallie are back.
When school emerges, a Katimski without caffeine is irritated that no one has read any part of the Odyssey, even the book jacket. "What does Odysseus want?" he asks Enrique, which is exactly what Rickie wants, actually, although no one mentions that. Rickie decides he must leave the Chase's, mostly because they are happy, which he finds really depressing. Patty says, "Rickie, are you sure that this is what you want?" What Rickie doesn't realise is his aunt and uncle moved with no forwarding address. When he can't take it any more, he doesn't turn to Rayanne, he confides in Katimski, who understands and is completely sympathetic.
When Katimski has to tell Rickie the shelter won't come through for a few weeks, he's astonished that "you called me Rickie." But Rickie's unhappy at the temporary shelter. When Katimski asks Angela about him, he has to check his book to remember her name, but he refers to Rickie as Rickie.
Jordan decides that since Angela is just a friend "or whatever," he's taking advantage of her. She could do his homework if they were having sex, but since they aren't... So he grabs his notebook and runs off, giving Angela a chance to claim credit for sticking to a resolution for the first time in her so-called life. Later she signs up Jordan (á la Patty) for tutoring.
The Sharon-Kyle subplot is intriguing. Rayanne and Sharon, who apparently got much closer after the Xmas counseling, are deeply involved in Sharon's doubts. Sharon feels she's using Kyle because he says he loves her. In their intimate sit-up scene, Sharon mentions how Brad Pitt got her hot, so she used Kyle to get off. Well not in those exact words. Rayanne manages to keep this scene light.
The discussion continues through a Brian-Sharon encounter where neither understands the point. Krakow asks how's Delia Fischer. He doesn't want to tutor Jordan. He feels it would be hypocritical because he has no respect for Jordan. Then Rayanne gets Sharon to confront Kyle with her doubts, but he mentions Brad Pitt and she ignores her resolution completely and totally.
Brian recognises Jordan has skills Brian can only dream of, like getting girls' phone numbers. They have a big laugh over this when Angela comes in and they just blow it off as guy stuff. "You had to be there." Angela says she wants to help, so Jordan says "you could have sex with me, if you really want to help." By the time they get to know each other, Brian really respects Jordan. Unlike Brian, he's not all hung up.
When Graham keeps his resolution to let Hallie tell him he's not doing the restaurant, she gives him no argument. Then again, she pretty much ignores him. She's pretty sure Graham will do it. "Brad has this theory about you: He thinks you secretly and passionately yearn to do this and if you don't, you'll kill yourself or somebody else or something." She adds that "Brad's surprisingly perceptive." Brad's other theory, according to Hallie, is that "you'll cave in at the last minute." Cut to Patty and Neil, who observes that "Graham's got a little input-output confusion." They are drinking bottled beer, not the cheap Miller crap Rayanne picked up in ‘Other People's Daughters.’ Later, Patty is about to kiss Graham while he's on the phone. When she hears it's Hallie, she pulls back. Graham lies and says his resolution for the year was to exercise more and Patty lies, saying that was hers, too. She suspects he's lying. Of course, her resolution was to be less suspicious, among other things. Then there's the scene where Patty is expecting Graham to announce something horrible and she's relieved he's opening a restaurant with that Hallie person. "What did you think I was gonna say?" Women withhold their fears and theories from Graham.
Poor Patty is on an emotional roller coaster. She's also worrying about Rickie when Katimski, with the nastiest case of caffeine withdrawal ever seen, blames her for letting Rickie leave, not that she doesn't already feel guilty.
The Hallie-Graham situation comes to a head when they meet at the restaurant. "Did I scare you? I do have that effect on people." She tells Graham about the break up. When she is done, Graham must know the score, when he asks "so what was this theory?" For he doesn't race home to tell Patty about Brad's departure.
Rickie can't come out and ask Katimski if he can stay with him, and Katimski feels bad that he didn't ask, flicking the light on and off. His roommate tells him "don't hate yourself." So at the end, their revelation is tear-provoking. And not forced. The gay couple are treated no differently from Patty and Graham. In fact, considering the families other than the Chases, Katimski and his guy seem super normal.
Of course, everything is mixed in much better, like a collage. It's
filmmaking at its most satisfying. Little is resolved. Quite the contrary,
many flammable situations are only beginning to smolder.
MIDPOINT ANNOUNCEMENT - SHARON