Consequences

A new rule that students must maintain a C average is introduced just when Reardon is directing an important new show, his first without Lydia being involved. The students are unhappy about the new rule and enter into a pact with Sherwood where the Kids  can set and grade their own English tests. All is going well until Chris is found to have cheated on the tests and the students realise that they don't like the responsibility that the pact brings with it.  Sherwood refuses to bail them out they asked for the responsibility and now must face the consequences. However, the whole show is threatened which causes a rift between Reardon and Sherwood. 

After a batch of really excellent episodes we now have the best episode yet and one I really love.

Again it’s an ensemble episode in which everyone is involved, including David, Dwight, Michelle, Michael, Eartha and Billy Hall. However, Bruno and Lydia are missing although both characters are mentioned and to be honest I don’t really notice that they aren’t there. Sometimes when characters are missing the episodes feel empty but there is so much to enjoy here that I don’t notice their absence.

The original script was for Lydia to be organising the show and having a conflict with Sherwood. However in real life Debbie’s father died and she had to be written out. They adapted the script and Morgan was brought in at the last minute to take over that role. I think it works really well for Reardon.

For me, this is another episode that works on so many different levels and there’s actually lots going on. It’s a really tight script with really great humour. Little things like the satisfaction on Morloch’s face when he realises that Sherwood actually agrees with him on something and the look of disgust on Sherwood’s face over the same thing.

Then there is the wonderful moments between Danny and Doris when they are play fighting, or when Doris tries to talk to Danny about his problem and she wants to hear the gossip about someone cheating but is also just very concerned for her friend.

Also Sherwood’s anger when Morloch snaps her surname and demands she goes to a faculty meeting. Then when she blatantly refuses to obey Morloch’s orders to grade the kids tests, it’s just a great moment and continues the whole Sherwood / Morloch relationship that has been building for the last few episodes.

Coco stating that she could do Doris' song if she gets kicked out of the show and Doris being unimpressed with Coco's lack of concern, is great stuff.

I love how something so simple as having the kids set and grade their own tests starts off like a good idea and everyone seems to be getting a lot out of it but suddenly the whole situation ends up getting very complicated and messy leaving everyone suffering the consequences.

Leroy and Danny particularly are caught in the middle of everything and feeling the pressure of taking responsibilities. Sherwood sticks to her beliefs and I’m pleased that she doesn’t save the day even when Reardon pressures her to do so and she is obviously upset by the whole situation. Instead both Leroy and Danny rise to the occasion and accept their responsibilities and do the right thing. Even Chris admits to his mistakes and lots of lessons are learned.

It’s interesting that they continue the theme of Chris being the bad guy and him still not quite fitting in with everybody. Although he seems to have learnt his lesson by the end he will make similar mistakes again in the future which for me adds to the realism for the character

I love Sherwood being happy about Leroy being excited about English and this story is another example of how Leroy is maturing this season. It’s also a great continuation of the Sherwood / Leroy relationship. Although when they mention Leroy’s street rap poem, Sherwood doesn’t seem to understand it as though her lessons from Leroy in “Rules” have never taken place. In a similar vein Billy Hall yet again seems to have no problems speaking normally.

I also love the scene towards the end where Morloch refers to Doris as Schwartz and Holly as Miss Laird and Doris is ticked off about it. She’s about to explode but has more important things to do. It comes across almost like an add lib or we have an excellent writer who really understands the characters. I would have loved the conversation to have continued but there’s no time here. Although it crops up again at the end of the episode where Doris makes a joke and everyone laughs but the episode is ending so still no time for answers.

I also love that Sherwood and Reardon refer to the people at the school as family when they make up at the end and it's a really touching scene.

Music wise things don’t get much better than the songs in this episode. Val sings “Turn To Me” with great passion and power and this really shows how her voice just got better during her time on the show. It’s nice that they reprised the song as a duet for Danny and Doris at the end of the show too. Although that final high note for Carlo seems a little too high for him.

Then we have the excellent “Showtime” which for me is the ultimate Coco song.

I never tire of watching this episode and for me is Fame at its best.

Original  air date in U.S.A  26th November 1983

Original  air date  in U.K. 28th March 1984,  Repeated on The Children's Channel  Autumn 1992

Original air date in The Netherlands  23rd March 1984

Original air date in Italy 21st April  1985

Original air date in Belgium  29th  May 1988      

Original  air date in France 03rd December 1988