As soon as Jeff, the tall, dark and handsome collegiate interloper walked into the picture, we all knew in our hearts where this was going. But it didn’t mean we had to like it.
It was unthinkable. Zack Morris, the boy who could bend time to his will, was being rejected by the girl of his dreams. The girl whom he had seemed destined to be with. This rejection resonated on a deep level with us because for Zack, if being with Kelly was the realization of his dreams, then her subsequent rejection of him was a commentary to us all saying, “You may have dreams and you may aspire to certain stations of life, but if a really attractive guy named Jeff wants it more, then all your work and devotion will count for nothing.”
In a sense, Kelly wasn’t just breaking up with Zack; she was divorcing all of us from the innocence of our aspirations.
While history now bears out that this was a blip on the radar of their relationship, in the moment, it was a monumental shift in the fabric of our understanding of TV, love and destiny.
That video clip was sad and made me want to punch stupid college Jeff in the face – the same emotions I felt 20 years ago in my pajamas on a Saturday morning.
I am so glad you acknowledged the course of history. Because, even the terribility (new word) of “The College Years” couldn’t keep them apart in the end.
Best line from the college years episodes comes when Zack and Kelly are starting to get interested again
Zack: “What (class) do we have?”
Kelly: “Chemistry”
Zack: “Yes we do.”
Then raucous applause and cat calling.
LOL! This is making me want to go back and watch this.
Um…pretty sure that’s not Slater’s real voice.
Also that is the shortest break-up of all time. Did anything even get resolved?
This is what I heard:
Zack: What’s going on between you and Jeff?
Kelly: I don’t know [blubber]!
Zack: Goodbye Kelly.
Kelly: I’m sorry Zack [blubber]! Be my friend and don’t be mad, k?
Oh it’s Slater’s real voice. It’s not Mario Lopez’s real voice, though.
Touche, Sam Davidson. Touche.
Whoa — okay, something needs to be said about the Slater/Jessie duet there. I’m not sure what, but something.
False, nothing ever needs to be said about Slater and Jessie. What high school guy calls his girlfriend “momma”? I rest my case.
HAHAHAHA, you have to watch this guy watching it (language warning): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KopXraYOS5I
Oh Lord, that was greatness.
This is a brilliant bit of writing.
I guess I was spared the agony of seeing this in real time. By the time I saw the break up episode SBTB was already in syndication, and I’d already seen more of the big picture. Still, even knowing they’d get together in the end, it made me sad.
Items of note:
1) I still remember where I was when I saw this the first time.
2) I thought this was how all high school break ups would be. They were not.
3) Zach would have his day at The Attic.
4) Do you think they played this clip at the rehearsal dinner?