Never Gonna Give You Up
Terri is in a new relationship; the first real relationship she's ever had. At first her new boyfriend, Rick, seems sweet, genuine, and considerate, but as their relationship progresses Rick becomes controlling and aggressive. His behavior becomes more erratic and intense as the episode progresses. It all starts when Terri and Rick join Hazel, Jimmy, and Marco for a group project for literature class. They have to write a script, produce and create a skit to perform for the class.
Rick thinks that he should be the group's director since his mom use to be in show business, he believes he can contribute a lot of ideas. However the group elects Jimmy as their director, leaving Rick as stage manager. Jimmy then elects Terri as the lead actress in their play. Terri is elated at first, and gives Jimmy a hug. But when Rick looks disappointed, Terri offers to drop the lead role and be his stage manager assistant, but he encorages her to keep the role.
Since Rick knows a lot about show business, or believes he does, he has many ideas that he wants to contribute to their production. However his ideas clash with Jimmy's ideas. Rick's ideas don't improve their play, they actually make the play worse. He gives Terri tips and cues to help her acting, but they merely worsen her acting skills too.
Later that day, Rick questions Terri about her friendship with Jimmy. Rick is jealous and believes that Jimmy has a crush on Terri, but Terri assures him that the two of them are just friends.
Meanwhile Jimmy expresses concern about Rick to Hazel. He thinks that Rick is "creepy" and "nauseating", but Hazel encourages Jimmy to be supportive of Rick and Terri's relationship because Rick is Terri's first real boyfriend.
Their skit groups meets after school at The Dot to discuss the play. Rick continues offering unwanted tips and advice to the actors in their group. And when the gang prepares to order their food, he tells Terri to order a salad and try to eat healthier, even though she wants a burger. He continues trying to control Terri and all of the decisions she makes
During rehearsals, Jimmy eventually tells Rick to step back and let him instruct the actors.
Rick, upset about being pushed aside by Jimmy, takes his frustrations out on Terri. He tells her that he knows what's best for her, and that he's only looking out for her because he doesn't want her to embarrass herself on stage.
The night of the play, all seems to be going well. Terri decides to take Jimmy's cues, and the audience is enjoying her performance. But when she looks out into the crowd and sees Rick's disappointed face, Terri decides to start using the advice he gave her instead; the breathing techniques, looking directly into the audience while delivering her lines. Unfortunately this ruins her performance and the audience begins laughing at her.
After the play, an upset Terri tells Rick that she never should've listened to him and that she was humiliated on stage because she took his acting advice. Rick, angry at her tone of voice, grabs her wrist. She pleads him to let go. Once he does he apologizes, but Terri is still shocked by his actions.
The next day at school Rick gives Terri roses. He apologizes for hurting her. Although reluctant at first, she eventually forgives him. He calls her beautiful and tells her he'll never hurt her again.
Later that day in the girl's bathroom, Terri brags about her wonderful relationship to Hazel and Paige. Paige invites them both over to her house after school for a girl's night. When Paige leaves the bathroom, Hazel notices a burise on Terri's wrist from where Rick grabbed her. Hazel asks Terri about it, but Terri lies and says she got the bruise from gym class.
Later in the gym, Terri asks Rick if the two of them have any plans after school, because she's been invited to Paige for a girls night. Rick doesn't want her to go. He becomes possessive and jealous and asks her if she'll be "picking up guys and gossiping about me" when she's with Paige. Terri tells Rick he's overracting and being crazy -- Rick then slaps Terri across the face, leaving a small scrape on her lip. "Don't ever call me crazy" he says.
At Paige's, the girls talk about Rick. Terri contunies to lie about her relationship; telling the girls that Rick is sweet, charming, and thoughtful. However Hazel still remains suspicious. She asks Terri about the cut on her lip, but Terri lies again and says it's just a cold sore. Hazel asks Terri if Rick is hurting her. Terri denies it and accuses Hazel of being jealous. "He loves me and you want to take that away" she says as she storms out.
Terri runs into Rick on her way home. He tries to apologize for their confronation earlier, but she doesn't want to hear it. She tells him that she had a fight with Hazel and she's upset and needs time to herself. Rick orders her not to see Hazel and Paige outside of school anymore. Terri tells Rick that he's suffocating her. He reacts to this comment by pushing her against a dumpster. In that moment, Terri declares that as the last time Rick will ever touch her.
The next day at school, Jimmy and Hazel give Terri moral support. Terri admits that she still cares about Rick, but Hazel reminds her that she has to stop seeing him. Terri sees a rose from Rick taped to her locker. She picks up the rose, tosses it to the floor, and stomps on it with her foot...as Rick watches from across the hallway.
In the sub-plot, Spinner is annoyed that JT is constantly hanging around he and Paige. The boys get into an all-out prank war that may end up going a little too far..
This is a good episode. It portrays an abusive relationship in an honest and realistic way. We see all the signs of an abusive male in Rick; he is controlling, possessive, jealous, and unstable. And we see signs that many victims of domestic abuse embody in Terri; she remains in denial, she constantly forgives Rick for his actions throughout the episode and makes excuses for his behavior. The ineractions between Terri and Rick in this episode are the types of interactions you would see in an abusive relationship in real life. And I must say, the actor who plays Rick (Ephriam Ellis) is disturbingly creepy...he totally captures the role of an abuser, and plays the role brilliantly. Overall, I thought this was a well written and well acted episode.
Grade: B
Rick thinks that he should be the group's director since his mom use to be in show business, he believes he can contribute a lot of ideas. However the group elects Jimmy as their director, leaving Rick as stage manager. Jimmy then elects Terri as the lead actress in their play. Terri is elated at first, and gives Jimmy a hug. But when Rick looks disappointed, Terri offers to drop the lead role and be his stage manager assistant, but he encorages her to keep the role.
Since Rick knows a lot about show business, or believes he does, he has many ideas that he wants to contribute to their production. However his ideas clash with Jimmy's ideas. Rick's ideas don't improve their play, they actually make the play worse. He gives Terri tips and cues to help her acting, but they merely worsen her acting skills too.
Later that day, Rick questions Terri about her friendship with Jimmy. Rick is jealous and believes that Jimmy has a crush on Terri, but Terri assures him that the two of them are just friends.
Meanwhile Jimmy expresses concern about Rick to Hazel. He thinks that Rick is "creepy" and "nauseating", but Hazel encourages Jimmy to be supportive of Rick and Terri's relationship because Rick is Terri's first real boyfriend.
Their skit groups meets after school at The Dot to discuss the play. Rick continues offering unwanted tips and advice to the actors in their group. And when the gang prepares to order their food, he tells Terri to order a salad and try to eat healthier, even though she wants a burger. He continues trying to control Terri and all of the decisions she makes
During rehearsals, Jimmy eventually tells Rick to step back and let him instruct the actors.
Rick, upset about being pushed aside by Jimmy, takes his frustrations out on Terri. He tells her that he knows what's best for her, and that he's only looking out for her because he doesn't want her to embarrass herself on stage.
The night of the play, all seems to be going well. Terri decides to take Jimmy's cues, and the audience is enjoying her performance. But when she looks out into the crowd and sees Rick's disappointed face, Terri decides to start using the advice he gave her instead; the breathing techniques, looking directly into the audience while delivering her lines. Unfortunately this ruins her performance and the audience begins laughing at her.
After the play, an upset Terri tells Rick that she never should've listened to him and that she was humiliated on stage because she took his acting advice. Rick, angry at her tone of voice, grabs her wrist. She pleads him to let go. Once he does he apologizes, but Terri is still shocked by his actions.
The next day at school Rick gives Terri roses. He apologizes for hurting her. Although reluctant at first, she eventually forgives him. He calls her beautiful and tells her he'll never hurt her again.
Later that day in the girl's bathroom, Terri brags about her wonderful relationship to Hazel and Paige. Paige invites them both over to her house after school for a girl's night. When Paige leaves the bathroom, Hazel notices a burise on Terri's wrist from where Rick grabbed her. Hazel asks Terri about it, but Terri lies and says she got the bruise from gym class.
Later in the gym, Terri asks Rick if the two of them have any plans after school, because she's been invited to Paige for a girls night. Rick doesn't want her to go. He becomes possessive and jealous and asks her if she'll be "picking up guys and gossiping about me" when she's with Paige. Terri tells Rick he's overracting and being crazy -- Rick then slaps Terri across the face, leaving a small scrape on her lip. "Don't ever call me crazy" he says.
At Paige's, the girls talk about Rick. Terri contunies to lie about her relationship; telling the girls that Rick is sweet, charming, and thoughtful. However Hazel still remains suspicious. She asks Terri about the cut on her lip, but Terri lies again and says it's just a cold sore. Hazel asks Terri if Rick is hurting her. Terri denies it and accuses Hazel of being jealous. "He loves me and you want to take that away" she says as she storms out.
Terri runs into Rick on her way home. He tries to apologize for their confronation earlier, but she doesn't want to hear it. She tells him that she had a fight with Hazel and she's upset and needs time to herself. Rick orders her not to see Hazel and Paige outside of school anymore. Terri tells Rick that he's suffocating her. He reacts to this comment by pushing her against a dumpster. In that moment, Terri declares that as the last time Rick will ever touch her.
The next day at school, Jimmy and Hazel give Terri moral support. Terri admits that she still cares about Rick, but Hazel reminds her that she has to stop seeing him. Terri sees a rose from Rick taped to her locker. She picks up the rose, tosses it to the floor, and stomps on it with her foot...as Rick watches from across the hallway.
In the sub-plot, Spinner is annoyed that JT is constantly hanging around he and Paige. The boys get into an all-out prank war that may end up going a little too far..
This is a good episode. It portrays an abusive relationship in an honest and realistic way. We see all the signs of an abusive male in Rick; he is controlling, possessive, jealous, and unstable. And we see signs that many victims of domestic abuse embody in Terri; she remains in denial, she constantly forgives Rick for his actions throughout the episode and makes excuses for his behavior. The ineractions between Terri and Rick in this episode are the types of interactions you would see in an abusive relationship in real life. And I must say, the actor who plays Rick (Ephriam Ellis) is disturbingly creepy...he totally captures the role of an abuser, and plays the role brilliantly. Overall, I thought this was a well written and well acted episode.
Grade: B