About:
Young Americans S1.E02 “Our Time”
Total Tallies
Rowing: 8
Ending Up in the Lake: 8
Shirtlessness: 10
Coca-Cola Product Placement: 9
Nick Drake Songs: 5
While writing my Book Report for Sherry Thomas’ The Burning Sky, I couldn’t stop thinking about Young Americans. I haven’t seen the entire series since it originally aired during the summer of 2000, but something about it has stuck with me. Perhaps it’s my love of that era of WB television; perhaps it’s the the fun of watching celebrities in their early years of stardom; perhaps it’s the entertainment value of Shakespeare-style shenanigans. (Shakespeare-style shenanigans are ALWAYS entertaining.) Regardless, when y’all responded in kind to my fond remembrance of the show, I knew I’d found the right time to give it a rewatch.
Inspired by Meredith’s awesome Gilmore Girls rewatch project, I’ll be recapping two episodes a week for the next four weeks. (Sadly, there are only eight episodes in the series.) If you’re unfamiliar with the show or need to refresh your memory on what happens (and don’t have a bootleg DVD version of the complete series like a certain someone who might have written this post has) you can find each episode on YouTube. (I’ll include links to each episode along with the posts as well.)
I do hope you’ll join me in this jaunt down memory lane—one filled with intrigue, mistaken identities, possible incestual feelings, shirtless 20-somethings playing high schoolers, a whole lot of Coca-Cola and so much more!
1.1 “The Beginning”
The first episode of the series serves, as with any series, as an introduction to the characters and the plot. (With Young Americans only having eight episodes, a lot is revealed in this first episode, so, this recap will be long. Also: SPOILERS AHEAD.) The first young American we meet is Will Krudski (Rodney Scott), who has lived his entire life in the city of New Rawley, a “typical” New England town. He’s just aching for change.
Cut to a scene of an as-yet unknown “Rawley boy” buying a Coke from an as-yet unknown townie girl who works in the town’s gas station/garage. Do I sense flirtation in her “Need directions to Rawley? Follow your nose—it smells just like money” quip? I think I might.
Will arrives at Rawley and meets the Rawley boy, who turns out to be Scout Calhoun (Mark Famiglietti), his roommate. Will’s earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious Rawley Academy, an all-boys boarding school, for the summer session. Scout’s rich, natch, so he’s there because his parents are paying for it. While they boys are getting settled into their room, in pops Hamilton Fleming (Ian Somerhalder) son of the dean—but not a narc!—amateur photographer and … feng shui expert?
A ruckus is heard outside, and it turns out to be a right of passage that involves both the boys of Rawley Academy and the girls of the Rawley Academy for Girls (because there’s always a girl’s version of a boarding school directly across the lake from the boy’s version, right?) shucking all clothing but underpants and heading into the lake. Nothing could go wrong! Until the seniors “kidnap” poor little freshman Will and Scout, that is, and drive them into town wearing nothing but their boxers. While in town, they run across our previously mentioned townie girl, Bella Banks, who Will has known his entire life. Scout wants all the details.
On their walk back to the school, Will and Scout bond over personal stories, one of which is Scout getting his mom’s best friend pregnant and another is that Will cheated on the entrance exam in order to get into the school (and away from his abusive father). Joke’s on Will, though, because although his story is true, Scout’s story isn’t. (GOOD JOB, WILL. GET A SENSE OF HUMOR.) In classic “roommates are immediately BFFs” fashion, Scout promises not to tell anyone.
After watching the boys bond in the forest wearing nothing but their undies, we join Hamilton speaking to another student on the shores of the lake. Hamilton previously saw said student ride up to the school on a badass motorcycle, which, obs, you’re not allowed to have, but Badass Motorcycle Student (BMS) is like, “whatevs, I do what I want.” Hamilton once again reassures that he’s not a narc, and will keep the secret.
Our first meeting with an actual Rawley teacher is with Finn “No Last Name Necessary” (Ed Quinn) who proceeds to walk directly into the lake, fully clothed. (Yay! Our first moment of “I’m a teacher, but I’m not a teacher-teacher.”) It turns out that English class and rowing practice are combined at Rawley, so Will, Scout, Hamilton, BMS and a bunch of extras pile into the boat and row while Finn asks them questions like “Who’s the greatest writer that ever lived?” Will suggests Faukner. (Oooh, Will, you so deep.)
Will turns a bit green when Finn eventually mentions that he expects Will to live up to his impressive test scores, which were the third highest in Rawley history. (Way to cheat under the radar there, William.) The discussion soon turns to what the guys hear on the lake. The boys suggest birds, waves, wind … and Mr. Deep Thoughts Will suggests “history.” What Finn wanted them to hear, however, was opportunity. (Because that’s the kind of teacher he is.) When Finn makes them all jump into the water, BMS solidifies their B status by calling him a wanker.
After lights out, Scout presses Will for information on Bella, but Will is too preoccupied with the fact that he cheated and laments the fact that he let Scout in on the secret. OH SNAP, guys, Finn’s in the hallway and hears the whole thing. Finn eventually confronts Will about his cheating, but gives him a chance to take the test over and earn his scholarship honestly. As part of the test, Will has to write an essay about “who he is.” This essay leads to him passing, of course, and us learning that he’s obviously meant to be a writer.
The next morning, BMS has a conversation with Hamilton. It turns out that BMS has been in six boarding schools in the recent past, thanks in part to an absentee mother and BMS’ hardcore hacking skills. Hamilton is obviously impressed.
Scout goes to visit Bella and takes her for a ride on his bicycle handlebars, which is SO not safe. They have a discussion about Scout’s disappointment into being pigeonholed into his role as a Calhoun. (There happens to be a hall at Rawley named after the family.) Bella shares with Scout the fact that she knows her father isn’t her biological father; her mother had an affair. The two share their first kiss after a semi-creepy “I’ve been waiting for days” line from Scout.
Scout later meets Bella’s dad, who tells him that he doesn’t want him coming around any more. When the two discuss the incident, Bella tells Scout that she’s been thinking that he might be The One. Scout’s totally in love, so he’s cool with her being the kind of girl who tells someone she’s in love with him after only a couple of dates. When Scout talks to Bella’s dad about it, however, it turns out that the guy Bella’s mom had an affair with was … Scout’s dad. Which means that Scout and Bella could very well be half-siblings. (Can I get a collective “GROSS” from the audience?) After Bella learns the same information, the two decide to just try and be friends.
The second big twist of the episode comes when we see BMS in their room, alone, disrobing, and HOLY SHIZZ, BMS is a girl. When BMS (Katherine Moennig) and Hamilton head up to the roof of the Academy to hack into the school’s satellite feed, they have a conversation about how guys are constantly thinking of having sex. In the midst of this revealing information, BMS kisses Hamilton, who has no idea that she is, in fact, a lady. He’s totally confused, because he’s obviously got feelings for her, but up until that point, he’s never had feelings for a guy.
The episode ends with Will, Scout and Bella following in Finn’s footsteps and “throwing convention to the wind” by running into the lake in all their clothes.
Exam Time!
How many times do you see someone rowing on the lake?
6
How many times does someone end up in the lake?
7
How many times is someone seen without a shirt on?
8
How many times does someone drink a Coke/is a Coca-Cola logo seen?
6
On a scale of 1–10, how adorably awkward does the flirting between Hamilton and Jake get?
9, on account of the fact that the two share their first kiss on the roof of Rawley while talking about how much guys think about sex.
On a scale of 1–10, how uncomfortably awkward does the relationship between Scout and Bella get?
Also a 9. They could be related! Incest isn’t cool, guys! Even if you’re each others’ soul mates.
Essay Questions
What was the most obvious rich kid vs. poor kid moment?
During their bonding sesh in the forest, Scout tells a story about crashing his dad’s ‘64 Jag and getting a new one with the insurance money. Will tells a story in return about how he once burned his family’s garage down. They had no insurance, so they didn’t get a new one, and Will’s dad broke his nose because of the incident.
What was the best example of Finn trying to pull a Dead Poet’s Society?
His opening line: “It’s time to throw convention out the window. Get ready for the greatest summer of your lives.”
What familiar faces appeared in the episode, and in what else have they appeared?
- Ian Somerhalder (Hamilton Fleming) had a role in Lost and currently stars in The Vampire Diaries.
- Kate Bosworth’s (Bella Bank) appeared in Blue Crush and Superman Returns.
- Ed Quinn (Finn) had roles on True Blood and Eureka.
- Katherine Moennig (Jacqueline/Jake Pratt) starred in The L Word and Three Rivers.
Extra Credit
How many times does a Nick Drake song play?
3
Final (Arbitrary) Score
70/100—The show was jam-packed with introductory info, but was also a little too quick to reveal the series’ big secrets.
1.2 “Our Time”
Will heads to town to spend time with his townie friends, who don’t yet know that Will’s attending Rawley. After a quick bit of baseball practice, he heads back to Rawley for rowing practice, where Finn threatens him with getting kicked off the team if he’s late ever again. When Will jumps into the lake to catch up with the team, Finn secretly commends him on his to the wind convention throwing. Will’s best friend Sean (Matt Czuchry) catches him at practice, and makes a big deal about Will not telling him about Rawley.
Scout applies for a job at the diner in town, which just so happens to be across from the garage Bella works at. But he’s just going to be friends with her. Because he really likes her. As a friend. His first day on the job makes it obviously clear that he’s never had to work a day in his whole life. He creepily stares at Bella from across the street often.
BMS—who finally gets a name this episode, Jacqueline—parades around in her room in her underwear because she’s that badass. Hamilton stops by to reassure her that he’s not into guys, but it’s OK if she is. (Something tells me that Hamilton’s not exactly completely reassuring himself.) When Jacqueline, who goes by Jake to keep up appearances, goes to find her motorcycle, it’s been confiscated by the groundskeeper. Hamilton offers his help in getting it back, even though he’s obviously uncomfortable around her. The two, dressed in their finest ninja duds (Hamilton in a hoodie and Jake in leathers), break into Rawley’s storage room and rescue the bike.
Will takes Scout to a party at Sean’s, where Bella is, of course, in attendance. Scout tells Bella that he’d like to tell his dad about her, which escalates into a fight between Sean and Scout. Will tries to step in to break it up, which places him even more on the outs with Sean. Bella takes Scout back to her house to clean up his bloody lip and they argue about how Sean feels about her. Which, of course, is a lead in to the “he’s not good enough for you” conversation.
Will shows up to a baseball game to find out that he’s been cut from the team. Sean says it’s because Will hasn’t been showing up for practice, but there’s obviously still leftover angst under the surface of that relationship. This, in true WB fashion, leads to misplaced tension between Scout and Will. Finn finds Will moping in the school’s lobby and takes him on a bike ride, ending at the house in which Finn grew up. Oh dang guys: He’s a townie, too. But one that went to Harvard and also writes. So, you know, he got out.
Bella tries to reassure Scout that Will is going through something difficult, and that he should try to understand the situation both Will and Sean are in and all the changes they’re currently facing. During this convo, Scout makes it apparent that he’s totally jealous he thinks Sean has feelings for her.
Will and Scout eventually make amends, and Will attends another baseball game to show Sean that he’s still there to support him, regardless of his current schooling situation. Sean catches up with Will, and when Will reveals to Sean that he feels like a faker at Rawley, Sean reassures him that he’s the best of them all, and he deserves all the good that comes his way. (Will and Sean, Best Friends For-Eva.)
The episode draws to a close with Will, Scout and Bella sharing sundaes in the diner.
Exam Time!
How many times do you see someone rowing on the lake?
2
How many times does someone end up in the lake?
1
How many times is someone seen without a shirt on?
2
How many times does someone drink a Coke/is a Coca Cola logo seen?
3
On a scale of 1–10, how adorably awkward does the flirting between Hamilton and Jake get?
6. The whole “I’m not gay”/”Neither am I” moments are very 2000, but the pair’s awkwardness around each other after the kiss is kind of adorbs.
On a scale of 1–10, how uncomfortably awkward does the relationship between Scout and Bella get?
5. There’s no brother-sister smooching, but there is a lot of Scout pining.
Essay Questions
What was the most obvious rich kid vs. poor kid moment?
When Bella questions why Scout’s applying for a job, he says that having a summer job will be “character building.” Will mentions how that part of having a job has never occurred to the “poor kids.”
What was the best example of Finn trying to pull a Dead Poets Society?
Finn taking Will on a ride to his childhood home to illustrate to him that there is a way to escape Rawley yet still remain friends with the people he’s leaving behind was especially poignant.
What familiar faces appeared in the episode, and in what else have they appeared?
- Matt Czuchry’s other projects include Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights and The Good Wife.
Extra Credit
How many times does a Nick Drake song play?
2
Final (Arbitrary) Score
80/100—Some of my favorite moments of the series happen between Jake and Hamilton, and the amount of bro-angst in this episode is pretty monumental.
Check back next Wednesday for episodes 3 and 4! And do let me know if you’re watching too.
