Culture of Pop

31 Days of Halloween Episodes: Tricks and Treats (Freaks and Geeks)

Here at Pop Culture Spin we refuse to accept that Halloween is only one day. We’re going to be celebrating Halloween all month, by highlighting one of our favorite Halloween episodes every day. Today’s we’re looking at the Freaks and Geeks episode “Tricks and Treats.”

Basic Info

Directed by: Bryan Gordon

Written by: Paul Feig

Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 3

Where to Watch It: Netflix

Why It’s Awesome

Many teen dramas will go wild creating elaborate, out-there storylines for the sake of drama. But Freaks and Geeks knew how to create huge emotion from small moments. That special ability is on full display in “Tricks and Treats.” It perfectly captures experiences like getting overwhelming homework assignments, discovering new friends are actually very boring and feeling like you’re disappointing a parent.

Why It’s Full of Halloween Spirit

Sam Weir and his mother Jean Weir both want to use Halloween to tap into something innocent. Jean is excited about spending a night with her daughter, passing out cookies to neighborhood kids. But, when Lindsay ditches her and parents continually reject her homemade cookies because they’ve been lecturing their kids on the dangers of unwrapped treats, she realizes the Halloween that she wants doesn’t exist anymore.

Similarly, Sam thinks he can avoid growing up by doing at least one more year of trick or treating, but trick or treating as a teen only results in getting bullied.

Halloween might be a holiday that’s all about kids having fun, but kids grow up and the sinister parts of the holiday can’t be avoided.

Costume Count

Jean Weir is a cowgirl

Harold Weir is a vampire

Sam Weir is the robot from The Day the Earth Stood Still

Lindsay Weir is a prince

Bill Haverchuck is the Bionic Woman

Neal Schreiber is Charlie Chaplin

Harris is a guy with a knife through his head

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