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
