The Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Watching Greek
http://firefox.org/news/articles/1831/1/The-Top-Ten-Reasons-You-Should-Be-Watching-Greek/Page1.html
Amber Charleville
Amber has been in one fandom or another since she was fourteen. Sometimes, she feels like she collects them. She also talks a lot. By Amber Charleville
Published on 08/22/2008
The season 2 premiere of ABC Family's Greek is fast approaching (Tuesday, August 26 at 9/8c), and since you may not be hip to what's so hop, er... hot about this show, I thought I'd fill you in. Greek's ratings have been strong, but with a show I think was custom made for fanthings everywhere, I'm surprised I haven't heard a bigger buzz around my fandom haunts...
And you'd better start...
The season two premiere of ABC Family's Greek is fast approaching (Tuesday, August 26 at 9/8c), and since you may not be hip to what's so hop, er... hot about this show, I thought I'd fill you in. Greek's ratings have been strong, but with a show I think was custom made for fanthings everywhere, I'm surprised I haven't heard a bigger buzz around my fandom haunts. Before I launch into my list of reasons you should be watching, let me give you a basic rundown of the show.
Rusty and Casey Cartwright are brother and sister, and they are the central characters of the show. Rusty is a Kappa Tau pledge, Casey is a Zeta Beta Zeta (ZBZ) in her junior year. Casey once dated Cappie (president of the Kappas), but at the beginning of the first season is dating Evan Chambers (prominent member of the Omega Chis). The Omegas and the Kappas are rivals, but no members more so than Evan and Cappie (who it is hinted at were friends before joining separate fraternities). Thrown into this mix are Casey's best friend Ashleigh, ZBZ pledge Rebecca, Rusty's roommate Dale, and Rusty's new friend Calvin (an Omega Chi pledge).
Stir in booze, college shenanigans, and the bonds of brotherhood (and sisterhood), and you get...
The Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Watching Greek:
10. The Kappa Taus - The Kappas are what I consider the heart and soul of this show. They are the fraternity Rusty and Cappie are part of, but the brothers of Kappa Tau are many and varied. From the older brothers like Beaver, Wade, and Heath to the class of underachieving pledges, they are a group of hilarious and loyal dudes. Completely accepting of each other, they form a true brotherhood, and sure their main concerns in life may seem to be booze, chicks, and pranking the Omegas, but underneath all of that they are caring, supportive, and intelligent guys who are proud of their fraternity, their school, and their fellow brothers.
9. The Dialogue - Greek’s dialogue captures something rare in a show geared at the all-powerful 18-35 demographic. Reality! There are moments when something will happen, a conversation will take place and after it’s done, I’ll think to myself, “Wow, that’s an actual conversation that could happen in the real world.” Not that I’m knocking shows like Veronica Mars or Gilmore Girls, but it’s so nice to see a show not laden down with stylized dialogue. I mean, I love Veronica’s snappy comebacks and quick wit and snark as much as the next person, but most people don’t actually talk like that. We know that, the creators know that, but it’s fun so we let it fly. But every once in a great while, it’s nice to find a show that feels like I could walk into it and not sound like an idiot compared to the main characters. Greek delivers that, all while staying fun and entertaining. Plus, it’s rare that I feel like the dialogue is melodramatic, and that's pretty damn rare, too.
8. Dale - Rusty’s roommate Dale is a Born Again Christian and on a mission to save everyone’s soul. This character has so many potential pitfalls that every time he comes on the screen, I’m amazed at how deftly the writers handle him. He is used with the perfect balance of satire and seriousness, never straying too far one way or the other (while the character himself is still outrageous in the context of the show). There’s a great layer of humanity in his role. He genuinely cares about his friends (going above and beyond for Rusty on numerous occasions), and he lives by a personal philosophy of “Hate the sin, not the sinner,” allowing him to remain true to his belief system and make room for other people’s beliefs as well (though he won’t hesitate to try to convert you if you give him the chance). He’s a good person who always wants to see the best in other people, even if he does think the Greek system is a pit of sin. He is, without a doubt, the most loveable conservative Christian on TV.
7. Three Dimensional Stereotypes - How’s that for an oxymoron? But in all seriousness, the thing I noticed almost immediately about this show is that it’s full of the classic College and/or Sorority/Fraternity archetypes and settings/situations, but in every one of those instances, it manages to take those things and find a fun, clever way to spin them on their head or give them depth. The geek wins fights, the party boy is smart and intuitive, the oppressive queen bee really can learn from her comeuppance, the spoiled brat recognizes she's a stereotype and makes it work for her, and the golden boy pledge is gay (and totally owns that… more on this character later). All in all, I'm treated to my very lovely brain candy while still getting that little extra something that keeps me engaged in the show.
6. Rebecca Logan - Rebecca may be one of my favorite female characters of all time (and that's saying something). It actually took me a while to warm up to her, but now I'm of the opinion she's more sparkly than Edward Cullen in Ecuador. Rebecca's role is the spoiled brat. She’s a total bitch to the main female character (Casey) and she masterfully manipulates everyone around her. Her redeeming factor isn’t necessarily that she has a heart o’ gold (because she really doesn’t), it’s that she knows what she wants, who she is, and how to make that work for her. She knows she is a stereotype (spoiled but neglected Senator’s daughter who pisses her father off in order to get his attention), but she doesn’t let that be her defining characteristic. She forms her own opinions, has her own agenda, and never lets those come in second to anyone else's. At the same time, she may be at war with her fellow sisters at ZBZ half the time, but woe betide anyone else who messes with them. She's wonderfully flawed and layered (like an onion!) and I couldn't be more in love with her if I tried.
Rusty and Casey Cartwright are brother and sister, and they are the central characters of the show. Rusty is a Kappa Tau pledge, Casey is a Zeta Beta Zeta (ZBZ) in her junior year. Casey once dated Cappie (president of the Kappas), but at the beginning of the first season is dating Evan Chambers (prominent member of the Omega Chis). The Omegas and the Kappas are rivals, but no members more so than Evan and Cappie (who it is hinted at were friends before joining separate fraternities). Thrown into this mix are Casey's best friend Ashleigh, ZBZ pledge Rebecca, Rusty's roommate Dale, and Rusty's new friend Calvin (an Omega Chi pledge).
Stir in booze, college shenanigans, and the bonds of brotherhood (and sisterhood), and you get...
The Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Watching Greek:
10. The Kappa Taus - The Kappas are what I consider the heart and soul of this show. They are the fraternity Rusty and Cappie are part of, but the brothers of Kappa Tau are many and varied. From the older brothers like Beaver, Wade, and Heath to the class of underachieving pledges, they are a group of hilarious and loyal dudes. Completely accepting of each other, they form a true brotherhood, and sure their main concerns in life may seem to be booze, chicks, and pranking the Omegas, but underneath all of that they are caring, supportive, and intelligent guys who are proud of their fraternity, their school, and their fellow brothers.
9. The Dialogue - Greek’s dialogue captures something rare in a show geared at the all-powerful 18-35 demographic. Reality! There are moments when something will happen, a conversation will take place and after it’s done, I’ll think to myself, “Wow, that’s an actual conversation that could happen in the real world.” Not that I’m knocking shows like Veronica Mars or Gilmore Girls, but it’s so nice to see a show not laden down with stylized dialogue. I mean, I love Veronica’s snappy comebacks and quick wit and snark as much as the next person, but most people don’t actually talk like that. We know that, the creators know that, but it’s fun so we let it fly. But every once in a great while, it’s nice to find a show that feels like I could walk into it and not sound like an idiot compared to the main characters. Greek delivers that, all while staying fun and entertaining. Plus, it’s rare that I feel like the dialogue is melodramatic, and that's pretty damn rare, too.
8. Dale - Rusty’s roommate Dale is a Born Again Christian and on a mission to save everyone’s soul. This character has so many potential pitfalls that every time he comes on the screen, I’m amazed at how deftly the writers handle him. He is used with the perfect balance of satire and seriousness, never straying too far one way or the other (while the character himself is still outrageous in the context of the show). There’s a great layer of humanity in his role. He genuinely cares about his friends (going above and beyond for Rusty on numerous occasions), and he lives by a personal philosophy of “Hate the sin, not the sinner,” allowing him to remain true to his belief system and make room for other people’s beliefs as well (though he won’t hesitate to try to convert you if you give him the chance). He’s a good person who always wants to see the best in other people, even if he does think the Greek system is a pit of sin. He is, without a doubt, the most loveable conservative Christian on TV.
7. Three Dimensional Stereotypes - How’s that for an oxymoron? But in all seriousness, the thing I noticed almost immediately about this show is that it’s full of the classic College and/or Sorority/Fraternity archetypes and settings/situations, but in every one of those instances, it manages to take those things and find a fun, clever way to spin them on their head or give them depth. The geek wins fights, the party boy is smart and intuitive, the oppressive queen bee really can learn from her comeuppance, the spoiled brat recognizes she's a stereotype and makes it work for her, and the golden boy pledge is gay (and totally owns that… more on this character later). All in all, I'm treated to my very lovely brain candy while still getting that little extra something that keeps me engaged in the show.
6. Rebecca Logan - Rebecca may be one of my favorite female characters of all time (and that's saying something). It actually took me a while to warm up to her, but now I'm of the opinion she's more sparkly than Edward Cullen in Ecuador. Rebecca's role is the spoiled brat. She’s a total bitch to the main female character (Casey) and she masterfully manipulates everyone around her. Her redeeming factor isn’t necessarily that she has a heart o’ gold (because she really doesn’t), it’s that she knows what she wants, who she is, and how to make that work for her. She knows she is a stereotype (spoiled but neglected Senator’s daughter who pisses her father off in order to get his attention), but she doesn’t let that be her defining characteristic. She forms her own opinions, has her own agenda, and never lets those come in second to anyone else's. At the same time, she may be at war with her fellow sisters at ZBZ half the time, but woe betide anyone else who messes with them. She's wonderfully flawed and layered (like an onion!) and I couldn't be more in love with her if I tried.
And you'd better start... (Cont.)
5. Calvin Owens - Calvin is athletic, smart, a legacy pledge, and all around pretty freaking fantastic. He pledges Omega Chi (his dad's old fraternity, hence the legacy thing), and he is Evan Chamber's "little brother." He's also best friends with Ashleigh from the ZBZs and Rusty from the Kappas. Oh, and did I mention he's gay? Yeah, he is. And you want to know the best part? The show never once, not even a little, tries to downplay that or hide his relationships in the background. His love life gets just as much screen time and drama as most of the other characters'. He was out in high school and is semi-closeted at the beginning of the season, but as you can imagine it doesn't stay that way. He dated a Kappa (Heath) for a while, but he's currently dating a French class TA, and it is excellent. What I love about Calvin is that while he is The Gay Character, he's also Calvin, Pledge Owens, Best Friend, and All-State Hockey Player. His second "coming out" is a little more laced with roses and rainbows that I'd imagine most fraternity brothers have it, but I think they still do a really great job of making him well-rounded. He's not stereotypically gay and he struggles with relating to guys that he dates who lean a little more that way. Still, he is who he is without apologies and he's woven into the fabric of the show seamlessly.
4. Subtle Satire - This show is seriously hilarious. There's your typical frat guy humor and slapstick, physical comedy, but there's this really awesome, subtle layer of satirical humor, too. The whole show is, of course, a dramedy about the a-typical college experience, and even if you've never done the Greek thing, I think it still has that universal feel to it. But like I said, in the midst of all this mind candy, "dumb" humor, there's a witty commentary on the classic American coming of age story. While some satire is so over-the-top (by necessity so that it can be identified as satire, or at least one hopes), this show's feels organic and I'm never beat over the head with it.
3. Rusty Cartwright - Rusty, AKA "Spitter," is so unexpectedly squee-worthy in all the best ways. I don't even know what to DO with myself half the time. Rusty starts off as your run-of-the-mill geek when he arrives on campus, a wide-eyed, fresh-faced freshman. Then he's confronted with an older sister who told no one he existed, a crazy roommate (at first), and the impossible prospect of rushing a fraternity (something his sister tells him he can't be successful at). But soon, he's impressing the coolest guys on campus, making friends with Calvin, and then slapping his sister's boyfriend (Evan) upside the face with the Omega Chi pledge paddle and getting arrested. He never hesitates to get into a fight to defend his sister (despite her less-than-warm welcome) and to do what he thinks is right, even if it means getting his ass kicked. He never backs down and he doesn't run away. Still, he's not instantly cool either, he retains some of his true geek and he does it with style. It's been said that this is a show about Rusty getting past his old high school persona and becoming cool by joining a fraternity, but I think it's more about finding out you can be cool no matter who you are if you just have enough self-confidence.
2. Cappie - Cappie is the president of the Kappa Taus. He's majored in almost every field there is (and managed to retain knowledge from a good portion of each). He's Van Wilder cool without being half as obnoxious. He takes a shine to Rusty almost immediately (he's got a weakness for Cartwrights), and looks after him unfailingly. His brothers are his life and he'd do anything for them, and they would do anything for him, too. He's genuinely funny (providing some of the best moments of the show), and you can't help but fall in love with him (right along with half the female population of Greek Row). But as much as a party guy as he can be, he's a romantic at heart, falling fast and hard for smart, complicated women who kick his ass all over the place. Not to mention the kid's got chemistry with a freaking rock, and you can pretty much ship him with every single character on the show. And the kicker? He's even got a little bit of zany mystery surrounding him. He's known strictly as Cappie to everyone on campus, even the dean. Only a few lucky individuals have ever learned it and they're not sharing, not even with us.
1. Believably Dynamic Relationships - I think the number one selling point of Greek is the relationships. The dynamics between almost every pairing (platonic or romantic) are so freaking amazing I could cry. Casey and Rusty develop an awesome, yet complicated and strained, Brother/Sister relationship that is the axis and backbone of the show as much as the Kappas Taus are the heart and soul. Rusty and Dale are adorable roommates who have that special kind of friendship you can only develop with a roommate you have almost nothing in common with and yet you can still laugh with. Rusty and Cappie have an awesome big brother/little brother relationship that goes both ways (Rusty looks out for Cappie as much as Cappie looks out for him). Rusty and Calvin are kick ass BFFs. Calvin and Ashleigh are absolutely hilarious and endearing together. Cappie and Evan might as well jump in the sack together to work out their awesome rivalry because their chemistry is off the charts. To top it all off, there's the trifecta of Evan/Casey/Cappie, the love triangle to end all love triangles. There are so many other great relationships in the show that it's hard for me to name them all (though I've clearly tried), and I can't even do justice to the ones I have named. Every connection on the show makes me smile giddily, even the unholy alliances.
...and now that you're just dying to catch up on every single sordid detail you missed on Greek, it just so happens you're in luck. ABC Family is running a marathon leading up to the season two premiere, all day on Tuesday, August 26th, starting at 11/10c. So tune in, watch, and then come back next week when I start reviewing each episode (and I know you can't wait for that, either).
4. Subtle Satire - This show is seriously hilarious. There's your typical frat guy humor and slapstick, physical comedy, but there's this really awesome, subtle layer of satirical humor, too. The whole show is, of course, a dramedy about the a-typical college experience, and even if you've never done the Greek thing, I think it still has that universal feel to it. But like I said, in the midst of all this mind candy, "dumb" humor, there's a witty commentary on the classic American coming of age story. While some satire is so over-the-top (by necessity so that it can be identified as satire, or at least one hopes), this show's feels organic and I'm never beat over the head with it.
3. Rusty Cartwright - Rusty, AKA "Spitter," is so unexpectedly squee-worthy in all the best ways. I don't even know what to DO with myself half the time. Rusty starts off as your run-of-the-mill geek when he arrives on campus, a wide-eyed, fresh-faced freshman. Then he's confronted with an older sister who told no one he existed, a crazy roommate (at first), and the impossible prospect of rushing a fraternity (something his sister tells him he can't be successful at). But soon, he's impressing the coolest guys on campus, making friends with Calvin, and then slapping his sister's boyfriend (Evan) upside the face with the Omega Chi pledge paddle and getting arrested. He never hesitates to get into a fight to defend his sister (despite her less-than-warm welcome) and to do what he thinks is right, even if it means getting his ass kicked. He never backs down and he doesn't run away. Still, he's not instantly cool either, he retains some of his true geek and he does it with style. It's been said that this is a show about Rusty getting past his old high school persona and becoming cool by joining a fraternity, but I think it's more about finding out you can be cool no matter who you are if you just have enough self-confidence.
2. Cappie - Cappie is the president of the Kappa Taus. He's majored in almost every field there is (and managed to retain knowledge from a good portion of each). He's Van Wilder cool without being half as obnoxious. He takes a shine to Rusty almost immediately (he's got a weakness for Cartwrights), and looks after him unfailingly. His brothers are his life and he'd do anything for them, and they would do anything for him, too. He's genuinely funny (providing some of the best moments of the show), and you can't help but fall in love with him (right along with half the female population of Greek Row). But as much as a party guy as he can be, he's a romantic at heart, falling fast and hard for smart, complicated women who kick his ass all over the place. Not to mention the kid's got chemistry with a freaking rock, and you can pretty much ship him with every single character on the show. And the kicker? He's even got a little bit of zany mystery surrounding him. He's known strictly as Cappie to everyone on campus, even the dean. Only a few lucky individuals have ever learned it and they're not sharing, not even with us.
1. Believably Dynamic Relationships - I think the number one selling point of Greek is the relationships. The dynamics between almost every pairing (platonic or romantic) are so freaking amazing I could cry. Casey and Rusty develop an awesome, yet complicated and strained, Brother/Sister relationship that is the axis and backbone of the show as much as the Kappas Taus are the heart and soul. Rusty and Dale are adorable roommates who have that special kind of friendship you can only develop with a roommate you have almost nothing in common with and yet you can still laugh with. Rusty and Cappie have an awesome big brother/little brother relationship that goes both ways (Rusty looks out for Cappie as much as Cappie looks out for him). Rusty and Calvin are kick ass BFFs. Calvin and Ashleigh are absolutely hilarious and endearing together. Cappie and Evan might as well jump in the sack together to work out their awesome rivalry because their chemistry is off the charts. To top it all off, there's the trifecta of Evan/Casey/Cappie, the love triangle to end all love triangles. There are so many other great relationships in the show that it's hard for me to name them all (though I've clearly tried), and I can't even do justice to the ones I have named. Every connection on the show makes me smile giddily, even the unholy alliances.
...and now that you're just dying to catch up on every single sordid detail you missed on Greek, it just so happens you're in luck. ABC Family is running a marathon leading up to the season two premiere, all day on Tuesday, August 26th, starting at 11/10c. So tune in, watch, and then come back next week when I start reviewing each episode (and I know you can't wait for that, either).