S01.E01: We're Gonna Rule the School

[paulvdb]

Premiere date: April 6, 2023

[Sarah 103]

I have questions and thoughts. If they didn't have the rights to the characters from the musical, then how are they getting away with having Rizzo as the best friend of Jane's younger sister (who is clearly Frenchy), because the character is expliticly referred to as Betty Rizzo, so it's not like they called the character Betty and they could use the excuse that it's a different character named Betty. 

The idea that Jane and her family are trying to "pass" is brilliant and something that needs to be explored further. 

I love what they are doing with the music. The original songs remind me of Spring Awakening. They exist outside of time. They do not sound exactly like the era, but they are conveying the singer's thoughts/feelings/emotions and it totally works. The songs that exist from source music (what is playing on car radios and what not) are perfect and spot on for 1954. 

There is something about Cynthia's skirts that feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is, so hopefully someone can help me. Also, I love the fashion and the cars. They are so pretty. 

This series would be so much better if it didn't have to be set in Rydell High in the suburbs of California. That California suburban setting is completely unrealistic for the kind of school and issues they want to deal with. Suburban California high schools in that era would not have been that diverse, but there are other places that would have worked if they wanted a diverse cast and make race an element of the story.

This show would be better and have fewer detractors if it was not tied to Grease and was its own original thing. Of course, I understand its 2023 and nothing that it isn't based on an existing IP is going to be made, but a person can dream. 

[bilgistic]

This started out super cringe but really grew on me as the episode progressed. I am a huge fan of both Grease and Grease 2, having watched them multiple times as a kid. My sisters and I attended a summer day care that showed the movies on a loop. This was the early 1980s, so imagine my surprise when I was old enough to understand all the not-so-subtle subtext and innuendos.

We also "choreographed" dances to the Footloose soundtrack (I was 9-10), if that gives you additional insight into the structure of that day care. It was wildly fun.

[Cloud9Shopper]

I may give it another episode or two but I wasn’t thrilled that they low-key ripped off some scenes and quotes from the movie even though the dialogue was a little different. It’s part why I didn’t stick with A League of Their Own on Amazon for too long. I wish these shows inspired by such popular movies would stop trying to be the movie too. 

Of course I was also talking to my mom through most of the episode and didn’t fully catch some things, so I may end up rewatching the pilot before the next episode. 

[Chaos Theory]

This started out really cringy but actually kinda grew on me in unexpected ways.  I might have to watch it not on fast forward like I do with some shows just to see if I will like.  I am weird don't ask me why I do it.  Anyway I like the main 4 characters and how they all came together from different walks of life.    It is just the pilot so of course it is going to take things directly from the movie to get fans of the movie which may end up annoying movie fans but it wants to connect to the movie and yet be its own thing which I apricate. 

[Cress]

I heard some characters refer to "JDs" and I don't know what that means. Is it something from Grease that I don't remember? Is it a clique? I just can't figure out what the initials stand for.

[giovannif7]

21 hours ago, Cress said:

I heard some characters refer to "JDs" and I don't know what that means. Is it something from Grease that I don't remember? Is it a clique? I just can't figure out what the initials stand for.

I'd guess JD=Juvenile Delinquents? That was a "boogeyman" term used to frighten parents and scare "good" kids straight during that era, IIRC.

ETA: Now that I think about it, there was a semi-reference to the term in the song Beauty School Dropout - "Your story's sad to tell, a teenage ne'er do well, most mixed-up non-delinquent on the block..."

Edited May 24, 2023 by giovannif7

[Sarah 103]

JD means Juvenile Delinquent. It was a fairly common term in the 1950s and into the early 1960s. It was used in real life and in popular culture. 

[Cress]

I do know the term "juvenile delinquient." I just didn't know that's what the abbreviation meant. Be more clear, show!

[Crybaby]

I just want the haunting version of Grease is The Word playing during the sad scenes. Anyone know if it’s an actual song in the soundtrack? No words just breathy moaning I can’t describe it but when Jane leaves Buddy it starts.