S06.E22: Patriot Games

[spanana]

Of course, remember folks if you are a "nerd" you can't do PE or any type of sports, remember. That is just ridiculous they both are tied except for the gym grade. That is so contrived even for this show. Also, Gloria is studying for her US citizen test? Um... she has been married to Jay how long and they had a kid together. I have no problem seeing Javier though. 

Except I didn't really think the message was that nerds can't do gym.  It's not like Alex and Sanjay had failed gym, or even deliberately tried to evade it to get out of doing their mile run.  Storyline wise, they were just at an academic event when the mile was being run.  That said in my day if you missed the mile run, you would still have had to do it in the next gym class.  You didn't just get a pass because you were elsewhere.   Besides while there were references to Alex being unccordinated and a clutz, not to mention the pratfall, I was pleasantly surprised that in the treadmill sequence it was obvious that Alex would have had no problem completing the mile should she have had to do it.   I don't think either kid was supposed to come off a star athlete, but I think both would have made it through the mile fairly unscathed.  Or at least as unscathed as most high school kids that aren't athletes.

 

I was with the other poster though that as much as I thought the Alex/Sanjay thing was cute, it's also weird for two high school kids to basically get together as school as ending.  That is the time most high school relationships end since people are ready to start their new college lives.  Unless there is going to be some ridiculous plotline where somehow Alex and Sanjay wind up at the same school or if the show is going to have them try a "long distance" relationship or something.

[Blakeston]

And I think the point of the Mitch-Cam storyline was just the opposite, there are SO MANY organizations that don't fully support gay causes to the degree they would like that Cam and Mitch just figured you have to pick and choose your battles and you can't fight every single one

 

It would have been nice if Cam and Mitch had said something about there being a lot of corporations that are worse, but they didn't. Their argument was that they're too busy with their day-to-day lives to get involved.

 

As ridiculous as it sounds, there really are quite a few people out there who complain about how poor, innocent corporations are hounded by gay activists for absurdly tiny reasons. I've even seen people make those complaints in discussions about this episode (on other forums, obviously) - congratulating the show for taking down those ridiculous gay activists. Never mind that, in real life, the businesses that get protested are the ones that actively try to deny them rights, and/or denounce same-sex marriage.

[possibilities]

People see what they want to see, I guess. Cam and Mitch did specifically say that there were so many places to protest, they couldn't keep track, and they clearly felt guilty for not boycotting. I can see how if you want to, you could see that as a weak excuse, but I don't think the show was making them into role models, either. They were also not treating the protesters with much sympathy, though; that's true. But they didn't make them wrong, either. I think the show is kind of even-handedly cynical. On the one, they mock earnestness. On the other, they think the apathetic are hypocrits. The genius of it, and probably why the ratings are so high, is that if you want to feel vindicated in your conservatism, you can take that interpretation. You can also take the show as supportive of a liberal point of view. And the apathetic can feel supported in their passivity, as well. So everyone watches it, instead of losing half the country because they're perceived as taking sides. Savvy showrunners! Everybody is a loser!

[mansonlamps]

Grading gym should be based on effort, but I had many a GPA ruined by a C in gym because I couldn't run the mile in under a certain time or meet other presidential fitness requirements despite always putting in a good effort. That was in jr high vs high school, but it does ( or did) occur and it sucks.

If this is true for gym, shouldn't it apply to all subjects? Ability and effort have different results for everyone.

[DrSpaceman]

It would have been nice if Cam and Mitch had said something about there being a lot of corporations that are worse, but they didn't. Their argument was that they're too busy with their day-to-day lives to get involved.

 

As ridiculous as it sounds, there really are quite a few people out there who complain about how poor, innocent corporations are hounded by gay activists for absurdly tiny reasons. I've even seen people make those complaints in discussions about this episode (on other forums, obviously) - congratulating the show for taking down those ridiculous gay activists. Never mind that, in real life, the businesses that get protested are the ones that actively try to deny them rights, and/or denounce same-sex marriage.

I just think the show has made it clear Cam and Mitch, while they are not shy or ashamed of being gay (nor should they be) also are hardly at the forefront of the political activism of the gay movement. I forget which episode, but I know at one point Mitch says something like, and I am paraphrasing 'Now we are political. But we leave town during the gay pride parade because we don't like the traffic'.

I don't think there is anything wrong with showing a gay couple that likely votes and supports gay rights but at the same time is not out there protesting every day or picketing some business.

[mojito]

 

Most people break up when they head to college.

Yeah, after the summer's over. I can relate to the late senior year relationship. We were weren't stupid kids who had no silly notions about a "future" together. We had a fun summer and when the summer was over, we went to colleges that were several states apart, with no reservation. We were both excited about leaving town and starting the next phase of our lives.

 

Not getting the comments about the race. The race was not to improve anyone's GPA or break a tie and they did agree to doing it. They could easily have protested and asked for a chess match or a coin flip, but they didn't. 

 

This was the best show I've seen in a long, long time. I cringed and chuckled when the credit card and takeout were delivered to Cam and Mitchell in the parking lot. And I, too, loved the vague protest posters ("Shame"). Theirs was my favorite story line, though I still love scenes with Jay and Phil. One is so cynical and sour and the other is so naive and good-hearted. 

 

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with showing a gay couple that likely votes and supports gay rights but at the same time is not out there protesting every day or picketing some business.

Agreed. And besides voting and supporting causes, people also donate money. Being a part of a minority group does not trump any other cause you might have a passion for.  Just the fact that Cam and Mitchell have a school-aged adopted daughter from a foreign country gives them a whole lot of other possible areas to focus on and that's in addition to all the other charitable organizations they and the rest of us might passionately support.

Edited May 9, 2015 by mojito

[kat165]

Thanks, Shura.

[readster]

 

That said in my day if you missed the mile run, you would still have had to do it in the next gym class.  You didn't just get a pass because you were elsewhere.

 

 I agree, happened to me in middle school in 7th grade. I caught step throat and was out three days. Then when I was back on Monday, they told me I was running it on Wednesday. I was mad because the day I was sick for it, it was beautiful outside, the day I took it, the winds were blowing so hard and it was cold outside. Next year, did no problem. My niece was sick with the stomach flu for her's and when she got back they told her she was taking it in two days. Yeah, it was the classic: "write the characters to fit the plot." Like with Manny not knowing or understanding Spanish now. They made the decision that Manny wanted to learn french and pretty much threw out the last few years of his knowing spanish pretty well.

[LucyEth]

I liked most of the episode with the exception of the end.  Didn't care for Alex being so aggressive with Sanjay in that kissing scene.  Loved the Cam and Mitch story.  Eh on Gloria and Jay.  Ed O'Neil is aging quickly and the difference between him and Sofia is very obvious, starting to appear a bit creepy.  What are they doing with Luke, it seems is always "just there", Manny too.  No Haley, that's a good thing.

[Maharincess]

I know its because of casting but I have known, grew up with and seen many kids where you go: "Those are your parents?" and vice versa. I seen very heavy people have incredibly skinny and hot offspring and then I've seen ones that look great, work out, have good jobs and then their kids not only don't look like them but have no personality that is close to them. It happens, genetics are funny that way.

I agree. I'm not one to ever say anything bad about anybody's looks. With that said, my best friend's sister and brother-in-law are 2 of the uh...ugliest, strange looking people I've ever seen. They are the kind of people you would do a double take when you saw them, especially him. Their daughter is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She's 16 now and absolutely gorgeous.

She has gotten the astonished "THOSE are your parents" many, many times.

Now I have to go mentally apologize to them for calling them ugly.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Maharincess

[ChipBach]

As long as you changed for gym and made an effort to participate, everybody passed gym in my school.  Didn't matter if you sucked or not.

 

But anyway, the logic behind the Alex storyline made no sense but I liked it all the same.  I liked the whole episode.  Whatever.  I thought Alex/Sanjay were cute.  Gloria and her American accent were amazing and I liked the Mitch/Cam plot for once.

Yes - And I think PE would be a freshman year class, not a senior year thing.  Everyone is right, the plotline was so ludicrous it ruined the show for me.  Those kids would have done what they needed to to lock down an "A" earlier in their HS career.  I assume they've had to participate in PE all semester?  The show wants us to believe that they blew off most of their PE class, didn't participate in the final, and, after the finals are complete they are able to not only compete for a credit, but compete for an "A"?  I know we have to take passess on reality with a sitcom, but this one bothered me.

 

I also found it a bit ironic that the show makes such an effort to cast sweeping generalizations about "nerds" (who can't possibly be into any kind of physical fitness) when they are so great challenging other stereotypes.  

[readster]

Yes - And I think PE would be a freshman year class, not a senior year thing.  Everyone is right, the plotline was so ludicrous it ruined the show for me.  Those kids would have done what they needed to to lock down an "A" earlier in their HS career.  I assume they've had to participate in PE all semester?  The show wants us to believe that they blew off most of their PE class, didn't participate in the final, and, after the finals are complete they are able to not only compete for a credit, but compete for an "A"?  I know we have to take passess on reality with a sitcom, but this one bothered me.

 

I also found it a bit ironic that the show makes such an effort to cast sweeping generalizations about "nerds" (who can't possibly be into any kind of physical fitness) when they are so great challenging other stereotypes.  

 

 That was what I was trying to make the point. The show continues to stereo type "nerds" and school administrators and that goes right here. Just like the principal is basically trying to avoid being bullied by their parents to make this so only one and just one of them can be the VC. I took PE fitness my senior year but I was working on weight training and I had finished my foreign language requirements during my sophomore year so I had the open credit. I could have just passed on on PE my senior year but I was really getting into health training and boy I did look good as a result and guess what? I was horrible at sports but I could bench press 250 lbs by the end of my senior year and run the mile in 12 minutes. Yet, here we are once again told, if you are smart you can't be athletic and grades just magically have a hole in them. With Alex and Sanjay's overachievement? Please.

[MaryMitch]

I don't see the "nerds can't do sports" meme in this situation. We saw Alex training for the race, so she obviously was in good physical shape. She didn't fall over an untied shoelace or anything. She just found a more pleasant way to (ahem) interact with Sanjay.

[CleoCaesar]

when they are so great challenging other stereotypes

 

Are they really, though? Mitch and Cam are both gay male stereotypes (with the possible exception of Cam's football skills). Gloria is a fiery Latina hothead. Jay is a grumpy old rich man. Alex is a lonely, antisocial, smart nerd. Haley is a vacuous pretty girl. And so on.

 

Granted, they're not two-dimensional and occasionally show depth, but I wouldn't say the show really challenges stereotypes. 

[biakbiak]

Yes - And I think PE would be a freshman year class, not a senior year thing.  Everyone is right, the plotline was so ludicrous it ruined the show for me.  Those kids would have done what they needed to to lock down an "A" earlier in their HS career.  I assume they've had to participate in PE all semester?  The show wants us to believe that they blew off most of their PE class, didn't participate in the final, and, after the finals are complete they are able to not only compete for a credit, but compete for an "A"?  I know we have to take passess on reality with a sitcom, but this one bothered me.

 

I also found it a bit ironic that the show makes such an effort to cast sweeping generalizations about "nerds" (who can't possibly be into any kind of physical fitness) when they are so great challenging other stereotypes.

I disagree that the show implied they blew off most of the PE class, it was specifically stated that they had completed everything except for the one mile run and the reason they didn't do that was because they had a debate tournament but it appears they had both done all the other PE stuff. And why we didn't see Sanjay run but they showed that Alex was clearly capable of doing the run.

[mostlylurking]

I really liked this episode.  Laughed out loud and Cam and Mitch's vaguely critical signs.  "Stop doing what you're doing!"  lol.

[mansonlamps]

I really liked this episode.  Laughed out loud and Cam and Mitch's vaguely critical signs.  "Stop doing what you're doing!"  lol.

Lol "SHAME!."

[Hanahope]

Manny was right that with Gloria not a citizen, when Jay dies, there's a lot more taxes involved for Gloria to inherit anything.  But that's pretty much the only reason, other than voting and certain jobs.  The passport issue isn't true, since presumably Gloria has a green card and can go through the US Citizens and Permanent Residents line with Jay.

 

I have to admit, there are certain businesses I do not patronize solely because of their political/social affiliations (or that of their owners).  Fortunately, I don't miss any of their products.

 

I kept expecting Sanjay to take off running after getting Alex to turn around.