Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000) is quite the opposite of the horror and psychological thrillers of B-List. The comedic-dramatic show, set in the 80s, follows the story of siblings Lindsey and Sam Weir. Sam is one of the geeks at school, who spends time with his friends watching stand up comedians and talking about Star Wars. Lindsey, the grade A student, starts her year befriending the freaks of the school, who are all slackers and delinquents.

Lindsey hoped to transform herself from the star “mathlete” to a rebellious teenager, with the help of her friends Daniel, Kim, Nick, and Ken. Watching Lindsey do things to please her friends, although sometimes hilarious, was a very real experience of high schoolers even today. The peer pressure from her friends led her to some trouble, much to the dismay of her guidance counselor, Mr. Rosso. Sam on the other hand, worried about bullies and the cheerleader he had a crush on, Cindy. He tries to change himself for her and his friends, Bill and Neal, were slightly uncomfortable with it. The three support each other best they can, while steering clear of their bullies on a daily basis.

Freaks and Geeks, when bringing up heavy topics, tried to make it as witty as possible. During one of the episodes, politics are brought up but they keep it a laughable matter instead of possibly upsetting their audience. The show, as far as I can tell, is a decently crafted example of what life would’ve looked like during the 80s. The family dynamic was similar to what a true 80s family would look like, with the two kids and a father with a job while the mother cooks and cleans. The boxy TVs and vintage clothing made it feel like you had traveled back in time.

For a few cast members, Freaks and Geeks was the start to their fame. Daniel Desario is played by James Franco, who has since starred in many movies and shows. Ken Miller was acted by Seth Rogen, who capped a large role in Neighbors as Mac Radner. Rogen and Franco also starred in multiple movies together after Freaks and Geeks. Nick Andopolis was played by Jason Segel, whose career also took off after the show. One of his largest acting roles was in How I Met Your Mother, as Marshall Eriksen. Linda Cardellini, who played Lindsay, landed a role in the live-action Scooby-Doo as Velma, and later reprised the role in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

Due to the friction between the network and writers, there is only one season, but Freaks and Geeks is a binge-worthy show. It talks about the problems high school students face and gives some comedic relief when needed. I got my friend addicted after the first episode and once it was over, she was crushed because of its lack of answers. Freaks and Geeks is the type of show to watch with a few friends for some amusing relief.