Better with Sound

For this weeks blog assignment I reached back in time to the sitcom 227, this episode first aired January 8, 1986.

Without Sound:

      In the intro, the characters all commune around the front stoop of an apartment building.  There is lots of smiling and waving.  In the episode, the main character talks to the older woman who has entered the scene and at one point she turns way with an expression of, how do I get out of this situation.

      Later enters a young man and he is clearly sad, the adult male character gives him a pat on the shoulder and a concerned look after the female lead nudges him and points to the boy.  After a brief discussion, he hunches his shoulders, and then walks away shaking his head.  The girl character about the same age as the boy looks at him longingly, smiling with her head cocked.  She stands close and touches his arm gently.  She looks sad as he walks away.

Sound On:

      The main character has been asked by an older woman to let her grandson stay at her apartment for the weekend.  The main character expresses reluctance then gives in to the request.  The young man arrives after not getting the role in the school play he’d hoped for, but instead got something else.  He is upset that the part was given to a boy he feels is better looking.  The male character tells him, “it’s ok and to be proud of the part he did get” Upon learning the part was as a tree the male character walked way and said, “Oh I see.” then walks away.

     I assumed the boy arriving was the son until I saw how the girl who I thought was the daughter interacted with him.  I would have needed to know of the older characters earlier request.  I knew the young man was upset, and there were caring adults who wanted to cheer him up, but the adults were not consumed by his plight.  The girl clearly thought this young man was AWESOME with or without sound.

     If I were more familiar with the show I would have known right away who lived in the house, who the neighbors were and why there was reluctance to have the boy stay over.  In addition, I would have known that the father of the girl is not at all fond of this young man.  The same young man that his daughter believes is fantastic.  There were certainly a lot of over the top gestures and eye movements but without the sound the intricate details of the plot were lost.