OCTOBER ROAD - Can't stop the music

This episode, “Stand Alone By Me,” was sprinkled with amber-filtered flashbacks of the Knights Ridge guys as ten year olds, when they were all crushing on the same awesome girl, Angela Ferrili. In the present they learn that adult Angela just died in a car accident, and her death forces them to reevaluate their own troubled relationships with the women in their lives. Chicks, man. What’re you gonna do?

As you can tell by the title of the episode, this particular October Road was borrowing heavily from the childhood quest vibe of the movie Stand By Me. The golden, nostalgic flashback sequences were a little cloying for my tastes, but they were interesting. We got to see how the childhood interpersonal dynamic between Nick, Eddie, Physical Phil, Owen, and evil bully Ray inform their adult relationships. It was nice to get a little more back-story.

The best part about October Road for me is the relationship between neurotic Physical Phil and Pizza Girl. They have a sweet, eccentric love thing going on and seemed destined to be together. Their scenes together are always well written and acted. In lesser hands they could easily become the annoying comic-relief couple, but they always strike the right tone.

Plus, I love Pizza Girl and her kooky hair. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with Pizza Girl? She would be the best girlfriend ever.

My one complaint about October Road is that each episode is carpeted in wall-to-wall music. Not just strings plucking away on the score in the background, we’re talking full-on songs here. It’s rare that a scene passes on the show without some sort of musical accompaniment. Don’t get me wrong, the music they use isn’t bad, and they often choose songs that musically comment on whatever’s going on in the episode - it’s just that there’s so much of it. I’d like to see more dramatic scenes on October Road that rely on acting and smart dialogue to establish a mood instead of music. Just my two cents.

There was a great moment (musically accompanied, natch) on this week’s episode involving Physical Phil, who can’t attend Angela’s funeral with the other guys because he has issues with leaving the house that go beyond “I can’t find anything to wear.” Phil was sitting in the dark, thinking about Angela because the music told us so, when a butterfly fluttered in through an open window. Phil watches the butterfly alight briefly and then silently fly back out the window – or at least I think it was silent; I couldn’t tell because of the music.

Anyway, it was a nice little way of showing Phil becoming at peace with the memory of this girl that had such a big impact on his life. I’m glad they threw the butterfly in there.

-- Dave Campbell

Comments

[mwoodrow77]

I loved this episode. So much back story to help understand the characters development into adults. L-o-v-e-d it!! And the soundrack for this episode took me back too many a jr high dance. Ahh, memories. I hope ABC continues to support this show.

[Captain Koma]

Dave these tv shows stink.

[Charles Burton]

I loved the March 4 show. This show is one of the greats on TV. Please continue this show

[Cherie McMorgan]

I love this show. It brings back so many memories for me. I grew up with five other girls who I am still friends with. We have shared many good times as well as bad and we still are good friends. The soundtrack is great. I hope that ABC brings October Road back for a third season!

[jeffkash]

i love october road! it better be renewed next year!

[Melissa]

I LOVE this show!! I grew up in a small town and relate so much to Janet - the chubby girl!! I hope October Road comes back for a third season and keeps going... We have to find out who the dad is to Sam - I'm thinking Eddie...

[Mindy]

I'd really like to see this show, week by week, and a whole new season. Just as I am
starting to enjoy it again, I see it is the last one. I'd love to know when the new episode s will be on again. It is a wonderful story, with believable, deep characters, and I look forward to the new parts changing each week. Thank you!

[Mindy]

I'd really like to see this show, week by week, and a whole new season. Just as I am
starting to enjoy it again, I see it is the last one. I'd love to know when the new episode s will be on again. It is a wonderful story, with believable, deep characters, and I look forward to the new parts changing each week. Thank you!

[Heather]

I love this show! It is my favorite show and a must watch. I love the music and the characters. I will be heartbroken if it is not picked up for another year. Not to mention you can't just leave us hanging like this. I at least need closure!

[kws7104]

They can't cancel this show!!!

It's so refreshing and believable. I'm sick of reality television, and this is such a great departure from all of that.

I, for one, will be be lost on Mondays if I don't have this to look forward to.

[Mazzy1]

Please do not cancel this show. It is the only show on the air these days my family can relate to. The characters are so real and normal and have common problems. Every episode is conpelling and keeps us wanting more. The music is also great and we watch each episode at least twice just see if we missed anything. It would be a tremendous loss to lose this show. Give us a season 3 PLEASE and we will remain extremely loyal fans!
Thanks.

[Byron]

I really enjoy watching October Road. It has a good feel to it. It reminds me of when life was a little simpler. I think that the guys (Nick and Eddie)are smarter then Big Cat and should get the better of him more often.I hope that ABC brings it back for a third or even fourth year. It might have started a little slow for now days, but remeber Seinfeld didn't start out great either. Give it a chance.

Thanks

[mike p]

loved the show and hope its not the last episode we ever see. It's one of the few shows I actually watch on abc and it's really refreshing to watch something other than murder drama's or reality shows. The story lines are really starting to develop. It's a shame there aren't any more new episodes coming soon. PLEASE KEEP OCTOBER ROAD!!!

[Brooke]

I really like this show. So much on TV these days leaves me feeling even more cynical about the world. We need more October Road! I leave every episode with something to feel good about. And there are so many unresolved questions to be answered,,, please bring it back!

[Harriett Simon]

Please, please, renew the show. All of us at work love it. It becomes our morning discussion the day afer it runs on tv.

[Debby]

The finale was very good, much stronger in plot and character development than the rest of the season. This show should definitely be given another season. Much better than most of the junk on TV!!

[Alexia]

I love this show and look forward to monday nights. Please keep this show, we want to know what happens with everyone.. Also, If you need a new love interest for Eddie just give me a call. I love him!!!!

[Janie]

I hope the show get to stay on. please don't canel this show. This show is one of the greats show I have seen in a long.We need to find out who Sam dad. PLEASE KEEP THIS SHOW IT THE BEST

[Alairia]

THIS SHOW IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS TO COME ABOUT IN YEARS. PLEASE KEEP IT GOING FOR SEASON !!!

I'm sick of reality,trashy, crappy shows. OR is suberb in every way. Cast, writers, depth of characters and situations that happen in real life.

It would be a crime to cancel this series. My whole family loves it!!!

[kim]

This is the only prime time mainstream television show that I watch each week. It is classy it is for all ages and I find myself really thinking about this show and the depth of character these actors have. It is much better than these stupid reality and tabloid shows that insult the intelligence of the American public. We need more classy, stories about relationships that touch all of us! Please keep October Road going in the next season. Otherwise you are pushing us more toward cable tv.

[Cherie]

Dave, I agree with you on the butterfly scene with Physical Phil! That brought me to tears; it was so well done... however, I like the music they play. Love 70's rock!
October Road has great scripts and talented acting cast.

[Christi]

This is the best show on TV right now. Please don't let it become a fatality of the writers strike! I have not loved a show this much in years. It's so well done and the sountrack is perfect.

[Carol]

October road is the best show on TV. It has to return for another season. To often networks initiate a new show and just when people start to get hooked, they cancel it. It makes you fearful to even watch new shows because you fear that it too will be cancelled shortly.

[Cindy]

Dave, I am a HUGE fan of this show, and have been since day one. I love the music they use, it always seems to be the perfect choice for the scene and besides, I grew up with that music. I can't wait for them to throw in some vintage original Alice Cooper tunes! This show has been getting progressively better & better as the episodes (few as they may be) go on. The season finale proved that, IMHO. I'm sure the popularity of Jeddie is a surprise to many, but Janet represents so many of us out here who aren't perfect 10's. Rebecca Field & Geoff Stults should be very proud of their hospital scene in the finale, they both really nailed it & we girls are still talking about it a week & a half later! Janet is Eddie's meant-to-be, so we just have to see them find their way back to each other. Dave, please do what you can to let the-powers-that-be see all of the posts from both this column & the almost 1000 posts from your other March 11th OR column. Most are written straight from our hearts....we LOVE this show, ABC, please give us a third season!! Long live Jeddie and October Road!

[debbie]

I really enjoy this show. I look forward to watching it all week. I certainly hope it gets renewed for another season!!!!!!