"I'm so excited, I'm so excited... Sorry, wrong show."note
After the first two episodes focused on Mickey; we now get our first episode focusing on Gloria.
The episode begins with the band (minus Gloria initially) at the garage (owned by Mickey's father; who Mickey later points out wants everyone out by 7:00) when Gloria shows up late...and wearing a halo and angel wings, and when pressed on it explains she's been invited to join a school clique called "The Angels", a group of popular girls (though neither Stacy or Kid are impressed on hearing this), and at the moment she's in the trial initiation phase (thus having to wear the wings and halo for two weeks). This development sparks an argument with Gloria and Renee before Mickey intervenes to start rehearsal ("Cover Me"). But before the rehearsal continues, Gabriella von Bron, the president of the Angels, shows up looking for "slave" Gloria; and she insists all initiates live up to the Angel image (which doesn't include rehearsing in garages).
At the P*lace; the others are discussing their worries about Gloria when she (along with Gabriella and an unnamed flunky) arrive there, only now in addition to the wings and halo she now sports furry cat paws over her hands and feet and painted-on whiskers (Phase 2 of the initiation involves wearing that get-up to the P*lace); much to Kid's exasperation ("I think I'm going to throw up.") But then they have Gloria recite the Angel oath...kitty-cat style (Kid's response: "That's it! I'm gonna throw up!"); and as Gabriella and her flunky leave, Gloria gets defensive in explaining her willingness to humiliate herself; setting up "You Might Think".
At the school library we see Gloria (sans kitty-level get-up; something that when they arrive Gabriella is quick to chastise her on), Kid (whose mother threatened to ground him for a month if he failed his math exam) and Stacy are studying when Gabriella and her flunky return, clearly upset over both not seeing Gloria in her uniform and Kid and Stacy's presence (leading to Stacy briefly threatening to have Gabriella "quibble with a fat lip"). Before that happens, Gloria tries to stand up for her young bandmates, only for Gabriella to call them "young barbarians". Clearly, Kid and Stacy get the hint and leave (though not before Stacy tries to get the last word by calling Gabriella "nerd breath").
However, upon their departure Gabriella makes an unexpected announcement, saying Gloria had been deemed worthy of full membership after a 4:00 meeting at the P*lace. The catch: She has to humiliate Kid and Stacy to secure the membership ("Drive"), leaving Gloria in full panic mode as Kid and Stacy arrive at the P*lace; followed by Gabriella and flunky with specific instructions (namely, spray the Kid with water; give Stacy a Pie in the Face and recite the Angel oath...all on stage). At this point, Gloria's had enough of getting pushed around, slamming the pie in Gabriella's face; spraying the second girl with the water and announcing she now wants nothing to do with the Angels before the band launches into "I'm So Excited"; with Gabriella and her pal's humiliation completed with the audience laughing as they exit the P*lace in disgust.
Songs performed in this episode:
- "Cover Me" (Bruce Springsteen cover; lead vocals by Mickey)
- "You Might Think" (The Cars cover; lead vocals by Mickey)
- "Drive" (The Cars cover; lead vocals by Gloria)
- "I'm So Excited" (The Pointer Sisters cover; lead vocals by Gloria, Renee & Stacy)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Book Dumb: This is the first episode indicating the Kid is not a particularly disciplined student. It won't be the last, as would be seen in later episodes.
- Girl Posse: The Angels
- Grew a Spine: Gloria at the end when she finally stands up to Gabriella von Bron.
- Initiation Ceremony: Gloria starts off her attempt to join the Angels by wearing a halo and wings; and as seen in the description the trek into humiliation continues until Gloria puts her foot down and refuses to humiliate Kid and Stacy on stage.
- Non-Indicative Name: The Angels clique. Considering the antics they require of Gloria and their snobbishness in general seems to suggest otherwise.
- No Name Given: The sidekick to Gabriella von Bron never has her name explicitly stated, nor is her actress credited. However, some fans suspect that the actress is really Wendy Brainard, normally one of the series' dancers.
- Pie in the Face: The final phase of the initiation includes having Gloria slam a pie in Stacy's face. Gloria then proceeds to slam the pie in Gabriella's face.
- Preppy Name: Gabriella von Bron.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Kid and Stacy's reaction after being called "young barbarians" by Gabriella.
- Sickeningly Sweet: The Angel oath; particularly the very high-pitched kitten voice Gloria is forced to use in reciting it in Phase 2 of the initiation.Kid (after hearing the phrase): "That's it! I'm gonna throw up!"
