Despite being a lighthearted kids series, there are moments in Berrybrook Middle School that can make you sad.
Awkward
- Maribella. At first, she appears to be an energetic and headstrong leader of the Art club...but then it's revealed that she's a Broken Ace in every sense of the word. Basically, her father, a highly influential figure in town, pressures her into being the best that she can be, no mistakes allowed. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that she's growing more and more desperate not to win, but to ensure that her dad doesn't abuse her any more than he already does.
- Not helping is the way he calls her mom a lazy bXXXX...while she's perfectly within earshot. Her lack of a reaction makes it clear that this is what she puts up with a lot.
- A minor example, but it's somewhat sobering to see that Jaime's mom is confined to a wheelchair.
- Peppi screaming when Foster and Yanic harass Jaime and steal her apology letter is both this and an awesome moment.
- Everything after Mari steals the Science club's remote. From there, things go completely downhill for both sides.
- Not long after Mari lends it to Peppi (who gets the privilege of being in constant paranoia of being ousted), the clubs escalate their rivalry when the Science club gets understandably angry that their remote was taken. Peppi tries to return to remote to Mari out of frustration...only to find that she and her mom left the house after a big fight with dad, something an old lady tells her.
- Failing that, Peppi decides to leave it at Jaime's house. The boy catches her in the act, and is understandably miffed that she's effectively been playing a part in his club's sabotage. His reaction upon hearing Peppi's reasoning is, at best, pure disappointment.
- After the Skydog's performance, Mr. Ramirez comes into the class looking more dead than alive. The Principal then gives a scathing yet polite "The Reason You Suck" Speech to both clubs, stating that their constant fighting is the reason he's decided to suspend both clubs. In other words, every horrible act the clubs have inflicted on each other, Mari's desperate plan included, as well as their own genuine accomplishments, was All for Nothing.
- Even worse, Mari leaves town not knowing that her actions destroyed the very thing she was fighting for.
- Almost immediately afterwards, the clubs clash again in the hall, yelling at each other about how this whole mess was each other's fault. At that point, Peppi reaches her limit, and calls them all out for it. The reaction from everyone is Stunned Silence.
Peppi: Stoppit!!! Just...Just stop it. All of you!!! ...A-All of this fighting...Look where it got us...NONE OF US HAVE A CLUB ANYMORE!! (runs off)- The following day, pretty much everyone is down in the dumps and/or incredibly bitter at each other. It takes Peppi listening to Ms. Tobins for any solution to come.
- While talking about the fallout of the clubs' suspension with Peppi, Jaime just looks and sounds incredibly hurt that the competition he absolutely resented bubbled over and ruined everything.
Brave
- After being big source of humor with his Butt-Monkey status in the previous story, we learn in "Brave" that Jensen actually has a few issues, namely social anxiety. It makes the moments in which he's relentlessly bullied by Foster and Yanic rather hard to see.
- When Mr. Kristoffer asks Jensen about his personal life in regards to whether he can get help for homework, the kid states that his mom got moved to an overtime shift. It gives off the impression that not only is Jenson isolated at school, but his family is hardly there for him either.
- Over the course of the story, it becomes increasingly clear to Jensen thanks to the words of Jenny, Akilah, and Jorge that he's a target of harassment not just from the typical bullies, but also those he considers his friends. Understandably, he denies it somewhat at first, but then it slowly becomes apparent to him that he really is The Friend Nobody Likes.
- The notion that everyone he knows (with a couple exceptions) actually mocks and belittles him gets so bad for him at one point (particularly after some Art club kids say that everyone, him mom included, forgets him) that he just...shuts down completely. He imagines that if there was a Zombie Apocalypse, he'd just let himself be eaten and save everyone the trouble. Then, because fate is more than a bit cruel, he gets the flu for a week and misses the Arts festival.
- Upon hearing about the incident involving Felicity, Jensen heads to where Jenny and Akilah are...only to find them in the middle of a falling-out over whether they should do anything about it. He can only watch as the two fire increasingly bitter and mean-spirited barbs at one another until Akilah just up and quits. At that point, Jenny's rage, which had been Played for Laughs beforehand, completely explodes as she kicks Jensen and Felipe out.
- After some time, Jensen finds Akilah slumped against a tree by herself. After recounting the time she and Jenny met, she breaks down in tears over their separation. Luckily, Jensen gives her a "Eureka!" Moment.
- Jensen telling off Foster and Yanic is undoubtedly a great display of Character Development on his part, but it's clear that he's in a lot of pain when he quite literally tells them that they're making his life Hell. Upon hearing all of this, Foster looks horrified at his own actions while Yanic completes his total descent into full-on villainy by stealing his glasses and mocking him.
- After all is said and done, Jensen notices that Foster is the only one who's come back from suspension, but he looks completely solemn, no doubt in deep regret over how he was with Yanic. Thankfully, Jensen's more than willing to forgive him.
Crush
- While at Garrett's party, Jorge gets to see Jazmine and Zeke get into an argument about the latter staying at the place despite the former's curfew. Before and after that, it's clear she's out of patience with his womanizing attitude, and the look on her face perfectly shows how used she feels. Naturally, it fuels Jorge's animosity towards him.
- Liv has a similar problem regarding her own boyfriend, Marcus. To the point where she asks Jorge if she's too needy to hold down any relationship, even if Marcus prioritized his own interests over her.
- Not long after the above, her and Garrett's friendship starts going from Vitriolic Best Buds into her being increasingly frustrated with his laziness and devotion to James' team. Jorge understandably feels stuck in the middle.
- After getting her hair cut for a charity helping sick kids, Jazmine explains to Jorge that she did it because her mom is sick, and has been losing some of her hair as a result. It is heavily implied that her mom is undergoing cancer treatment, though she does note that she's gotten better enough to come to her play.
- Upon getting to school one day, Jorge finds that everyone inexplicably hates him all of the sudden. The whole thing leaves him confused and worried until Liv points out that someone used his login in a chat dedicated to slandering girls like Brooke and Jazmine. Jorge puts two and two together, and realizes that everyone thinks he gleefully mocked his new friend. Understandably, he's horrified and panicked at the thought.
- While trying to find the culprit, he runs into Garrett...who reveals that he was the one who used his login, albeit by complete accident. Jorge's looks absolutely betrayed upon hearing this. And then James comes in to rub it in his face. Jorge later states that every time he tried to call Garrett after that, he was too sick to do so, implying that his guilt was so great it rendered him ill.
- Seeing Jorge hiding behind a tree while clutching his head in frustration. In that moment, he feels completely helpless and alone until Jazmine shows up.
- While talking with Jazmine, Jorge has to prevent himself from telling her that the culprit for the Frame-Up was "a friend who has no spine and makes bad life decisions." It's clear he has a lot of resentment about Garrett's reckless blunder.
- Liv eventually figures out that Garrett did it, and looks utterly destroyed when bringing it up to Jorge. She runs off in anguish when Jorge says it was an accident. Even he has to admit that no matter how he slices it, Garrett's leaving him out to dry, especially when he thinks about all the times he kept dodging other responsibilities.
- Upon entering the Principal's office, Jorge is surprised to find Garrett sitting there. It is revealed that the guy Grew a Spine, and told the truth, saving Jorge's reputation. As Jorge notes, he didn't need any push to do that. He's just that regretful over nearly ruining his friend's life.Garrett: I-I know you probably hate me now. But I just...I'm sorry. I was a crappy friend.
- A couple weeks later, everything is back to normal...except Liv treats the absent Garrett like an Un-person, unnerving Jorge. He notes that she's become a huge Stepford Smiler after his suspension. This lasts until Garrett comes back.
