Recap / My So Called Life S 1 E 4 Father Figures

Father Figures

Directed By: Mark Rosner

Written By: Winnie Holzman

Patty and Graham's printing agency gets hit with an audit, not helped by the fact Patty's adoptive father Chuck (Paul Dooley), who used to own the printing agency, won't let Patty handle it. Graham gets tickets to see The Grateful Dead, but when he can't go because of the audit, on an impulse, he gives the tickets away to Angela and Rayanne. Rayanne is beyond thrilled, but Angela, who still resents Graham because she saw him talking with another woman, sells the tickets to Jordan Catalano, which drives a wedge not only between her and Rayanne, but also her and Graham.

This episode contains examples of:

• Abusive Parents: Discussed - Rickie tells Angela his dad (who's actually his uncle) has broken down his door, so he's afraid of him. Angela tells Rickie Graham always knocks before coming in, to which Rickie nods and responds, "I had a feeling."
• An Aesop: After Angela reveals to Rayanne she thinks Graham is cheating on Patty:
  Rayanne: I'm lucky. My dad's had like eight different girlfriends since he left, so...I'm used to it. But Angela, whatever your dad may be doing with whatever girl, and you don't even know if he is, he's still the type of dad who would lay two Dead tickets on you, out of nowhere. That's what matters.
• Broken Pedestal: Angela feels this way about Graham - Patty later tells Graham he needs to let Angela do that and just be there for her, because she doesn't want Angela to feel about Graham the way she feels about Chuck.
• Call-Back:
  • Angela remembers she still owes Jordan money for for the fake ID's.
  • Angela tells Rayanne about how she saw Graham talking with another woman.
• Creator Cameo: Show creator Winnie Holzman makes her first appearance as guidance counselor Ms. Krzyzanowski.
• Description Cut: Patty tells Graham she's going to take her father out to a restaurant of her choosing, which will be a non-fat meal, and she'll make the meeting on her terms. Cut to a diner where she asks her father, "Chili fries?"
• Felony Misdemeanor: For Rayanne, the fact Angela sold the Grateful Dead tickets Graham had given them, as she tells Angela, "Real fans don't sell Grateful Dead tickets! Real fans give Grateful Dead tickets as gifts!" (which, at the time the episode aired, was Truth in Television)
• Foreshadowing: Angela's English class hasn't had a regular teacher in a while, which will become important not only when the class gets a new substitute, but also when a new regular teacher finally shows up.
• Green-Eyed Monster: Lampshaded by Rayanne:
  Rayanne: Look, your dad probably gives you stuff all the time, so it's no big deal to you. But to me...the fact that he did that...I guess I'm envious like the green-eyed monster.
• Hypocritical Humor: When Mrs. Kryzanowski tries to get Jordan to handover his Walkman, and he claims he doesn't have one, Rayanne bumps into him without warning, and tells Jordan to give Krzyzanowski the Walkman before declaring to Angela, "God, people are so rude!"
• Intimidating Revenue Service: Graham and Patty both freak out when they find out their business is being audited.
• It's All My Fault: Patty blames herself for the audit because she was the one who prepared the return when her father was in the hospital.
• Pet the Dog: Brian lets Angela borrow his sweater because it's cold out.
• Shout-Out:
  • Rayanne tells Graham Amber was a Wharf Rat.
  • When Graham reads the letter from the IRS (see Intimidating Revenue Service above), he says they must get Stephen King to write those letters.
  • When Graham tries to convince Patty to let Angela and Rayanne go to see The Grateful Dead, he says Amber will be there, to which Patty replies that Heidi Fleiss will be with Amber.
  • Patty refuses to watch The Tonight Show since Johnny Carson is no longer the host.
  • Brian says the substitute English teacher had the class watch Alive.
  • Rayanne mentions the Dead played "Stagger Lee" at the concert.
  • Patty tells Graham she heard the real reason The Beatles broke up was because Paul McCartney wanted his father-in-law to manage the band.
  • While cleaning out the rain gutter at the end, Graham listens to "Althea".
  • When Graham asks Angela at the end what kind of music she likes, Angela mentions Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, Porno For Pyros, Stone Temple Pilots, and Billie Holiday.
• Silent Treatment: Rayanne and Graham do this to Angela - Rayanne because Angela sold the Grateful Dead tickets, Graham not only for selling the tickets, but lying and telling him she was going to go to the concert anyway.
• Squee: In-Universe - Rayanne is so excited when she hears Graham is a fan of The Grateful Dead, she nearly drops what she's cooking, and when Graham decides to give his tickets to Angela so she and Rayanne can go, Rayanne hugs him.
• Stacy's Mom: Or Stacy's Dad in this case, at least according to Rayanne:
  Rayanne: [to Angela] So not to shock you, but your dad's attractive.
  Angela: Oh, I'm sure.
  Rayanne: Not that I'd attack him or anything, but I wouldn't leave me alone with him either.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Two father/daughter versions - Patty is upset her father doesn't take her seriously and doesn't believe she's capable of running a business, while Angela is upset about her father being with another woman, and then again when he stops talking to her.