First, I must apologize to my loyal reader(s) for not blogging last week’s episode. I’d love to say I was simply basking in the afterglow of Cappie and Casey’s reunion, but alas, I was basking in the arrival of my Verizon iPhone. See?

But, I’m back.

In this week’s episode — excuse me, in this week’s ridiculously amusing episode — the whole gang comes together for Calvin’s 21st birthday. This was one of those episodes you submit for an Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble SAG Award, where all of the characters come together seamlessly, where the stars align. But, we’ll get to the gushy stuff later. First, the conflicts!

As I said, everyone is getting ready for Calvin’s big day. Unfortunately a snow storm puts a damper on the original party planned for the guys’ apartment, so Ashleigh suggests they all head down to Dobler’s — as an employee she somehow has the key. OK. Rebecca then suggests the group play a game akin to Truth or Dare, where one person asks another a question and if he/she won’t answer, they kiss. This is what we learn:

Cappie’s better than Evan in bed. Figured. Also, Cappie and Casey are A-OK (Thank G-d!), but Casey and Ashleigh aren’t. You see, Ashleigh is being her immature self. She is honestly the worst kind of friend — the type that can’t be happy for you when you’re happy. Despite all of the side fights about each others’ futures and fairytale nonsense, we learn that at the heart of Ashleigh’s frustration with Casey (and Cappie) is her insecurity over losing Casey — with Cappie in the picture, Casey won’t need Ashleigh anymore. Eventually, they make up of course, but not before providing some comic relief with their Facebook-stalking of each other, and some over-the-top Sex and the City references that almost pushed me over the edge.

Ashleigh is still dating Casey and Evan’s law professor, Simon. Although this comes as a shock to Casey, she seems to start getting used to it. Problem is, Ashleigh’s really into Rusty. Was it just me or did Rusty look, like, really good in this episode? Especially in that early bathroom scene with Ashleigh? Oh well. Ultimately, Casey tells Ashleigh that she can’t let her hurt her little brother — that Ashleigh has to serious if she’s going to go for Rusty. So, Ashleigh chickens out, and tells Rusty, who had some serious balls in this episode, that she’s really into Simon. It appears the writers have turned the tables on us — Ashleigh and Rusty are the real will they-won’t they couple! Cappie and Casey are in the clear!

One couple not in the clear is Evan and Rebecca, who appear to finally be over. We learn that Evan and Rebecca are perhaps even worse off than we thought — that he won’t even have sex with her when she throws herself at him. In fact, he thinks she’s desperate! As much as I always liked to believe that Evan had redeeming qualities, he really is an asshole, and now Rebecca knows it. Casey even told her she deserved better. Rebecca made the mistake of telling Evan about that little tidbit, and Evan threatened to make Casey’s time in law school hell. Sooo, that should be interesting and annoying the rest of the season.

So much happened I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton, but I don’t care! What a great episode! It was so nice to see the shots of the original cast together, Breakfast Club-style. Here are a couple frames that literally had me verklempt:

And just a few things that don’t warrant full analysis, but bear mentioning:
1. Obviously, for personal and professional reasons, I smiled at Rusty’sTop Chef(s) reference.
2. All of the Casey/Ashleigh/Color Me Badd banter was insanely satisfying.
3. This entire episode actually looked like it was shot differently — it looked more “real,” especially when the cast arrived at Dobler’s. Did anyone else notice that?
4. I don’t care for the fact that Laura has become somewhat of a pariah to Dale, honestly. She used to be one of my favorite characters Get yourself together, woman!

As amusing as it was, this episode actually made me really sad. Seeing the core ensemble together made me realize that this series is almost over. With Friday Night Lights ending just last week, I don’t know how much more I can take!

Until next week, as always, share your thoughts below.

Damn, Greek. You are killing me! But, we’ll get to Casey and Cappie later. Let’s talk about the other less-hot storylines first.

First up is Rusty and his new Little Brother, Spidey. There was a chance that Spidey wouldn’t want to be Rusty’s Little — he wanted to be Cappie’s. Although non-Greeks might think Rusty’s disappointment over Spidey’s original decision was an overreaction, I know firsthand how political Big-Little match-ups can get. I didn’t quite know that it happened in fraternities, but some sorority sisters can get really attached to pledges, and, want to be their Bigs. It’s the pledge mom’s job to make sure everyone’s happy. Fortunately Rusty showed his cool side just in time by concocting a plan to steal the rival team’s mascot during Homecoming. How Saved by the Bell of them! And just who gave them this idea? Peter’s father, KT alum, and The Single Guy himself, Jonathan Silverman. I think Greek might just have the most random and awesome guest appearances ever. Although Dale and his merry band of fellow pledges concocted a plan a la The Thomas Crown Affair to steal the mascot as well, KT prevailed! On somewhat of a sidenote, I love Peter, and sort of think he looks like Andrew Garfield, who will be the next Spiderman. Weird!

Heath and Calvin are having trouble connecting, but it seems like much of it is fueled by poor communication skills and some yenta-ing by Rebecca. Ultimately, Heath admits he was a stripper and a low-rent paper thief, while Calvin admits he is undeclared, and, oh yeah, he loves Heath! Don’t worry — Heath reciprocated the sentiment. The only thing that bothered me about this whole plot point is the constant attempt at making Heath look like he has no depth, or rather, that he’s stupid. Didn’t we already establish that he got into medical school, and that he’s actully very intelligent? I mean, he watched Everwood for G-d’s sake! Leave the idiocy to Beaver (who we didn’t get nearly enough of after last week’s episode. Also, where’s my girl, Catherine?!)

Like Calvin told her, his problems with Heath in this episode were caused entirely by Rebecca, who appears to be meddling in everyone else’s relationships so that subconsciously they will be as miserable as she seems to be with Evan, and, more obviously, so her friends, namely Heather, remain single and available to her. I would be angry with her if it wasn’t just so sad, and Evan is just so clueless. I wouldn’t be surprised if she catches Evan with a pledge (Heather maybe?), and Rebecca’s Casey transformation is complete.

The final relationship to discuss is actually Casey and… Ashleigh’s. Ashleigh has been staying in Casey’s room for five weeks. That’s just annoying, and I don’t blame Casey for wanting Ashleigh to move on. It appears Ashleigh thinks Casey needs to move on to… from Cappie. This is the side of Ashleigh that I’ve always hated. She really is pretty spoiled — when things aren’t going her way, she has to shit on other people’s lives. She tells Casey that she’s living in a fairytale with Cappie, which was way harsh, Tai. Hopefully things will start looking up for Ashleigh because this Ashleigh is a biatch. As much as I assumed she would have an affair with Casey and Evan’s law professor, looks like things finally start to happen for her and Rusty next week. I’m sure that will help her relationship with Casey. Oy.

Aaand finally, Cappie and Casey. They do it. What does it all mean? Guess we’ll find out next week! Until then, I’ll be sitting here watching that last Casey/Cappie scene over and over again. Sigh.

P.S. Collegepartymonster.org doesn’t exist, but when you search for it, look at the results! (specifically, the first sponsored link.) Whaaa?!
P.P.S. Straight shots of cheap vodka are something I will not miss about college.

I’m almost too tired to write this recap, but, what would the children say?!

Anyway, what did I say about this season being for the fans?! And what could be better than episode all about Beaver! Walter — can I call him Walter? — has been one of the constant shining stars of this already-shining cast since Day One. And, it doesn’t hurt that the actor who portrays Beaver, Aaron Hill, is quite the looker. Beaver/Aaron Hill has always intrigued me, and he’s one of the few cast members who updates his Twitter regularly, so stalk him like I do, OK? (If I remember correctly his father used to have an account too, but I can’t find it anymore.)

This episode was daring, in that it was told completely from the point of view of a B character. We quickly learn that Beaver is a little too close to his mother, that he sleeps with a stuffed penguin, and that he plans on becoming a kindergarten teacher, which made me both proud and scared for our education system. The viewer follows Beaver as he tries to track down “Dave,” a sketchy guy who sells papers. He needs to buy case summaries for Casey, who will then give Beaver her old To Kill a Mockingbird paper. Although Beaver is the main character of his own show, Casey is still around and along for the ride. Their adventure takes them to a strip club, Rio, where they not only find “Dave,” but discover that it’s Heath, and that Heath is a male stripper. (Well, we already know he’s male, so I guess they just discover that he’s a stripper.) Weird!

But, wait, why does Casey need case summaries? Because Casey in drowning in reading, and Catherine doesn’t want to be Casey’s study partner. Casey comes to find that Catherin’s drowning too, and the two bond over their overwhelmed-ness (it’s a word now, OK?) Oh, Catherine. Have I told you lately how much I love her? And apparently so does Beaver. He is smitten with the “pretty lady” from the beginning. And although Beaver and Catherine couldn’t seem more different, they’re kind of perfect for each other, in that they’re both clueless in their own ways. And, they’ll make beautiful blond babies together.

There were actually two major storylines out of the Beaver’s purview. In one, Rusty is fighting for more money for his wire. Unfortunately, it seems the biggest thing standing in his way is his own girlfriend, Dana. Dana not only credits herself as one of the inventors of the wire, but then proceeds to belittle Rusty in front of the budget committee. What a biatch. Needless to say, Rusty dumps her ass in the end. But, who is waiting in the wings? ASHLEIGH!!! who seems to be developing a little crush on her best friend’s little bro. Can’t wait to witness that courtship.

Rebecca and Evan are having problems too. Evan doesn’t have time for Rebecca, and Rebecca is still playing games. I’ve never been a proponent of graduate-undergraduate dating — they’re just totally different worlds, but I guess we’ll see if Rebecca and Evan can overcome that barrier. Oh, and eEbecca used Cappie to make Evan jealous (she’s becoming more like Casey by the episode!), and of course Evan and Cappie get in a fight. The whole thing was fairly contrived, and the only meaningful result was Casey seeing Cappie with a black eye. First she sees him high, now with a black eye. Geez, cut this guy some slack!

Until next week’s episode… “Can’t Hardly Wade.” Just kidding! That would be quite an episode, though.

This third installment of the season is the type of episode I hate: besides the fact that ABC Family failed to correctly hyphenate the title, nothing that entertaining happens, and yet, our characters are catapulted forward in their respective narratives. First, let’s start with Casey, who is thrust into womanhood. (And her parents didn’t even need to spend a fortune on a Bat Mitzvah!) On her first day of law school, Casey quickly learns that pretty much everyone in the class thinks she sexed her way into getting admitted. Everyone, including two super-annoying married law students, who I really hope don’t become regulars (however accurate their portrayal of pretentious and self-righteous grad students may be.) Obviously Casey feels the need to confront her fellow students, including Evan, and her professor about the issue. See, normally, this would’ve cleared everything up, but it didn’t. The professor basically tells her to grow a set and stop relying on others to solve her problems for her. So, she studies all Elle Woods-like, and shows the annoying students how she really got in — on merit. Bend… and snap!

Like Ashleigh says, they’re not kids anymore. Oh, did I fail to mention that Ashleigh is back?! That didn’t take long. Chick couldn’t cut it in New York City (few can), and so she just up and left her job, which is almost annoyingly immature, and that’s saying a lot for these girls. After a great deal of procrastinating, Casey tells Ashleigh that she has to confront the situation and talk to her boss. When Ashleigh does, she gets fired. And that my friends is what happens in the real world. Although, in the real world, the boss would’ve stopped calling after one try. Also, how weird is it to go back to school after you graduate and want to avoid reality rather than going home? I guess I can ignore it because I’m just so damn happy Ashleigh is back. Apparently Amber Stevens is the new hot doctor on Grey’s. Too bad I refuse to watch that crap.

On the males’ side, while Cappie and Calvin come together for a school project that involves them getting high — which would explain Calvin’s continued wear of those horrible plunging v-necks — Rusty and Dale continue to move farther and farther apart. Rusty cannot fathom that the Omega Chis actually want Dale, and with the help of Dana he attempts to provide what he thinks Dale really wants — girls. Well, that’s not what Dale wants. Dale wants to be an Omega Chi. Rusty eventually realizes that, as well as the fact that this show has come completely full circle. Or maybe that was me that realized that. In a wonderful re-enactment of Season 1’s duct-taping scene, we/Rusty come to realize that the new pledge, Spidey, is Rusty freshman year. It will be interesting to see if Rusty emerges as Spidey’s Cappie. You know what i mean.

Ultimately, the little ones are all finally growing up, which I’m excited about, but I’d be even more excited seeing a little more Cappie/Casey. I guess I just have to be satisfied with the fact that Katherine is back!!!!! (Yes, that news is absolutely worthy of five exclamation marks.) Until next week…

If at first you burn down your rebel rushing booth, try, try again. Er, or something like that. This week, everyone was trying, either trying to join a house, staying close to a house, or getting others to want to join a house. We’ll start with the brothers of Kappa Tau, who, for the first time seemingly ever actually have to try during rush. It seems that karmic synergy isn’t a real thing. Who knew?! Since Rusty’s Rush Chair, it’s his responsibility to actually do most of the trying. First he gets inspired by Princess Leah Dana (Did anyone else totally forget she existed?), and decides to build a rebel booth at the Greek Rally, that the Kappa Taus were too late to register for. Unfortunately, that thing catches on fire. Then, the brothers hold their annual secret party, this time targeting “real KTs,” but someone calls the campus cops on them. Their punishment? No pledges. Except one. Legacy Peter Parks. The rule allowing a legacy to accept a bid even when a fraternity isn’t allowed to give out bids seems fake, but who knows. I guess Greek is so accurate usually, I’ll allow them some liberty on this one. Also, Peter is adorable. So, who called the campus police on the KTs? Could it be true? Was it really Dale?! It seems our favorite little Christian is rushing. And he’s got his eyes on Omega Chi. Cappie and Rusty have been so good to Dale, but he is a geek at heart, and being in Omega Chi will do a lot more for his rep and the sexual equivalent of his dance card than being a Kappa Tau can. So, not only does Dale snitch on the KTs but he also reveals to Trip that he was the one to out Calvin’s truce. Remember when I predicted we’d see the dark side of Rebecca again this season? I take that back. Hello, Evil Dale! Unleeeeess he’s joining Omega Chi, so he can keep the peace with KT in the end and bring Evan and Cappie back together. Wishful thinking? It’ll be interesting to see how Calvin and Dale’s relationship evolves since Calvin’s brothers still kind of hate him right now. Well, maybe not-so interesting. Honestly, I’m sick of the whole truce storyline, so hopefully it won’t last the entire season. Over on Sorority Row, Tegan’s back and giving Rebeccca hell during Rush Recruitment. Honestly, it’s these little things that make Greek such a good show. When my alma mater switched from using the term rush to recruitment, it was all we heard about. Tegan constantly correcting the sisters cracked me up. What’s also funny is that my officemates and I were just thinking about Charisma Carpenter at work the other week, wondering what she was up to. And here she is! Anyway, Tegan makes Casey House Mom (who didn’t see that one coming?) and questions everything Rebecca does. In the end, Rebecca proves herself, and Tegan loosens the reigns a bit. In the process, Casey becomes full-time House Mom, and actually bonds with Tegan. See, Casey is experiencing what a lot of sisters — and Greeks in general — do: Greek system withdrawal. Sure, she’s in law school, she has her own life, and she shouldn’t care about the daily goings-on in the ZBZ house, but she does. She turns to Tegan, who has made ZBZ her life’s work, for advice. She learns that it’s OK to still be involved, but as a mentor. And finally, let’s check on the Casey/Cappie status this week. It looks like things are looking up a bit. Although Casey wasn’t receptive to Cappie’s new “trying” thing because it was for her and not himself (Geez, cut him some slack, Case!). Ultimately, Cappie does try for himself and his house. He’s learning! Um, and kind of apropos of nothing, how great is Heath’s sister’s name?! For some reason every time someone said her name, it made me think of this: Seriously, replace “Seether” with “Heather,” and a good time will be had by all. Also, apropos of nothing, where can I get a box of Alio’s?! Help a sista out! Next week, Ashleigh is back, while her real-life boyfriend continues to frighten me in these TMobile ads. See you then!

Greek is back for its fourth and final season, and I would be remiss if I didn’t speak of how bittersweet that fact is. I’ve missed this show a hell of a lot since the Season 3 finale, and I can’t believe this batch of episodes will the be the last. Alas, this blog must go on.

We join our heroes at graduation. Returning to Cyprus Rhodes, seeing Ashleigh, Casey, and Evan was weird — I feel like it’s been an eternity since they last graced my TV screen. And to be honest, I can’t believe how much of last season’s plot I have forgotten. After a fairly innocuous graduation scene, we quickly learn Casey’s parents have gone back to the hotel (the more cynical and practical side of me thought this was a nice way of not having to pay two actors.) But Rusty’s there for support, and Casey talks to Rusty about Cappie, and wanting to say goodbye. Cappie emerges, and what does he say? “Nice hat.” Oof. The writers then employ a time travel device, catapulting us “three months later.” So, y’know, we don’t have to waste our time on what happened to our characters over the summer.

Obviously much of the storyline centers around our couple: Cappie and Casey. Cappie returns from a long trip, regaling his brothers with tales of his promiscuity. Rusty is none too pleased, and as a means of — what I guess you could call — mild revenge, Rusty decides to run for KT president. Rusty is, after all, just trying to defend his sister’s honor (hence this week’s episode title.) Rusty’s bid for presidency has Cappie sweating, something I don’t know if I care to see. See, I (and most likely most viewers) want Cappie to succeed; we want to believe that he’s always in the right. But last season, Cappie started to look a little pathetic — seeing him so determined to not progress as a person was unsettling. Rusty’s victory would have been the final piece to his dethroning… literally. And after Cappie had a customized butt chair made and everything! Thankfully after much cajoling from Rusty himself, Cappie comes to his senses, talks to Casey, and promises to at least try to grow up a little bit. It’s Cappie’s honor that’s restored too.

It doesn’t hurt that Casey comes down to Cappie’s level a little bit, deciding to stay at Cyprus Rhodes for law school. This is after she finds out that Joel’s CRU “recommendation” letter was less-than-glowing. For Joel’s character to be so inappropriate seemed very contrived to me, but, hey, if it keeps Casey on the CRU campus, whatevsies!

Rebecca and Ashleigh, unfortunately, aren’t as happy as I am that Casey is staying at CRU. Ashleigh just misses her best friend. (Come on, producers, was that poster saying “New York” supposed to convince us that Ashleigh’s scenes were shot in New York?) I really hope Ashleigh will make some Cyprus appearances because having her on a phone all season would be a letdown. Rebecca, on the other hand, really wants to be ZBZ top dog, and with Casey in the house, that probably won’t happen. Rebecca already has a problem with Dale’s involvement with the sisterhood, so add Casey to the mix, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more “Evil Rebecca” this season.

And although that’s kind of all that happened, overall, this episode was a strong season premiere. It appears the writers aren’t wasting any time trying to capture new viewers — they jumped right in, and it’s obvious that this season is for the fans. This fan, for one, can’t wait to go along for the ride! I leave you with some random thoughts about the premiere:

1. I’ve always thought Ashleigh and Rusty would have a “thing,” and from the look of the season preview, it might actually happen!

2. Don’t worry, Rebecca, I used to get pretty pissed when guys would wear our letters too! You have to earn them!

3. Yay! Heath!

4. Calvin cannot pull off that oversized plunging V-neck.

5. Am I the only one that still doesn’t totally remember how Calvin became president of Omega Chi?

6. Why does Sam Page always have to play such a jerk? And why is he the hardest working bit actor in Hollywood?! (Not that I’m complaining….)

7. I don’t know how I feel about Rusty’s longer hair.

Until next time, leave your thoughts about the Season 4 premiere below. I’d love to read them.

next week’s eclare-heavy degrassi episode is titled “love lockdown part 1,” which will make it the second kanye west song pun used within three episodes! ‘the boiling point’s’ two-part finale being the other, titled ‘all falls down.’