#ngn week

Mr. President 💕

(three guesses as to who he’s looking at)

“Let’s go find our girl.”

Despite his heartbreak at being betrayed, Ed is willing to forgive, knowing that they all made mistakes. He is still willing to welcome Nick into the family. “OUR girl,” he says. “Let’s go find OUR girl.”

Second favorite:

“We came to take you home.”

😭 💔 → ❤️

Prompt: Favorite Character

Jeremy Thompson!

Not long into the series, I had this feeling about Jeremy. I knew this Annoying Prep Boy was MY annoying prep boy. Fast forward to the poker night episode, and not only was he still my favorite character, but a character that means so much because he’s someone that I would’ve been able to look up to and say “hey, it’s ok, you have nothing to be ashamed of! He’s just like you!” And I know he can be that for today’s generation of kiddos trying to figure themselves out.

I genuinely didn’t know about this until last night so here I am, pulling up late, to fill out these prompts because God Dammit I love this show and I want everyone to watch it. 

Day One: Favorite Character

Is it not obvious? I love Jeremy. His arc was the most profound out of almost everyone, save for maybe Nick, and he’s such an enjoyable character. Kalama did a really good job bringing him to life. My close second is tied between Nick and Liz. 

Day Two: Favorite Episode

I have two (shocking, I know)

Part Two, Episode Two: The Big Mitt. Going back after Jeremy comes out to rewatch it is super fucking cute because you pick up on all the little flirting moments between him and Eric that you probably brushed off at first. 

Part Two, Episode Ten: The Fools Errand. I really love the little cooking scene between the Thompson’s, Jeremy’s very casual coming out to his father that’s accepted in such a simple gesture, Nick’s double cross...it’s such a good season finale. 

Day Three: Favorite Relationship

I’m gonna split this between the two parts, just because my opinion changed dramatically.

Part One: Liz and Ed, actually. I think they’re a really good portrayal of a healthy hetero couple. They tease each other, of course, and there is that trope of “nagging mom, chill dad,” but they each have their own moments that counter that trope. They work together really well as parents (chore auction aside), and are continuously supportive of one another even when they don’t agree with each other.

Part Two: Jeremy and Nick. Their relationship has progressed so much over the show, and I just love the softness that develops after Jeremy’s accidental coming out. It started with the boba drink scene in part one (the only mistake of this show is saying boba is gross, bc excuse you boba tea is DELICIOUS), but it continued on until they just felt like a regular brother/sister duo.

Day Four: Favorite Storyline/Arc

Jeremy’s coming out, obviously. I liked that it wasn’t his whole character, that he wasn’t ashamed of it, how supportive his whole family was. 

My second choice would probably be Molly’s development with the Volunteer Squad. I think it was very important for her to realize that, while the squad might have been mean to her, she was being equally mean to them. Sometimes it’s hard to admit or even realize that you’re the one being the bad friend, and it’s so important that TV shows that. Too often we see that the kids were always in the right, or they’re so cartoonishly mean it’s obvious. But Molly’s arc with them was spot on to how I think a lot of fights in friend groups go down. I’m excited to see where this revelation takes her as a character. 

Day Five: Favorite Quote

“It’s not that I’m embarrassed. I just want it to be on my terms. For me. When I’m ready.” 

An impactful line that I think almost all LGBT+ people can relate to. 

Day Six: Most Shocking Moment 

Funny enough, for me it was the moment Nick saw Jeremy and Will kissing. I’m so used to not having representation in children’s media that I wasn’t expecting even a mention of a gay character, let alone a KISS between two guys, one of whom is a MAIN CHARACTER. It came out of nowhere so fast that I had to actually pause the show and freak out. 

Second goes to Nick absolutely decking Jeremy in part one. 

Day Seven: What You’d Love to See in Another Season of NGN

I’m interested to see how Nick settles back in to things like school and family life, as well as how the family reacts to her now that they know all. 

I’m most interested in seeing if Liz and Ed interact with Nick’s father at all. That could end...not well, that’s for sure. And I also would really like to see Riley come back into Nick’s life - I think she was a good friend for Nick, and I love her character, though we only got her for a brief time. 

Strangely enough, I think Nick and Jeremy’s relationship will probably remain the strongest for the first few episodes, closely followed by Nick and Liz (ironic, given that Liz and Jeremy were the two that took the longest to come around to the idea of Nick in the first place). 

Maybe in another universe we could be something. No Harbaughs. No Thompsons. Just Us. 

“Ms. Fr…Ms. Franz...MS. FRANZELLI!!!” 

“I’M AWAKE!” I jump in my desk as I hear the teacher yell my name. I faintly hear the giggling of my other classmates around me, but that’s what I focus on. Once I realize that I’m in my science class, my best friend Riley is pointing behind me with a scared look on her face.

I slowly turned around to see my science teacher, Ms. Pintes, practically blowing steam out of her ears as she glared at me. 

“Uh h-hi” I say sheepishly waving my hand slightly. 

“Principal’s office now!” Ms. Pintes barks.

I sigh as I grab my bag heading out of the classroom. 

Since all the science classrooms are in a separate building from the other classes (something about chemical explosions), I know I’ll be able to avoid going to the principal’s office at all. By the time Ms. Pintes will have time to check if I went to the Principal, she’ll have already forgotten about it. Basically, this means I have the rest of the period free without having to do anything.

I head to the drama room to hide out in until the next class starts. As soon as I leave the science building, I hit something wall like and start falling towards the ground. Before I can hit the ground though, something snakes its arm around me. 

As the arm steadies me onto the ground, I look up to realize that I ran into a guy around my age. The guy is tall, lean, and pretty handsome. 

“Woah, sorry didn’t see you there, dude” I say moving out of the guy’s way getting a good look at him while I’m at it. I take note of the schedule grasped in his hand. 

“Ah, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have run into a pretty girl like you.” 

I raise my eyebrow at his comment. “Therefore I must have value and be worth talking to?”

“No! No, I didn’t mean to call you pretty, not that you aren’t pretty, uh…” The guy blabbers as I try to hold in my amusement. 

“Dude, I’m messing with you. The name’s Nick.” I reach out my hand for him to shake. 

“Uh, hi I’m Will” He shakes my hand looking a bit embarrassed. When our hands touch, I feel a spark shoot up my arm. I quickly took my hand back trying not to seem too unnerved by it.

“Nice to meet you Will. You new around here?” I ask trying to get a feel for what this guy is like.

“Uh, yeah actually. I just moved here. Is it that obvious?” Will responds

“Not really. It’s just I’m assuming that you’re trying to go the American History while entering the only sciences building.”

“Oh uh haha” He flushes looking down at the schedule in his hand. “Well do you mind helping me find my class?”

“Not at all follow me” I say as I lead Will back into the main building. “So what caused you to move here? Parent lost a job or something?”

“Not exactly. My mom just got incarcerated, so I moved in with foster parents.” I noticed his shoulders sag a little.

“Oh man, I’m sorry.”

“I mean it sucks because I don’t get to see her all the time, but I can at least call her on the phone.”

“It’s better than nothing.” I shrugged, not knowing what to say.  “Well here we are, American History.”

“Thanks again. I’ll uh see you around”

“Yeah, see you around.” We stare at each other for a good long minute neither of us moving. 

“Nick!!” I turned to see Riley running down the hall with what looks like a restroom pass in her hands. I turn back to see Will enter the classroom giving me a small wave as he disappears into the world of history. 

I think him and I will end up being good friends.

Favorite storyline/arc