Review: 'Felicity' - 04/20/1999

When you're older, the temptation is to look back upon your youth and only the treasure the sweet things. You bludgeon your kids with comments about how they don't appreciate their youth, and remind them how lucky they are to get have the chance to experience life for the first time. Their first kiss. Their first car. Their first paycheck. Their first dance.

But when you're a teenager, you know the truth. For all of the good points, growing up can be brutal. There are so many ways to screw up. To make mistakes. To break somebody's heart.

Felicity has been the darling of critics since the pilot began circulating early last summer. And it's easy to see why. Unlike the more melodramatic "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity" is painful in more subtle ways. The growth and ambition of the characters seems more realistic. And that makes it even tougher to watch sometimes.

Keri Russell has brought an absolute luminescence to her portrayal of Felicity Porter this season, and even in the shakiest episodes, it's easy to be captivated by her charm. So it's no surprise that Noel (Scott Foley) was drawn to her from the first episode. And the entire season has been a dance of sorts, as the two of them eye each other, move together, and slowly fall into each others hearts. But of course, fairy tales don't always work out.

By the last episode, Noel's old girlfriend had popped back into the picture, leading to one of those mistakes that you only make once. Because you'll never be that stupid again.

Noel ultimately decides against having sex with her, but later discovers that the hurt and angered Felicity cheated on him. In fact, she lost her virginity to a guy she barely knows. As she says at one point, "I never thought of myself as one of those kind of girls, but I guess that I am."

So the pain begins, and the recriminations, and the sinking feeling that you might never get back that wonderful relationship you possessed just days before. It's an adult lesson, and it's a horrible experience--no matter what your age.

Of course, this is all happening in college, and there are always things to distract you. In this case, it's a misplaced scheme to introduce everyone in the dorm by playing a quick game of "assassin." So weaved in with the pain and moping is a fair amount of random firing of plastic pistols. It's silly, but fun and a nice counterpoint to everything that's going on.

In fact, this is a good episode to show to friends and family who don't watch the show. Or to any adult who says to you, "You're so lucky to be young."

Felicity airs on the WB at 9pm on Tuesdays.