Episode Summaries

Episode Summaries from Season 1!!!!!!! Season 2 now at the bottom!!

SEASON 1

Episode #1, The Pilot

Original air date, Sept. 29, 1998

At her high-school graduation, Felicity asks Ben Covington, to sign her yearbook. What he writes changes her life. To her parents' consternation, Felicity abandons a full ride to Stanford and plans for medical school. She summons the courage to ask the most popular boy in school and follows Ben to the Big Apple, where she discovers life is harder than she imagined. Her roommate is nowhere to be seen, she's lonely and confused, and on top of it Ben doesn't even remember her. Felicity confides her feelings to Ben, telling him how she ended up in New York and that she just wants to be friends. That friendship is strained when Ben is interested in her new friend, Julie.

It looks like Felicity has made "a colossal mistake."

Her parents arrive in New York and practically bribe her to come back home. Her cute R.A., Noel, advises her to stay and pursue her dream of becoming an artist. Felicity surprises everyone -- including herself -- by deciding to stick it out.

Episode #2, "The Last Stand"

Original air date, Oct. 6, 1998

When a "young man" calls the admission office hoping to see Felicity's application, she assumes it's Ben. Against Noel's advice, Felicity mails Ben a copy of her college essay, which was all about him. Her reasoning? You should never be embarrassed by the truth. Unless, of course, it was your dad who called to see your essay, snooping for insight about your recent snap decision. Her parents remain in New York to check up on her. Felicity tries to explain her decision, but a simple story about a hamburger goes horribly awry, and her mom storms out. Just when it's looking bleak, Dad comes around and offers to pay for her tuition.

Noel reassures Felicity's parents that he'll look out for her, and Julie confides that she's adopted and has come to New York to find her birth mother. Felicity has a heart-to-heart with her mom, who admits she's afraid for her future, as much as for Felicity's, and says, "I'm proud of my brave daughter." She also thinks Ben is cute. (Like mother, like daughter.)

Episode #3, "Hot Objects"

Original air date, Oct. 13, 1998

Felicity builds up her first college party to epic proportions. While Noel is hoping to dance with Felicity, Felicity is brooding about how to ask Ben, and Ben is still pursuing Julie, who's resisting out of loyalty to Felicity. Everything comes to a head during the party. Felicity confronts Julie about her suspicious closeness with Ben. Julie confesses Ben has been chasing her and she'd like to stop running just to spare Felicity's feelings. Even worse, a tape Felicity made for Sally is played over the loud speakers...revealing her intimate thoughts on her sexual inexperience in stereo.

Felicity is thrilled to be studying with a legendary chemistry professor, who thinks she's a teacher's pet and takes an instant dislike to her. Ben is less than thrilled to be stuck in a drama class, where he must share his emotions. Felicity gets a taste of true New York attitude when she meets fellow student Elena Tyler.

Episode #4, "Boggled"

Original air date, Oct. 20, 1998

Noel surprises Felicity with a passionate kiss during an innocent game of Boggle. The kiss confuses Felicity, who is still seeking Ben's attention and thinks of Noel as a (really cute) friend. Julie and Felicity agree Ben is fair game, but Julie gives Ben a gentle brush-off anyway. Ben comes in last in his track-team tryout but tells Felicity he changed his mind about joining. Julie hangs out with Zack (guest star Devon Gummersall), a freshman film student.

Felicity and feisty New Yorker Elena get to know each other better when they're partnered for a chemistry lab. Noel asks Felicity to dinner so they can talk about their relationship, then tells her he has a long-distance girlfriend named Hannah. Felicity is revolted and storms out of the restaurant. Later, Noel and Felicity mend their new friendship when he explains he and Hannah agreed to see other people and that he misses his girlfriend.

Episode #5, "Spooked"

Original air date, Oct. 27, 1998

After Felicity and Ben are robbed at gunpoint, they share a special bond. Initially, Ben leans on Felicity with 2 a.m. calls and visits for company but then distances himself. Things get weird at the Halloween festivities: Julie runs for cover when Zack (The Pink Guy) moves in for a kiss. Ben takes his Rat Pack costume to heart, sneaking off to make out with a Pink Power Ranger. Felicity feels like a fool dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein and tells Ben off, then throws up in Noel's lap at the end of his pep talk. Felicity is mollified when Ben shows up with a peace offering at her new job at trendy Dean & Deluca.

Zack is prepared for the "let's just be friends" speech from Julie when she plants a big kiss right back at him. Elena gets busted with the Tin Man in her room the morning after the bash by Noel, who missed the whole party.

Episode #6, "Cheating"

Original air date: Nov. 3, 1998

Felicity and Ben are getting closer -- so close that Felicity takes the liberty of rewriting his English essay without telling him. When Ben is accused of plagiarism, she confesses; he's furious and bewildered.

Elena pushes away her Halloween fling but he sees through her forced aloofness. Julie suffers through a five-hour Russian film -- twice! -- to impress Zack.

Ben refuses Felicity's offer of help and pretends he wrote the paper himself, only to break down in front of the English review board. Felicity barges in and claims responsibility; Ben accuses her of thinking he's too stupid to write a good paper. He gets an "F" instead of the "B" he would have gotten. Felicity flunks on all counts.

Episode #7, "Drawing the line/Part 1"

Original air date, Nov. 10, 1998

Noel finally draws the line: No more talking about Ben.

Huh?

This totally throws Felicity for a loop. Confused and rejected, Felicity teams up with Elena's new beau, Blair to commiserate. Of course, Blair convinces Felicity to meddle again and illegally obtains Elena's files from the Admissions Office to find out why she might have to leave school. After learning of Elena's scholarship that fell through, Felicity finds an alternative scholarship for Elena.

But, Elena is furious and ashamed of her lower-income status. Noel convinces Elena that she's not the only poor college student and Elena ends up with a new scholarship and even thanks Felicity. Ben softens when he hears the story and finally breaks the ice with Felicity.

Meanwhile, Julie and Zack have grown closer, without the pressure of sex. That changes swiftly when Zack becomes more amorous. In a tragic turn, Felicity finds Julie upset after a night out with Zack. It appears she wasn't ready for them to go all the way, but Zack wouldn't take "no" for an answer. What will Julie do now?

Episode #8, "Drawing the line/Part 2"

Original air date, Nov. 17, 1998

Felicity convinces Julie to get a medical exam after Zack's assault, but Julie refuses to press charges with the police or the college. She blames herself and worries it wasn't rape since she didn't fight or scream; the doctor and Felicity assure her it was.

Julie wants to keep the attack a secret but word spreads after Felicity confides in Noel, and Julie feels betrayed. Elena volunteers to take a high-school guest off Felicity's hands. Zack confronts Julie when he learns of her accusation. Having come to blows with Zack, Ben consoles Julie by assuring her it's not her fault. Julie reports the attack, then confronts Zack, who admits he did force her to have sex. He leaves Julie a letter apologizing and the hope that some day she won't hate him. According to Sally, sometimes bad things just happen, and we spend our life picking up the pieces.

Episode #9, "Thanksgiving"

Original air date, Nov. 24, 1998

Felicity stays in New York over Thanksgiving to help Julie, who isn't yet ready to tell her parents about the rape. Julie isn't the only one at odds with family over the holidays.

Ben and his roommate, Elena and Felicity's boss all end up at the dorm for Felicity and Julie's attempt at a Thanksgiving dinner. Noel becomes a babbling fool when his long-distance girlfriend Hannah meets Felicity, who's trying hard to hide her jealousy. Passion explodes in the men's bathroom between Felicity and Noel. Just when a love triangle is blooming, Noel and Hannah admit they've both been seeing other people and that their romance is over. Felicity consoles a sobbing Hannah.

Does she know Felicity is "the other woman"?

Elena's dad makes a surprise entrance, and the group bonds over a Thanksgiving dorm feast.

Episode #10, "Great Expectations"

Original air date, Dec. 15, 1998

Felicity and Noel try to put their feelings for each other on hold until after finals, but their lips keep getting in the way. Everyone is tense, but Noel gets out of control when he opts for a "smart powder" offered by Meghan, an herbal remedy that will help him focus.

What was he thinking?

Turns out there were beets in the concoction and Noel's allergic reaction to beets sends him into super-hyper speed. While in this attractive condition, Noel finds Felicity studying with Ben and his behavior nose-dives into a jealous fit. Felicity storms out of the library and decides to let Ben and Noel fend for themselves and focus on her own studies. Days later, finals are over and all is forgiven. Noel tells Felicity he's sorry for his jealousy and that he plans to pick up where they left off next year.

Meanwhile, Felicity is supposed to head home with Ben, but he's busy cuddling with Julie. Apparently finals week brought Ben and Julie closer together, again.

Episode #11, "Gimme an O!"

Original air date, Jan. 19, 1999

Felicity decides it's time to lose her virginity with Noel. She approaches it like a tough class project, doing research and collecting opinions.

Elena receives a puzzling gift from her boyfriend. Julie and Ben's friendship is blossoming into a romance; Julie worries Felicity will consider it a betrayal. Felicity is mortified when her first attempt to sleep with Noel goes up in flames, literally. The second attempt is equally unsuccessful -- Noel walks out when he suspects she still has feelings for Ben. Felicity gives her blessing to Ben and Julie, who agree to take things slowly. So do Noel and Felicity, who decide they might be rushing into sex for the wrong reasons.

Episode #12, "Friends"

Original air date, Jan. 26, 1999

Felicity is amazed by the spectacle of people's lives happening all around her. She's caught in the middle when she sees Elena's boyfriend Blair kissing a stranger. Turns out it's no stranger, but a good friend of Elena's. Felicity fears the heartbreak may outweigh the benefits of telling Elena the truth. When she finally does confide in Elena, Elena turns her back on Felicity.

Julie digs up her birth mom, but working up the nerve to approach her causes tension with Ben, who's worried she'll get hurt.

Noel lands in a compromising situation with a Russian mafioso-style family when the resident blonde bombshell offers him a sweet deal on vending machines in exchange for playing her boyfriend. All Noel gets is a hangover. Julie gets up the courage to see her mom, and Elena turns to Felicity to help her face the truth about her cheating beau and best friend.

Episode #13, "Todd Mulcahy/Part 1"

Original air date, Feb. 9, 1999

An overzealous childhood crush comes to New York to recapture a missed opportunity with Felicity: "I've come to kiss you," says Todd Mulcahy. Realizing the ironic twist of fate, Felicity turns for advice to the guy she pursued all the way to New York, Ben.

Stressed because his dad has withdrawn financial support, Ben worries over Julie's obsession with her birth mother. Julie takes a job at her mom's firm without revealing who she is.

Elena punches her cheating boyfriend, Blair, and warns him to stay away. Felicity finally talks to Todd, but becomes irate when he brings up her passion for art, which she set aside for pre-med. The situation turns tragic when Todd is suddenly hit by a bus while Felicity watches helplessly.

Episode #14, "Todd Mulcahy/Part 2"

Original air date, Feb. 16, 1999

Felicity feels responsible for Todd's accident and makes an effort to cheer him up, which causes Noel to question her feelings for the guy. Felicity also questions her decision to give up art for medicine and almost misses out on a prestigious pre-med seminar with an impressive professor (guest star Chris Sarandon). Eventually both Elena and Felicity make the cut.

Ben learns the espresso trade at Dean & Deluca with Javier's help. Julie finds out that the woman she thought was her mother really isn't, in a heartbreaking confession. Although it almost cost him his life, Todd gets his kiss from Felicity, reunites with his fiancée and heads back to the Midwest.

Episode #15, "Love and Marriage"

Original air date, Feb. 23, 1999

Felicity's boss, Javier, asks her to marry him so he can get a green card to stay in America and be with his boyfriend. Felicity is hesitant at first but says yes for the sake of true love. Noel is distracted from Felicity's pending nuptials when his brother comes to visit and tells him he's gay. Noel's reaction is not very supportive and he struggles with his feelings about his brother's new identity.

Looking for a new focus in life, Ben becomes determined to make the swim team. His persistence pays off and he makes the team with Julie cheering poolside. Noel apologizes to his brother and they make up while Felicity's bride-to-be status gets canceled because Javier is heading to Spain to be with his true love and no longer needs a wife to stay.

Episode #16, "The Fugue"

Original air date: Mar. 2, 1999

Noel is surprised and Felicity is wary when they learn his ex-girlfriend, Hannah, is living in New York. An uptight new manager (Alexandra Wentworth of "Jerry Maguire") arrives at at Dean & Deluca. Julie is irritated by Ben's new swimming buddies, but Ben eases the tension by supporting her open-mike performance.

When Noel finally admits he's not over Hannah, a shocked Felicity realizes he's breaking up with her. Noel and Hannah resume their old romance. Felicity does a quick rebound into the arms of an art student (Simon Rex, MTV). In the end, Noel puts on the breaks but Felicity apparently doesn't. Will she go all the way?

Episode #17, "The Assassins"

Original air date, Apr. 20, 1999

Felicity is wracked with guilt in the wake of her romantic encounter with Eli. Her confusion mounts when she tells Noel the truth. Noel is hurt she wasted no time in sleeping with someone else. He stops by Eli's studio to check out the competition, then shows up drunk in Felicity's room; Felicity pushes him away. They can't seem to forgive each other, so they break up.

A friendly dorm game of Assassins, where players shoot each other with rubber darts, turns competitive as Elena tries to win it all. And it's love in the library, when Sean enlists Julie's help to try and woo his crush (guest star Ali Hillis).

Episode #18, "Happy Birthday"

Original air date, Apr. 27, 1999

Julie gets an unexpected present for her birthday, as Carole Anderson (guest star Jane Kaczmarek) admits to being her true birth mother after all. Julie's enthusiasm over the news hits a wall, though, as Carole stands firm on keeping Julie's existence a secret from her family. Turns out Carole's husband is Julie's real dad.

Noel stuns Felicity by planning to move out of the dorm and resign his post as R.A. Meghan transforms herself into a Laura Ashley poster girl when her parents drop in for a surprise visit.

Episode #19, "Docuventary"

Original air date, May 4, 1999

The tension between Felicity and Noel escalates as they try to put their pasts behind them and carry on as "just friends," but Noel's inability to act like nothing happened gets caught on video as part of Sean's latest money-making scheme, a documentary about college life.

Ben's luck keeps running dry, sending him deeper in debt, as he attempts to use gambling to pay off his tuition bill.

Episode #20, "Connections"

Original air date, May 11, 1999

Ben becomes his own worst enemy, as he sinks deeper in debt to his bookie and refuses to call on his friends or family for help. He refuses to work as a thug to pay off his debt, and ends up getting beaten black and blue himself. In the end, he reaches out to his mom.

Left in charge of Dean & Deluca while her boss leaves town, Felicity must fire an employee. It backfires when Danny refuses to be fired and ends up with the assistant manager's job Felicity coveted. Proximity means romance for Noel and Felicity, who share a kiss and confusion about the state of their relationship.

Episode #21, "The Force"

Original air date, May 18, 1999

As if finals weren't bad enough, Felicity finds herself the object of Meghan's experiments involving witchcraft. After mischievously casting a secret spell on "someone [she] hates", Meghan admits to Felicity she messed up and left out the key ingredient ... clove.

Later, while cleaning out the storage room at Dean & Deluca, Felicity spills a box of clove just as Ben asks her to join him on a roadtrip home. Meanwhile, Noel and friends wait in line for tickets to the premiere of Star Wars: Episode 1.

Episode #22, "Felicity Was Here"

Original air date, May 25, 1999

With her freshman year at a close, Felicity finds herself forced to making a choice between going to Europe with Noel or driving cross-country for two weeks with Ben. Complicating the decision, Ben admits to liking Felicity after breaking up with their mutual friend, Julie.

The confession doesn't go unheard by Julie, who tells Noel. In the end, Felicity makes a choice.... but what was it?

SEASON 2

Episode #1, "Sophomoric" Season Premiere

Original air date, Sept 19, 1999

BEN or NOEL?? Returning to school, Felicity faces the repercussions of her decision of kicking off the summer either traveling to Europe with Noel or taking a cross-country road trip with Ben. Meanwhile both Felicity and her roomate Meghan sign up to be Resident Advisor for their dorm, causing a clash in dishing out advice.

Spoiler: it was Ben

Episode #2, "The List"

Original air date, Sept 26, 1999

Felicity enjoys being the new R.A. even though she clashes with Meghan. Julie is determined to have fun at school this year and throws a huge party at Sean's Loft.

Episode #3, "Ancient History"

Original air date, October 10, 1999

Felicity works on her R.A. skills by helping an overwhelmed freshman (Amy Smart) sort through the course catalog. More importantly though, Felicity engages in some heavy-duty introspection and decides to dropout of premed and enroll in art class. She endures a withering critique at the hands of the art teacher, causing Felicity to question her artistic talent. Noel comforts her, providing her with the strength to pursue the art classes. Felicity apologizes for her behavior towards him. She obviously misses him, talking about how close they were. Noel's doing just fine on his own though, he manages to score an informal date with a hot blond girl who happens to be a "Mac-Person" (as in, her choice in personal computers runs towards Apples©). Other notes: Sean (Ben's landlord/roommate) and Ben call of their search for a replacement roommate, deciding to stick with Julie.

episode #4, "The Depths"

"The Depths"

Original air date, October 17, 199

Julie wrote a song about Felicity named, appropriately enough, "Felicity". Felicity hears that Julie is performing this 'mean song' about her and gets angry. She goes looking for Julie to confront her but a she's not home. The next day Felicity ends up stuck in a subway car for 3 1/2 hours with Julie. The whole crowd on the subway gets into their argument. The situation becomes a surreal combination of group therapy and court of law, with a little bit of daytime talk show thrown in for good measure. Afterwards Felicity asks Julie if she wants to go get a cup of coffee, but Julie refuses. Later, they meet at the museum and Julie apologizes for singing the song. Meanwhile Noel and Ruby spend some quality time together at the museum exhibit where they were supposed to meet Felicity. They end up kissing in Noel's room. Ruby then drops by Felicity's to gush about how great Noel is. Ben gets invited to a swank party by an attractive, but abusive customer. Sean cooks up a condiment to make himself rich, he calls it "smoothaise".

episode #5, "Crash"

Original air date, October 24, 1999

Felicity begins the show telling Noel how happy she is not to be dating. When her art professor suggests a date with her son, Felicity turns it down, but then has a change of heart. The ensuing date is horrible, David, her date, goes out of his way to be a miserable jerk. He later apologizes and Felicity agrees to give him another chance. Their second date goes much better, but ends with a handshake, not a kiss. Ben has a romantic encounter with the caterer he met last episode, an older woman. She ditches him after the first night. Noel and Elena become obsessed with playing the video game "Crash."

Episode # 6 "Love Bug"

Original air date, November 7, 1999

Love and Mono are in the air! Felicity's roommate is as sick as a dog and that leaves our heroine scrambling for a sanitary place to sleep. Her new "friend" David offers his apartment. Felicity takes the major step of accepting, only to have him cancel because his place is supposedly being fumigated. She ends up bedding down in the common room, just in time to catch Noel and his date with a different kind of kissing disease. Noel is keeping his entire past relationship a secret, and Felicity has to play along.

Meanwhile, across town, Ben and Maggie, the older woman, (did the writers listen to a little Rod Stewart?) are proving that the age gap is no barrier to wild, crazy, all-over-the-chooping-block passion. Remind me not to order food from there! David shows up to convince Felicity that his place really was being fumigated and sets up another date. Felicity is staying with Noel and Elena, and when David shows up to take her out Noel and his date are getting ready to go. You guessed it...double date. Everything's going peachy until Noel gets brainlock during his liplock with his date and calls out Felicity's name. He must then reveal that he had a relationship with Felicity. At the same time, David leaves Felicity because he doesn't know if he can trust her. Noel and Felicity are left alone. Ben comes back to Maggie's to make it more than a one night stand, only to discover that she's married. Noel convinces his girlfriend to give him another chance, and fortunately his condoms haven't expired. Felicity ends up where she started, in her room, but this time sick with mono. She stumbles out to meet David and he asks her to give him mono.

episode #7, "Getting Lucky" Original Air Date,November 14, 1999

It wasn't mono (that would have ended the season), it was just the flu. Felicity goes from being sick as a dog to finding one on the street. The unfortunately named "Lucky" tugs at Felicity's heartstrings with all his might and is scooped up and taken home. (Please don't try this in the real NYC if you value your face.) Since Lucky and Felicity share a hairstyle, she sees it as her duty to find him a home. This is no small feat. From beer for breakfast to potent allergies, Lucky is striking out.

Julie is being Julie as she cavorts shirtless in front of her roommate Sean, who has been petsitting Lucky. The shirt she was looking to wear on her date was just turned into Lucky's chewtoy. No matter, she was planning on taking it off at the first opportunity anyway.

Maggie is back to woo Ben with such subtle lines as "I want to have an affair with you." She gives him what appears to be a credit card, but is really the passkey to room 1125 at the L-u-u-v Shack. Of course he goes, and this time, thankfully, they go at it on an actual bed. Ben gets to have his cake, and sell it to Maggie's husband who shows up at Dean & Delucca's to buy a cake for their anniversary. Ouch!

Meanwhile, Lucky is hampering Felicity's new found love life with David. Or is he? Elena opines that Lucky is just serving as an excuse for Felicity's real problem: she is totally uncomfortable with sex. David sees the same problem. After much hemming and hawing, Felicity realizes that this is true. But, it takes Lucky's fatal disease to make her see the light. She must put Lucky to sleep, and her sexual hang-ups to rest. We end with Noel claiming that the mystery they share by not having had sex is more special than what she had with David (that's right, they finally went all the way).

Episode # 8, "Family Affair " ,

Original air date, November 21, 1999

This Thanksgiving the theme seems to be "deer caught in headlights." Surprises abound and they're not all good. Let's start with Felicity and David stealing a passionate moment, until her parents barge in, right behind her nutcase roommate. That's right, they flew all the way across country only to find out that Felicity has a new haircut, major, and boyfriend. She looks as though she's been struck by a 2x4 and her parents aren't much more phlegmatic. She ends up arguing with them over their burst expectations. Felicity then is surprised by David who blurts out his love for her, a sentiment she is not ready to profess. To further up the ante, he and her parents are really getting along.

Ben isn't immune from shockers as he finds out that he's serving at a party Maggie and her husband are hosting. The thrills don't stop there, Maggie and Ben lock lips in the kitchen during the party, then she reveals to her husband that Ben is her mystery lover. There are more dumbstruck stares all around and Maggie storms out.

For some reason Felicity, her parents, David and his mother (Felicity and Noel's evil professor) end up at Noel and Elena's for Thanksgiving. Megan, the freaky roommate tags along hoping to catch some familial fireworks. It doesn't take long! After David's mother passes out her potent punch Noel staggers to his room, followed by Felicity. They kiss and, you guessed it, they are surprised by David's mother. The facts come out after an uncomfortable toast at dinner and this launches an all-out family feud.

While Felicity is more confused than ever about her relationship with Noel, she and her parents are now at peace with her new life.

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