"Dr. Truth"
Episode Summary
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Written by: Patrick Williams
Directed by: David Sutherland
Aired on Nickelodeon: March 18, 2001 at 8:00 p.m.
My Overall Opinion of the Episode:
I was intrigued by the possibility (that emerged at the end of the episode) for a deeper relationship to develop between Caitlin and Eric. However, the actor who plays Eric (Brendan Fletcher) does not appear in any more episodes after this one, except for a a few brief appearances in flashback segments during the episode Truant. I also liked this episode because it showed how dangerous it can be to jump to conclusions before one has all the facts, and it highlighted the importance of being oneself instead of conforming to an image.
The Cast:
Sean Amsing -- Jordan Clarke
Cynthia Belliveau -- Dori Lowe
Lindsay Felton -- Caitlin Seeger
Brendan Fletcher -- Eric Anderson
Jeremy Foley -- Griffen Lowe
Tania Saulnier -- Taylor Langford
Carrie Schiffler -- Terry Shannon
Ken Tremblett -- Jim Lowe
Stephen Warner -- Brett Stevens
The Music:
"Call My Name" -- The Cash Brothers
"Wishing for a Sail" -- Dig Circus
"My My" -- Plumtree
"Kelly Nichol" -- The Salteens
Episode Summary:
Caitlin receives high grades in peer counseling and is allowed to host a call-in show on High River High School's radio station. She gives excellent advice on a number of topics ranging from stealing to accepting people for who they are. It soon gets complicated, however, when someone calls in with a much more serious problem. The caller tells Caitlin that his dad is always putting him down and that nothing that he does is ever good enough. Caitlin tells him that he has the right to feel good about himself and that he should tell his dad how he feels. His father is the adult, Caitlin says, and it is his father's responsibility to maintain control of himself. Later, however, Caitlin sees Brett with a black eye and mistakenly believes that Brett was the caller. She believes that Brett's father hit him and she tells Jim. Jim begins to investigate because he is the sheriff. Jim discovers that Griffen accidentally gave Brett the black eye. Griffen is furious with Caitlin. Caitlin says that she was only trying to help Brett. Griffen tells Caitlin that she nearly messed up his best friend's family and that maybe she shouldn't be giving advice to people. Caitlin later learns that the real caller was Eric.
Episode Highlights:
1. Taylor is the original host of the show but she gives bad advice. She tells a caller to change the way she dresses in order to make friends. Caitlin storms into the broadcast booth and confronts Taylor. The conversation goes over the air for all the students to hear. Caitlin shouts in anger, "You told her to imitate what everyone else was wearing and thinking! She'll just be another lame copy of your lame standards!" Taylor fires back, "She wants to be popular, okay? Not original! Sometimes you have to sacrifice your own personality to be popular!" Caitlin responds, "Is that what you've done? Is it really you that everyone else likes, or just this image that you've created?" Taylor storms out of the studio when she realizes that the conversation went over the air. Caitlin reluctantly steps in to take her place.
2. After finding out that Brett was not the caller, Caitlin overhears Eric talking to his dad on a cell phone. Eric tells his dad that he has the right to feel good about himself. Caitlin realizes that Eric was the caller. Caitlin and Eric begin to talk. Eric confides, "I want things to be normal, you know? He just doesn't hear me." Caitlin responds, "Maybe if you're not getting what you need from him, you need to get your support from us, your friends."
3. Caitlin goes on the air after her conversation with Eric. Eric calls again and says, "I know this girl. We don't get along, and lately we've started to and she's actually called me her friend." Caitlin, knowing this time that it is Eric, says, "Do you think things are going to change between you two?" Eric says, "I don't know. It would probably freak us both out." Caitlin says, "Well, sounds to me that you both need to work out your feelings. Can you talk to this person?" Eric responds, "Yeah, actually I can." Caitlin responds, "That's great! What do you think is going to happen next...?" Caitlin smiles. The episode ends leaving us to think about the possibilities.
