"Mother of the Year"
Episode Summary
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Written by: Jana Veverka
Directed by: E. Jane Thompson
Aired on Nickelodeon: May 13, 2001 at 8:00 p.m.
My Overall Opinion of the Episode:
This was a very moving episode overall, but some parts were weak. The story line has Dori trying too hard to be a mother to Caitlin. The episode could have been much better if Dori had realized that she could never replace Caitlin's mother.
The Cast:
Cynthia Belliveau -- Dori Lowe
Lindsay Felton -- Caitlin Seeger
Jeremy Foley -- Griffen Lowe
Ken Tremblett -- Jim Lowe
The Music:
"Wishing for a Sail" -- Dig Circus
"Bad Grades" -- Jeremy Foley. Stephen Warner, and Chris Powell
"Pics and the Beach" -- Honeysuckle Serontina
"Forgotten Land" -- Keen
Episode Summary:
Caitlin fails math class and is forced to retake it in summer school. She asks Griffen to forge her report card so that Jim and Dori won't find out about it. Griffen agrees to do it only if Caitlin agrees to help him promote Dori in a local Mother of the Year contest. Caitlin agrees to these terms in spite of the fact that she is having a hard time with Mother's Day because it reminds her how much she misses her mom. Caitlin doesn't feel comfortable promoting Dori as her mother because Dori isn't her mother. Friction between Dori and Caitlin quickly develops after Dori discovers that Caitlin's report card is forged. The conflict intensifies as Caitlin struggles with balancing her love for her mother with her love for Dori, and as Dori tries to figure out what her role in Caitlin's life should be.
Episode Highlights:
1. Caitlin reads a script about Dori that Griffen wrote for the Mother of the Year contest. Griffen records with the video camera while Caitlin reads, "And, of course, she's wonderful with animals! She's the best vet in the county! And, of course, when my horse Bandit got attacked by a rabid wolf, mom saved him." Caitlin suddenly stops reading and exclaims, "Wait! Cut! I can't say that! Dori didn't save Bandit! Bandit saved me and I saved him! And I can't call her 'mom' because she's not my mother!" Griffen says, "Well, then make something up! A mother-daughter moment! Being part of a family means committing forgery for the ones you love." Caitlin shouts, "The only mother-daughter moments I've ever had are with my real mother! If Dori is so special then you don't need my help to prove it! This whole thing is stupid! You know, if my mother were alive, she'd win Mother of the Year!"
2. Dori begins to tutor Caitlin in math but it doesn't go well. Dori says to Caitlin, "Every time I reach out to help you, you put up these walls!" Dori tells Caitlin that they should try to connect like a mother and a daughter. Caitlin angrily responds, "Well, you can't do that, can you? I've had a mother, but you've never had a daughter! I'm going to study on my own! I can never learn anything from you anyway!"
3. Dori sees the video of Caitlin talking about Dori. Caitlin walks in on Dori while Dori is watching it. Dori is deeply hurt by the comments on the video and she walks out of the room crying. Caitlin destroys the tape. Caitlin later has a talk with Dori. Caitlin says, "I'm sorry. I've never seen you cry before. I didn't want to help Griffen with the contest because I didn't want you to win." Dori says, "This isn't about the contest. It's about how we treat each other." Caitlin says, "When my mother was alive, I thought she was the best mom in the world. I never thought that I could find anyone to replace her. And then I found you. And that scares me. Do you hate me?" Dori says, "Of course not. I love you." Caitlin responds, "I love you too."
