"Freaks and Geeks" has always been billed as a cult series and I had to find out why. James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, JoAnna Garcia, busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, and even appearances from Ben Foster and Shia LaBoeuf? All the names we now know as grown-up stars, they started there, with Freaks and Geeks. High expectations in mind, Freaks and Geeks delivers. The reality of the highschool life and the teenage stage are depicted in such intricate and intimate details with the freaks, the geeks, the nerds, the jocks, the bullies, the parents, the teachers, and all the rebellion, the lies, the problems and the solutions that result from that. I was 14 in 1999 when the show aired, and let me tell you, I wish I can go back and tell teenage-me to watch it then. So many questions, internal struggles, issues, so many things would have been different, maybe easier to comprehend. Oh well, I get to rejoice and see this now, as an adult, and have intimate glimpses into my past, into things I had forgotten or got out of touch with. All I know is, I will make my kids watch this when they are 12.

This was a criminally underrated show

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size? There's a bus in the parking lot." There are a lot of coming of age shows out there that focus on high school. Freaks and Geeks stands out with its hilarious depiction of 80's counter culture and its rich characters. Each character is really well crafted, from the the whacky school guidance counselor to the obnoxious gym teacher. The writing is also top notch. Clever situations and character interactions are abundant. If you're on this page, there are already some things you probably know. The cast and crew are absolutely stacked. A collection of soon to be discovered talent. Executive produced by Judd Apatow; staring Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and many more. The other thing you've probably noticed, is that the show was canceled after only one season. One of the few complaints fans have for this show is that there is not enough of it. You're not going to get a conclusion wrapped up in a nice bow, but it's a relatively light time commitment and well worth the watch. Are you calling my review irrational? "...Because I'll tear your head off, Daniel. I'll tear it off and I'll throw it over the fence." 9/10

Probably the best teen drama I have seen. For a show about cliques and full of typical school caricatures, many of the characters including the side characters are quite well-developed and deep. It has a way of portraying these tropes in a way that feels realistic.