User Reviews

This is an important episode for Shawn because you get to see how much family means to him. You can see during the phone call with Chet how much he misses his dad and when he goes to the trailer park you can see how much his Uncle Mike seems to care about him. There are certain things I object to in this episode however the first being Cory wanting to use the tape he was helping Shawn make for Chet to win a contest and completely ignoring all of the signs that Shawn was genuinely upset. Instead of paying attention to what his friend was feeling Cory was more focused on winning the contest even when Shawn tried to tell him that taping stuff in the trailer park could be dangerous. By doing this he forced Shawn into an uncomfortable emotional position of having to reveal his connection to Eddie. My biggest problem with this episode is that the whole time that Cory was the one who was in the wrong he acted like Shawn had done something wrong and even after he knew the truth Cory never actually apologized to Shawn for putting him in that position which is why this moment is on a list I made of "Things Cory Did To Shawn That He Never Apologized For; Even If Shawn forgave Him (When He Probably Shouldn't Have). Because to me this is just another example of how uneven their friendship seems sometimes since whenever Shawn seemingly screwed up he always apologized pretty much right away.

That half part of the season seems to be more aiming about digging into Shawn and Eric characters which I personally enjoy a lot. Here we got Shawn learning that real family is not necessary blood related which I'm perfectly agree on : you don't choose your blood family but sure you do choose your friends. I know the feeling of trying to keep up with your dad even seeing he's clearly not doing the same back. I really relate with Shawn on this one but it hard to see him coming back to his old neighborhood and feeling (with some guys who help him to) like he doesn't fit anymore but still he could come back in the wrong path anytime soon as if he was hanging on above a bottomless pit and constantly trying to keep up some balance, still I can relate. But still, I really like when they bring on his uncle, their interactions are really funny and quite touching though. Mostly when they huge, I don't know this is just adorable with a little Shawn hugging by his very tall uncle, always melt me. Also, I like to see Shawn and Feeny bonded, we can see now that he's considering him more as a mentor than an simple teacher or school director and I like their dynamic together. For me, the dark cloud on the episode was Cory. I really like the character, a lot, and even more his friendships with Shawn but sometimes I sense him as really clueless about some Shawn's reactions and the reasons behind them. I mean come one, first of all he taped Shawn's family, his most private treasure which Shawn clearly try to preserve (and it's more than obvious, even a blind person could have sense it better than Cory) to show his father what he became ever since he took off and wish him a happy birthday. How someone on his good sense, how a supposedly best friend could even think about using that material for a stupid media contest ? Secondly, he catched up on camera one of the old Shawn's buddies with an obvious stolen computer and still he's aiming on using that as a hot news ?? More dummy and unconscious than him would be difficult to find in that one. And last but not least, the only thought crossing his mind about Shawn freaking out, destroying the tape and preventing him of going further with that idea of ratting on air the thug guy (who turned out to be Shawn's brother, a twist a didn't see coming to be honest) was that he was jealous of him for having the opportunity to win the contest and shine ? Are you kidding me ?? Ok, ever since the begining of the show, I caught some little jerk moments Cory got toward Shawn but he always acted as a excellent best friend with flaws which it's totally normal, I mean Shawn is far from perfect and did too have some bad moves towards Cory so I was just letting go to both of them, after all it is just a realistic friendship with his ups and downs... until now. I'm sorry but for me that episode cross a line, they're best friends for so long and still Cory had the guts to try something as using Shawn's background just to win a pathetic contest ?? I mean what kind of friend is that ? And I'm sorry but him understanding that fact in the end was too late even not knowing the fact the guy was actually Shawn's brother (I didn't have a clue myself and still). He could just have thought that they were Shawn's old buddies and that's why he was trying to protect them. And even without thinking that way : using that tape, it would have been unavoidable not showing Shawn's family or at least where and how they live. It's a categorical no for me. For now one, I don't think I would be able to enjoy their friendship as usual. Shawn is kind of turning to be too good for him, too nice and forgiven, way too much for my nerves and more the show goes on way clearer it is that Shawn understands Cory way more than this latter understands him and for a pathetic reason : because he's trying to and pushing himself to, he actually listens him and always try to make Cory seeing the best of himself and to express it before the others anytime he can put him first, even before himself. I'm sorry, maybe some people would disagree with me but for what I saw until know, Shawn is definitely a better friend than Cory. He always tries to be a better person and don't take anything for granted, over less the bond he has with Cory, instead he tries to preserve it making unavoidable mistakes but actually sincerely apologize right away for, sincerely, showing it with real acts. I couldn't say the same to Cory who's always whining rather than acting and taking his friendship with Shawn for granted, don't putt any effort on reinforce it and then always act chocked and powerless each time there are trouble in paradise. Last thing, I actually don't recall have heard him apologize when it did wrong, it's always Shawn the one who's apologizing even when he's clearly not to him to. For instance here, Cory's the one who screwed up and big, did we hear him apologize ? Dream on. Did Shawn apologize for him ? You bet it did -__- .