Greek: The Fire Has Only Just Begun

I don’t recall ever hearing about Greek till my older sister one day randomly remarked that the main character reminded her of me. As she continued to be vague about the details I was left with one choice, to watch the show. I didn’t know what to expect or if it was worth watching, but as I finished an episode and then another I realized Greek had instantly become a guilty pleasure. The show takes place at Cyprus-Rhodes University (CRU) where the Greek system, fraternities and sororities, are a big part of the campus’ social life. Following the two frats on campus, Kappa Tau (KT), the underachieving party frat, and Omega Chi, the elite, high achieving frat, along with sorority Zeta Beta Zeta (ZBZ) Greek weaves a tale of college life on campus and what the Greek system holds for each character. With the return from the show’s midseason break, Greek picks up at the beginning of the Spring semester at CRU.

Quick Recap of where things left off before the break

• Rusty and Dale are competing against each other for a Poly-Sci grant. With tensions growing between the two, the judges of the contest delayed the announcement of the winner till the following semester.

• Casey and Cappie became a couple, for a second time.

• Casey suggests that Evan and Cappie join the forces of Omega Chi and KT to prank a common enemy instead of each other. The two fraternities steal security officer Huck’s golf cart and dangle it off the side of the parking deck. However, Evan, trying to gain the trust of the Omega Chis back, leaves three KTs on the roof struggling to hold the golf cart up. They call campus police causing the KTs to drop the golf cart and get expelled. This causes the friendship that was recently rekindled between Cappie and Evan to evaporate.

• ZBZ, being low in the sorority rankings, makes a comeback in a dance contest only to lose it to Gamma Psis. Breaking into the Gamma Psi house, the ZBZ girls find the clipboard of judges’ scores, which proves that there is an anomaly with the scores. The ZBZ girls leave the house, but forget to blow out the candle they had lit causing the Gamma Psi house to burn down. The girls swear secrecy that they will never mention the events that took place that night.

The episode deals a lot with the aftermath of where things left off before the break. It’s clear from the beginning that the ZBZ house is buzzing with insecurity as the sisters question each other to make sure no one has ratted them out. Casey repeatedly brings up the fact that they are still unsure if they were the reason the house burnt down.  Ashley arrives soon after bringing news that her relationship with Fisher had ended over break. We later learn that Fisher was cheating on Ashley with another girl back home. Casey goes to check on Catherine to learn about the investigation on the burning of the house. When she gets there Catherine invites ZBZ to a Gamma Psi fundraiser dance. There’s no greater feeling than attending a fundraiser to build a house that you burnt down! While ZBZ discusses the upcoming dance they are paid a visit from a fireman who brings fire safety pamphlets. After questioning the firefighter they learn the candle they had left lit in the common room was the cause of the fire. Whoops! Seems like ZBZ’s guilty burden just got heavier. Luckily for them the fire is ruled an accident.

The KT house lies in demoralized state as everyone mourns the loss of the three expelled KT brothers. With the expulsion of Wade, Rusty convinces Cappie to make him the new Pledge Educator. Rusty initially has trouble getting the pledges in line causing him to get upset when Cappie starts interfering with Rusty’s lessons. Seeking help from Dale, who now has freshman “interns” who are dazzled fans of his, Rusty uses confidence and intimidation in an attempt to get the pledges in line. Unfortunately this leads to a hilarious scene of a pledge losing a toe.

At the Omega Chi, Calvin is looking forward to coming out to his house with fellow brother Grant.  Unfortunately for Calvin, Grant hasn’t told his parents about his sexual orientation over Christmas break causing him to be uncomfortable about coming out to the brothers in the Omega Chi house. Calvin, not wanting to be in a secret relationship any longer, ends it with Grant unless he can admit to the relationship.

The episode comes to an end with certain characters moving forward in their own ways. Casey tells Cappie the truth to the fire, Rusty earns the respect of the KT pledges and creates a KT Hall of Fame as the pledge project in Wade’s old room, and Calvin and Grant go public with their relationship at the Gamma Psi dance. However, with all positive movement there is negative. Calvin and Grant wake up the next morning to find a pair of tiaras outside their door. Calvin laughs it off, but Grant grows upset that someone in the Omega Chi house would do such a thing. Rusty and Dale come home and find the message on the answering machine proclaiming Rusty the winner of the $40,000 grant creating a rift between the two roommates.

The episode brings back the old charm and feel of what makes Greek a lot of fun to watch. The scene where Ashleigh discusses what to do with the Gamma Psi clipboard they stole before the fire leads to hilarious moments where the ZBZ girls use their knowledge of cop/doctor TV shows to find a way to get rid of it. My only complaint about the episode was the return of Heath, who was supposed to graduate the semester before. He apparently failed all his final exams last semester so he could stay in KT due to the expulsion of the three KT brothers. SERIOUSLY? That’s the best they could come up with? It’s not even plausible in my mind. Heath is studying to be a doctor. Hell, the idea of anyone willingly studying to become a doctor and failing all his exams on purpose is just preposterous to me.  Otherwise Greek is back and I couldn’t ask for more.

Season 3 Episode 11: I Know What You Did Last Semester (Originally Aired January 25, 2010)

For more on Greek, click here.

Photographs courtesy of ABC Family and IMDbPro.