Little People, Big World
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Senior Member
Registered: 03-19-08
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I started thinking this when I saw the episodes concerning Zach's poor grades and awful performance in speech class. Now I'm almost certain of it: Zach is scared to death of the future.
He sees his tall, handsome, charming, able-bodied, well-liked twin preparing to go off into the world sure-footed while he is struggling to gain a footing. Think about it, what better way to not face the future than by screwing up your grades senior year and maybe being held back?
He is obviously more comfortable being with Jacob and Molly and her friends or with his out-of-town dwarf friends than with Jeremy and his friends. Unfortunately for Zach, his future won't be filled with the people who are inside his comfort zone--it's filled with people like Jer and Mueller.
I used to think he fit in well, but in this episode he not only showed his discomfort, he actually verbalized how out of place he is around Jeremy and Mueller. Ironically, he didn't inherit his dwarf father's charisma, drive and ability that pushed him to succeed despite his handicap. Jeremy did.
What's really pathetic is that Zach is beginning to feel sorry for himself, and Amy helped contribute to that by allowing him to stay home from the trip and taking a hostage (Molly) with him. He wasn't making a decision like a mature adult ("standing his ground" is another term for being stubborn), he was feeling sorry for his mom and himself.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-03-09
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quote: Originally posted by Rorie:
I started thinking this when I saw the episodes concerning Zach's poor grades and awful performance in speech class. Now I'm almost certain of it: Zach is scared to death of the future.
He sees his tall, handsome, charming, able-bodied, well-liked twin preparing to go off into the world sure-footed while he is struggling to gain a footing. Think about it, what better way to not face the future than by screwing up your grades senior year and maybe being held back?
He is obviously more comfortable being with Jacob and Molly and her friends or with his out-of-town dwarf friends than with Jeremy and his friends. Unfortunately for Zach, his future won't be filled with the people who are inside his comfort zone--it's filled with people like Jer and Mueller.
I used to think he fit in well, but in this episode he not only showed his discomfort, he actually verbalized how out of place he is around Jeremy and Mueller. Ironically, he didn't inherit his dwarf father's charisma, drive and ability that pushed him to succeed despite his handicap. Jeremy did.
What's really pathetic is that Zach is beginning to feel sorry for himself, and Amy helped contribute to that by allowing him to stay home from the trip and taking a hostage (Molly) with him. He wasn't making a decision like a mature adult ("standing his ground" is another term for being stubborn), he was feeling sorry for his mom and himself.
Although you bring up valid points, I think a contributing factor to Zach's all-around downfall is him coping with Mike's death. Mike was Zach's soccer coach and close friend, and not having Mike there his senior year for his last season of soccer was probably tragic for him. |
Senior Member
Registered: 06-09-07
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Mike would be disgusted with Zach's behaviour.
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Senior Member
Registered: 03-19-08
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I'm sure Zach misses Mike dearly, but so do they all. He was especially close to Jeremy (they worked on projects together and he was Jeremy's coach longer than he was Zach's) and Jacob (he was Jake's coach, the two were hospitalized together, and then they began rebuilding the trebuchet together). Still, the two of them aren't sassing back as much as Zach or putting on a stubborn demeanor.
I don't think Mike's death is a valid explanation for Zach's behavior. I think his behavior is a reflection of his personality, which is a lot like that of Amy, who really didn't help matters by encouraging Zach's and then Molly's rebellion.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-03-09
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So, because Jeremy isn't "sassing" as much as Zach means Mike's death has no influence on Zach's behavior? lol please. Did you ever hear that all of us are affected different ways by tragic events in our lives? Besides, Jeremy always seems to be up in the clouds in la la land anyway -- Zach is more in touch with his feelings.
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Senior Member
Registered: 03-19-08
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Pa, Zach may be more, as you say, "in touch with his feelings," but that isn't going to help him assimilate into the real world. That's my point. He is afraid to move on.
Mike's dying may have contributed to the new Zach, but he must move on.
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Senior Member
Registered: 04-20-03
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Amy could have tried harder to talk Zach into going, but making him go would not have been a good solution.
I agree with the original statement. Zach seems to be sabotaging his present because he has very big reservations about his future. I think he's full of turmoil now that he's realizing how he didn't prepare himself academically to deal with life after high school, and it is with his brain that he's more likely to find success.
He and Jeremy seem to be growing apart more and more. Jeremy's been tattling on him, expressing opposing views to Zach in front of his parents (siding with the parent/s), disengaging from discussions that he might once have joined in on with Zach. I would think that this rift with his twin might be more upsetting to him right now than Mike's death.
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Senior Member
Registered: 10-20-09
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Rorie, I think you make some valid points. How can we really know what causes Zach to be so immature, disrespectful and unmotivated? Is it fear or the result of over indulgence by his parents? Is he paralyzed with fear or just plain lazy? I don't know. I suspect some of both.
I do think it is rather ironic that the show's premise is about two little people, Amy and Matt, who "can do anything average sized people do, but in a different way."(from opening theme of the show.) The program has showcased how Amy and Matt have not let their size or health hold them down. Despite those challenges, they have perservered and have obtained much success.
Then we have Zach. Is he the example of a little person who will not overcome his challenges? Is the the exception to the rule? Maybe it's too soon to write him off. Perhaps he will find his nitch and get in line with his role: Little person who overcomes challenges and succeeds despite being over indulged by his parents and growing up in he shadow of his twin brother. Now that's a show.
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Senior Member
Registered: 11-02-07
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Zach has thrown these temper tantrums since the show began, long before Mike's death. There is NO excuse for Zach's behavior. Yes, he's a dwarf, yes it's horrible and unfair, but that does not excuse his behavior.
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Junior Member
Registered: 12-13-08
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Amy has helped to create what Zach has become--by constantly indulging him and babying him to fulfill her own "need to be needed" as she herself stated.
Who can forget the SAT test episode where she lamented about them not acting their age and being responsible even as she ran around trying to wake them up and get them ready. Or dragging Zach to a college interview where he was clearly rude and inattentive.
Jeremy has been able to overcome this babying by his confidence and charisma--I am pretty sure he will make something wonderful of his life even though he is not the scholarly type.
I agree with the vast number of posters here who saw the whole BVI thing as an example of Amy needing to manipulate her kids as a weapon in her struggle to hold onto them and to slow down and stymie Matt (who admittedly can be quite over controlling at times.)
The sad thing is that this is just what Zach doesn't need if he is ever to grow up and leave the nest-- and to become more than a "know it all" narrator for his family's TV show.
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Junior Member
Registered: 10-14-08
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quote: Originally posted by pamajama:
Amy has helped to create what Zach has become--by constantly indulging him and babying him to fulfill her own "need to be needed" as she herself stated.
Who can forget the SAT test episode where she lamented about them not acting their age and being responsible even as she ran around trying to wake them up and get them ready. Or dragging Zach to a college interview where he was clearly rude and inattentive.
Jeremy has been able to overcome this babying by his confidence and charisma--I am pretty sure he will make something wonderful of his life even though he is not the scholarly type.
I agree with the vast number of posters here who saw the whole BVI thing as an example of Amy needing to manipulate her kids as a weapon in her struggle to hold onto them and to slow down and stymie Matt (who admittedly can be quite over controlling at times.)
The sad thing is that this is just what Zach doesn't need if he is ever to grow up and leave the nest-- and to become more than a "know it all" narrator for his family's TV show.
You hit the nail on the head with this post. Zach,teacher?? Its good to dream. |
Senior Member
Registered: 08-18-08
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I've seen people completely change from age 18 to 25. It's not impossible. I hope Zach finds someone to help guide him.
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Senior Member
Registered: 11-22-07
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People said Jeremy would never graduate from high school...that his g/f was due to deliver soon..all kinds of speculation spoken as fact; and most of such proves in the long run to be just spun up out of thin air.
If it's good to dream, then I guess it's also good to not claim to predict the future.
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Senior Member
Registered: 04-15-08
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Mint -- true, true.
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Junior Member
Registered: 03-23-03
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I was thinking the same thing. It's like he wants to stay in high school and play soccer the rest of his life. I also noticed when he went on the college 'tours' and the one coach asked him what he wanted to do and the coach mentioned that he couldn't play on a college team, but might get into coaching and Zach agreed and said he'd like to become a coach. I never noticed him wanting to do that in previous episodes.
I think by failing, he won't be able to get in any college and can then stay on the farm near his mother.
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