Cobra Kai Season 4 Review

Wow, I haven't posted here in six months. I should have talked about this show earlier but I don't think I have enough space or time to go over how great this show is. I am not all about violence or action shows but I do sometimes like action movies. I did grow up with the Karate Kid movies. I love how Cobra Kai balances comedy and drama, and not everyone is a clear-cut hero or villain. But one thing we can agree with is almost everyone has been a bully (except for maybe Miguel and Demetri--if not on purpose). For those who have not seen the show, it was on YouTube Red but now on Netflix. It is set years after the original Karate Kid movies. Karate Kid was about Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) being trained by Mr. Miyagi, a Japanese martial artist that was like his father figure. His rival was Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who started it as the protagonist in Cobra Kai. Daniel has been pretty successful in running a car dealership with his wife and they have two children Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro). While Johnny, unfortunately, has not been so lucky, having an estranged son Robby (Tanner Buchanan), living single in a rotting apartment, and being a caveman stuck in the 80's. There will be spoilers ahead if you haven't seen the season. 

 

SPOILERS AHEAD

Season 4's premise is that Ying and Yang have joined forces... I mean Daniel and Johnny, who are basically day and night, or The Odd Couple. One is neat and the other not so neat. One practices defense and meditation while the other doesn't---he basically has his students beat each other up and jump between building roofs. It goes stupendously bad as imagined. Johnny and Daniel quit almost every episode and the kids actually get along and want to work under both sensei. Some critics have said this season has been holding back a bit. It does seem at times they are holding back to expand the universe and keep stuff for season 5. Even Xolo Mariduena (Miguel) has expressed he thought season 4 would be last but Netflix has renewed for Season 5 and they are currently shooting it, even shooting in Puerto Rico. Cobra Kai has exclusively shot in Georgia, except for some parts in California for movie legacy locations and Japan for Season 3. That being said, I did like this season I don't see the writing waning at all, it is still crisp. 

The secret is keeping things fresh and this season definitely has. The first three seasons deal with the circle of violence, the cycle of non-bullies becoming bullies and bullies becoming non-bullies and it going around and around again. This is more evident with newcomer Kenny (Dallas Dupree) and Anthony. Kenny is a sweet new kid but he is quickly bullied and tormented by Anthony (who Johnny finally comments on Anthony's weight loss). Kenny goes for help---ending up at Cobra Kai with Robbie, who takes him under his wing. Robbie, at first didn't want to join Cobra Kai but ends up doing so, wanting to get revenge on his father Johnny, Sam, and Daniel. Spoilers of course and Robbie ends up creating a monster. But going back to Anthony, Daniel finally trains his son and learns he created a monster as well. Daniel realizes he can't deal with him like he does with his other students and probably unintentionally learned something from Johnny. It is a harrowing scene where Daniel has to be threatening to his son, later his wife gives credit to Mr. Miyagi but Daniel doesn't correct her. 

Another thing I like is the attention has been given to the women this season. Sam needs help with dealing with Tory (Peyton List) so she goes to Aisha (Nicole Brown)--who gives a special guest appearance, since last appearing in season 2. Aisha gives her solid advice, to make friends and be peaceful, reusing the advice Johnny gave her (Strike First). The subversion is that Sam misinterprets this. Sam ends up striking first and attacking Tory instead of making amends. Tory is made more three-dimensional by actually trying to change. Amanda (Courtney Henggler) actually gets through to her and tries helping her but Sam is not so forgiving. Amanda has Tory agree not to harm Sam in the final battle. A lot of focus is given to the women's final in the tournament at the season finale. I like that we spend more time in the tournament, in 2 episodes. Speaking about women---Unfortunately, Moon (Hannah Kepple) and Yasmine (Annalisa Cochrane) only appear for glorified cameos. More girls are even added to the schools--Devon (Oona O'Brien) and Piper (Selah Austria) respecively. I am almost done and I haven't mentioned Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith). I never saw Karate Kid 3 but from what get from the flashbacks, he was a crazy dude. Here is a charismatic shark, not exactly the subordinate Kreese wants. 

As for the cycle of violence, it does get repetitive. This season there are some beats that did seem old and used like Miguel hurting himself once again. The great parts have to be Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) and Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo). For sure Demetri has gotten taller and much more confident (especially with his girlfriend Yasmine) and he has become less annoying. Hawk has his own mini-arc which is great to kept at a minimum. Hawk and Demetri can easily be saved for a spin-off in college. 

Genera+ion/Elite/HSMTMTS Review and LGBT Reflection

 It's been a while since I have posted on Spanengrish Ramblings, that is an understatement. I have been binge-watching a couple of Teen shows and decided to compare them. Some have been reviewed to death and one has not been. The three shows I am comparing are Genera+ion, Elite, and High School Musical the Musical the Series. One series is much more serious than the others. Two are more of comedies. I am also concerning on how LGBT characters and issues are handled in all three series. Also, Genera+ion and Elite both deal with sexuality more openly, and many of the characters are fluid and switch partners, not depending on gender. 

Premises
Genera+ion streams on HBO Max. It has not been praised enough. It follows teenagers at a school and many are LGBT and or experimenting with their sexuality. The show unapologetically explores the characters and relationships. It has a cavalcade of characters. 

Elite streams on Netflix. It is from Spain, it gets dubbed in English and created by Elite. Elite premiered 4 years prior. It follows rich kids at a prestigious high school with murder, drugs, lies, and the usual teen drama. The series started with 2 gay characters and 1 bisexual character. Soon it blossomed into 3 more bisexual characters and one more gay character.

High School Musical the Musical the Series streams on Disney Plus. It takes place in the school where High School Musical was shot and about the drama club and they performed High School The Musical. It is a comedy. The first season introduced two gay characters and then their relationship is being explored more in season two.

LGBT 
Genera+ion is LGBT all over, that it even has a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)---which the characters explain is old school. There are about 12 main characters they balance around. Instead of saying how many LGBT characters there are, it is better to just saw which ones have mainly been in heterosexual relationships and there are 4 characters (Naomi, Deliah, J, and Arianna). On top of it that Deliah (Lukita Maxwell) is non-binary and J probably is too but they have mostly been in heterosexual relationships. Genera+ion has been compared to Euphoria but it is much more positive and leans towards comedy than Euphoria does. 

The breakout main character Chester (Justice Smith) is openly gay and flamboyant. Smith does a great job as him, he completely understands this character and embodies it. His storyline is he falls for his school counselor who is also out Sam (Nathan Stewart-Jarret) and later meet-cute D&D geek Bo (Marwan Salama). My favorite characters have to be Riley (Chase Sui Wonders) and Greta (Haley Sanchez), their characters are so sweet and real. Greta is Mexican-American, she is a sweet, quiet, and polite girl whose mother is overwhelming and strict. She has a crush on Riley, a cool girl whose mother has a very uncommon strange story. You have to just watch it to understand it. What is strange is that I didn't even know Greta's aunt was actually a transgender actress Nava Mau (Ana), it is not even referenced until episode 14. Another standout is Martha Plimpton playing Megan, another mother she plays having issues with her son's sexual orientation. But Plimpton is a pro and even if her dialogue can make someone angry, she delivers such passion and legitimacy to her role. 

Elite starts out with the sweet story of Omar (Omar Ayuso) and Ander (Aron Piper). Omar, the child of Muslim immigrants, he has a conflict with his dad but not because of his sexuality but of his strict upbringing. Polo (Alvaro Rico) is later revealed to be bisexual and has a threesome with his girlfriend and a guy. Actually, there are a lot of threesomes in Elite and there is a lot of guys. Polo is in actually in two of the three threesomes. Then we have seemingly bisexual Valerio (Jorge Lopez) who mixes in with Polo and his new girlfriend. I don't say many names because of spoilers. Then in Season 4, a character was straight, then gets in a relationship with another girl, both never been with a girl before. Also in season 4, Patrick (Manu Rios) mixes in with Omar and Ander. 

High School Musical the Musical the Series only has so far two gay characters. Carlos (Frankie A. Rodriguez) and Seb (Joe Serafini) go out on a date in season 1. This is a big deal because there not many LGBT characters on Disney +. Love, Victor was supposed to be on Disney + and then moved over to Hulu, so it is clear they were hesitant to have any LGBT characters in Disney +. Frankie and Joe are even in a relationship in real life. In Season 2, Seb throws a birthday party for Carlos in his farmhouse and they call it a Quinceanero instead of the quinceanera. They only kiss once and in that same episode.

Reviews
I definitely recommend watching Genera+ion, it is a great show. Elite on the other hand is a cup of tea, it depends if you can stomach teenagers being irresponsible and death. If you want to see hot boys and don't care for plot, then watch Elite. HSMTMTS is sweet and everything is okay--kind of series. So if you can put up with cute saccharine stuff, then watch HSMTMTS.

Saved by the Bell: Zack's Crimes - Season 4

Everyone says Zack Morris has done heinous crimes. Now that there is a revival coming to Peacock, I decided to go over the old Saved by The Bell episodes (no Good Morning Miss Bliss and no College Years) and review his crimes, misdemeanors, or just plain unfriendliness.

Season 4 (Season 5 according to Hulu)

(order according to this link, not by TV airings or Hulu order)

https://inspiredrd.com/2020/05/saved-by-the-bell-correct-order/

Hawaiian Style

The gang goes to Hawaii to Kelly's grandfather's hotel and help run it as a rival chain is trying to muscle him out. Hijinks ensue.

Jailbait: No matter how old the lawyer Brian is, Kelly is still a teenager and I doubt Harry would hire a teen lawyer. 

Lies: Lies and pranks with the gang to manipulate Belding and the principals out of the hotel to the Hideaway. 

Actions: Exterminator impersonator, lying, stranding hotel guests in the ocean on a small boat, forging documents, forcing Mr. Belding to impersonate a professor and other schemes.

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

[This TV movie was filmed after the graduation but aired before it, that's why the cast looks older here.]

[I split them up by episodes with Jessie and Kelly and others with Tori.]

5.1 The Fight 

September 12, 1992

Zack and Slater's friendship is put to the test when they both fall for the same girl, creating a nasty love triangle. When the girl accepts separate dates with Zack and Slater, they crash each other's date with her, which leads to a brutal fistfight between the two in the school hallway. In a subplot; Lisa, as a senior, finds herself in an awkward situation when she finds out that her date for the Senior Kick-Off party is only a freshman.

Cheating: Giving answers to the new girl.

Lies: Hires an actress to be his mom and gets Screech to bother Slater at the movies as an usher.

Assessment: A bad friend to Slater.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

5.5 The Bayside Triangle 

September 26, 1992
Zack helps Lisa put on a fashion show to impress a visiting recruiter from FIT, the fashion school in which Lisa is interested after graduation. However, Zack and Lisa soon start to fall for each other after they share a passionate kiss at Lisa's house, where Zack was trying on an outfit Lisa designed. 

Good friend Meter: He vouches for Screech and encourages him to go after Lisa

Assessment: He hurts Screech's feelings inadvertently. Zack is willing to give up Lisa for Screech.

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

[Zack is pretty much the Black Widow of Saved By The Bell. Mark-Paul and Lark were actually in a real relationship for the majority of the series.] 

5.3 Screech’s Spaghetti Sauce

September 19, 1992
After introducing the gang to his grandmother's spaghetti sauce, which they go onto sell, Screech begins to date Robin (Soleil Moon Frye), a rich and pretty girl at school. However, the gang discovers what Robin is really up to, and to make matters worse, they also discover that Screech's grandmother got her spaghetti sauce recipe from a cookbook, forcing them to stop their business.

Lying and stealing: Zack steals beakers and other school recipes worth $1500 to sell the sauce.

Impersonation: Impersonating a buyer of the sauce

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10

5.9 Wrestling With The Future

October 10, 1992

Slater and his dad argue over whether he should join a military academy or go to college, and Jessie fears for her college chances after becoming a cheerleader.

Impersonating Slater and bribery: In order to blow his interview--which gets them detained by the government

Assessment: He did it for Slater. 

Bad Friend Meter: 4/10

5.2 Student-Teacher Week 

September 12, 1992
The gang switches roles with the teachers during Student-Teacher week with Zack acting as principal, and Kelly as a history teacher. However, things go wrong when Zack is caught in the middle between Kelly and Slater and must decide what the right thing to do is.

Manipulating: Manipulates Kelly into canceling a test

Gambling: Bet on a game

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

5.12 Isn’t It Romantic? 

October 24, 1992

It is Valentine's Day and the gang reminisces about past romances through clips from past episodes.

Assessment: no schemes, just clips, and kisses.

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10

5.17 The Senior Prom

November 7, 1992
The senior prom is coming up and the gang needs to raise money in order for it to happen. However, things go wrong when Zack finds out that Kelly has a date to the prom and sabotages it by telling her would-be date Matt that her family is violent to her boyfriends, thereby scaring her date away. This is also the rare episode where Lisa asks Screech to the prom. 

Lying: Zack tells her would-be date (Andrew Bowen) lies.

Assessment: Lying to her would-be date is pretty bad.

Bad Friend Meter: 7/10

5.15 The Teacher’s Strike 

October 31, 1992

The gang hurts their chances of winning the academic championship after causing a teacher's strike so they can go on a ski trip. 

Schemes: Zack and Slater trick Belding to record something for an interview which he uses against the teachers to do the strike. Makes Lisa, Jessie, and Slater mad there is no academic bowl.

Other Scheme: Slater tricks the Valley team by telling them to concentrate on football.

[Kelly is not present for this episode so that's why Jessie is working at the Max.]

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

5.4 The New Girl 

September 19, 1992
A new student, a biker girl named Tori (Leanna Creel), is paired with Zack for a school project, but Zack and Tori do not exactly hit it off well at first.

Whining: Upset that Tori has taken his space when student parking spaces aren't enforced.

Bad Team collaboration: Zack and Tori don't get along as a team.

Assessment: He is a jerk to Tori for pretty much the whole episode.

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10

5.6 Teen-Line 

September 26, 1992
After participating in a teen hot-line for the senior class, Zack becomes close to a disabled girl Melissa. Meanwhile, Screech has to take on a rambunctious boy.

Bad advice: Zack gives bad advice to Melissa to turn back the clock at home. Also reacts badly to Melissa being handicapable. "Even though she is handicap" comes up. 

Doesn't follow rules: Supposed to not ask for personal info but meets Melissa.

Assessment: Tori says it perfectly when she says, "She rather be your friend than your cause."

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10

5.16 Slater’s Sister 

October 31, 1992
Zack falls for Slater's sister, but when Slater finds out, he cannot bear his sister being on the receiving end of Zack's womanizing and tries to break them up.

[Ginger is pretty much the 6th member as she is every of the Tori episodes and even works for the Max.]

Assessment: Dating JB does make AC upset since they are friends.

Bad Friend Meter: 4/10

5.7 Masquerade Ball 

October 3, 1992
The masquerade ball is approaching and Zack and Slater both plan to kiss Tori, but she finds out and refuses to see either one. At the ball, Zack reveals that he wanted to lose the bet because he could not bear hurting Tori. 

Betting: Zack and Slater beat on who will kiss Tori first. He doesn't want to kiss her when he discovers he likes her. 

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10

 5.10 Drinking and Driving 

October 10, 1992
After getting drunk at a party and crashing Lisa's mother's car on the way home, Zack and the gang learn the worst thing about drinking and driving: having to face the music from their enraged parents.

Crime: DUI, underage drinking

Scams: Charges per letter on Slater's jersey to fix the car

Lies: Lies to Lisa's mom and his dad about the car, Lisa does the same, they both get in trouble

Bad Friend Meter: 8/10

5.21 Earthquake!

November 21, 1992

Tori, Zack, and Mrs. Belding get stuck in an elevator during an earthquake, but things get worse when Mr. Belding's wife goes into labor.

Gambling: Betting when will Belding's baby be born

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10

5.14 The Will 

October 24, 1992
A favorite student dies and leaves $10,000 in his will resulting in the guys and the girls fighting over who should get the money.

Jerk: Slater and Zack say girl's sports shouldn't get the money and form the boys team to go against the girl's team in a battle of the sexes.

Cheating: Exchanges oven nobs to girl's team for them to lose. He and Slater later admit the team.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

5.11 Class Rings

October 17, 1992
Zack is tricked into buying fake rings by a salesman after he is appointed to buy them for everyone in the graduating class. In the end, the salesman gets Zack and Slater the real rings after Screech confronts him.

Scams: Gets rings from a bad salesman

Lies: Lies to Screech that he has a broken heart about Tori.

Assessment: Not his fault the rings were faulty.

Bad Friend Meter: 4/10

 5.24 School Song

November 22, 1992

The gang begins to compete against one another when Bayside holds a contest for who can write the best school song. Zack decides he wants to be remembered for something positive and so begins to sabotage everyone else so that he can win, but later regrets it.

Sabotages: Sabotages the other guys' songs.

Bad Friend Meter: 7/10

5.8 Day of Detention

October 3, 1992
In order to win a trip to Hawaii, Zack needs to get out of detention, but in an attempt to get him out, everyone else ends up in detention as well.

Lies: Lies to his friends for them to help him.

Crimes: Rigging of phone lines

Authority Defiance: Skipping school

Bad Friend Meter: 4/10

 5.26 Graduation 

May 22, 1993

With graduation day approaching, Zack discovers he needs to gain one more credit to graduate. This results in Zack having to be in dance class and perform in the ballet to get his last credit. However, she soon realizes how much valedictorian really means to Screech when Lisa wisely tells her that he puts others before him.

Lies: He paid Big Pete to bow out of the ballet. He lies to Mr. Belding that he can dance. 

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10

[This was shot before the Tori episodes and Hawaii movie.]

5.25 The Time Capsule

December 5, 1992
In 2003, the latest class finds a time capsule on video, so Belding plays it for them. They discover that it's footage of Zack and the old gang with highlights of the ups and downs they went through (through clips from past episodes).

Bad Friend Meter: Zack only appears in clips.

Season Meter: 81/100

This season crimes include skipping school, rigging phone lines, lying, cheating, stealing, bribery, impersonation, manipulations, and scheming for teachers to strike so he could go skiing.

Overall Series Assessment:

His most heinous crimes would be pimping out Lisa to receive unwanted kisses for money, selling tapes of girls with their numbers without permission, taking pictures of the swim team, and selling as a calendar without permission and stealing the Principal's car and endangering the lives of two students. Apparently, his good deeds to outnumber his bad ones.

Saved by the Bell: Zack's Crimes - Season 3

Everyone says Zack Morris has done heinous crimes. Now that there is a revival coming to Peacock, I decided to go over the old Saved by The Bell episodes (no Good Morning Miss Bliss and no College Years) and review his crimes, misdemeanors, or just plain unfriendliness.

Season 3 (Season 4 according to Hulu)

(order according to this link, not by TV airings or Hulu order)

https://inspiredrd.com/2020/05/saved-by-the-bell-correct-order/

5.18 The Video Yearbook 

November 7, 1992

The gang decides to make a video version of the annual high school yearbook, but Zack has other ideas and decides to use it as a money-making scheme to sell dating videos made from the video clips. However, Zack regrets his plan after Screech mistakenly includes Kelly on the video and she starts receiving calls from other guys.

Exploiting girls, Soliciting, and Selling Private Information: Zack sells dating videos without the people's permission and handing out phone numbers. He does this for a car.

Impersonates a girl

Bad Friend Meter: 9/10 😡

5.20 Snow White and the Seven Dorks 

November 14, 1992

The gang puts on a rap version of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". However, when Jessie and Zack find out they have to kiss in the last scene, they start to wonder if they are more than friends and question their feelings for each other (falling out with Kelly and Slater in the process). In the end, Jessie remains with Slater, while Zack rekindles his love for Kelly.

Actions: Kisses Jessie but then assesses that he really loves Kelly and that he is just friends with Jessie. 

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10 😊

4.1 The Last Dance

September 14, 1991
In order to afford a costume for the school's costume ball, Kelly gets a job working at The Max. However, as Kelly spends more time working with her boss Jeff Hunter (Patrick Muldoon), she falls for him and may have to tell Zack that their relationship is over.

Kelly's family: She says 9 people in her family, in a previous episode she said 7 in her family.

Lies: Tries to lie to Jeff about Kelly

Assessment: Jeff kisses her and she likes it. Kelly calls Zack "Jeff" and she dumps him, the fault is all on her in this episode. Does she get points off for crying? I can't stop crying.

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

 4.3 The Aftermath 

September 21, 1991

After catching Kelly and Jeff together at the movies, Zack retaliates by dating other girls and trying to make Kelly jealous.

Retaliation: Retaliates by dating Screech's cousin at the Max and plays their song with Kelly, tells Lisa to disinvite Kelly to her party.

Lies: Lies to Screech's cousin

Authority Defiance: Trashes the hallway, Defiant to Mr. Belding

Assessments: His friends were nice enough to find him blind dates but then he is a jerk to them.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10 😐

4.10 Fake I.D.’s 

October 19, 1991

Zack falls for a college girl and offers to change Danielle's tire, lies about his age and then makes fake IDs so that he, Slater, and Screech can sneak into The Attic, an over-18 nightclub and spot Jeff with another girl.

Lying: Lied to his mom where he would be and snuck out

Crime: Illegal fake ID, entering the club underage

Authority Defiance: Sleeping in class

Assessment: He is actually truthful to Kelly but defiant to his mom.

Bad Son Meter: 7/10 😠

4.2 Zack’s Birthday 

September 14, 1991
The gang takes summer jobs at a beach resort but has trouble dealing with their boss Mr. Carosi. Meanwhile, Zack hits on the boss' daughter Stacey (Leah Remini). However, Stacy's arrogant attitude toward Zack leads him to have second thoughts--especially when Carosi leaves Stacy in charge and she lets the job go to her head.

Jerk: Zack calls Stacey's dad a jerk in front of her.

Schemes: Zack sells hot fogs on the public beach in order to become a waiter.

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10 😁

[These episodes at the Malibu Sands resort aired the same day as Bayside episodes but I consider them part of their own arc. Plus that Zack and Kelly already broke up at this point. I don't remember this arc being so short.]

4.4 The Game 

September 21, 1991
Zack bets Mr. Carosi (Ernie Sabella) that if he wins a volleyball game, Zack can buy his car. However, Zack's team is short of a player when the star player Gary is injured. Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy) guest stars as Tad.

Lies: He tells Carosi that his volleyball team can win.

Blackmail: He blackmails Carosi for the car and niceness.

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10 😍

4.6 Fourth of July 

October 12, 1991

The annual Fourth of July beauty pageant at the beach resort is taking place, and Zack is selected as one of the judges. However, he is put under pressure when Carosi tells him that he wants Zack to choose Stacey no matter what it takes.

Soliciting dates from potential contestants 

Assessment: Screech makes Stacey believe Zack wants to get back with Kelly. But Zack didn't actually do anything bad in this episode, it is all on Mr. Carosi. 

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

[Screech mentions Kelly broke up with Zack, meaning these episodes take place after the episodes taking place in school.]

4.9 Boss Lady 

October 19, 1991

When her father goes away, Stacey is left in charge of the resort. However, she cannot manage by herself so the gang pitches in to help her when things go wrong: gold fever hits the beach, someone accidentally booked two parties at the same time, and the chef decides to quit.

Authority Defiance: Imitates his boss

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10 😍

4.8 My Boyfriend’s Back

October 5, 1991
Zack and the gang enter the annual ATV race. Meanwhile, Zack feels inferior when Stacey's ex-boyfriend Craig shows up at the beach resort from Boston.

Assessment: He gets upset that Stacey doesn't tell him about Craig.

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

 4.12 The Last Weekend 
October 26, 1991

Stacey and her father fight over Zack, Kelly gets hit on by an 11-year-old, Slater meets a girl (Denise Richards), and the whole staff builds an enormous sandcastle. In the end, even Mr. Carosi realizes that goodbyes are hard.

Tricks: Tricks Mr. Carosi and Stacey to talk to each other again during a photo.

Assessment: Carosi finds out about Zack and his daughter. Zack is left heartbroken after Stacey leaves.

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

4.23 Cut Day 

December 7, 1991
Jessie and her new friend Graham protest the use of polystyrene foam cups at their school. Meanwhile, Zack dodges Belding after betting against Slater that he will be able to ditch all of his classes for Cut Day.

Authority Defiance and Betting: Skips class repeatedly and bets with Slater

Assessment: He is actually a good friend and tries for Jessie and Slater not to spot they are falling for other people. 

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

4.13-14 The Wicked Stepbrother Parts 1 & 2
November 2, 1991

Jessie meets her new stepbrother, Eric, who uses blackmail to get his way. Eric takes a liking to Lisa, and Zack and Slater decide to get their revenge on Eric by setting him up to get caught driving Mr. Belding's convertible while on a date with Lisa. Things go awry, however, when Eric lets Lisa drive the car and she crashes.

Skipping School and lying: He lies about being Jewish and skips school for a baseball game

Actions: Lying, Gambling, vehicular endangerment, stealing the principal's car, endangers the lives of Lisa and Eric

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10 😐

4.15 Date Auction

November 9, 1991

A "date auction" is held by the school to raise money for new cheerleading uniforms. Jessie is not keen on the idea of a "meat market," and forbids the girls to bid on Slater. Meanwhile, when an overweight girl bids on Zack and wins, he has to deal with the consequences when she finds out that he has been making excuses to avoid going out with her. 

Lies: He lies to his date to avoid going out with her because she is overweight.

Assessment: This episode catches a lot of fat-shaming attention but Zack doesn't actually say the word but we already know why he is avoiding her. 

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10 😐

 4.20 Hold Me Tight 

November 23, 1991

Zack falls for a new girl named Kristy who wants to become part of the wrestling team, but is barred from the team because of her gender. The gang decides to help her out, but Jessie soon regrets it when Kristy makes the team and becomes "too friendly" with Slater. 

Assessment: The way he treats Kristy after she saves him from a Valley punk because he felt emasculated. He tries breaking up with her.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10 😐

4.17 S.A.T.’s 

November 16, 1991

Jessie's chances of getting into her dream college are hurt when she scores 1205 on the SAT, while Zack scores an unlikely 1502. Christine Taylor plays a girl Zack likes. 

Schemes: Hires actor to play a Harvard college rep to convince a Stansbury college rep to go for Jessie. Hires actor to trick Belding into giving him less work.

Assessment: He just tried to help out Jessie so he's not a bad friend in this one. 

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10 😁

3.5 Operation Zack/The Surgery

September 28, 1991
Zack sprains his knee before the big basketball game, and while in the hospital learns that Lisa is a part-time candy-striper, a job that her mom, a surgeon at the hospital, apparently helped her to get. However, Zack also learns that he will need surgery to repair his knee and worries that it may go wrong, but Lisa assures him that everything will be fine, especially since her mom will be performing the surgery.

Actions: Tries to escape the hospital

Assessment: He is not exactly a bad friend here.

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10 😍

 5.11 Love Machine

October 17, 1992

Slater's ex-girlfriend comes to Bayside and Screech and Kelly's love machine shows that she and Slater still have feelings for each other, much to the annoyance and devastation of Jessie.

Manipulation: Zack manipulates Slater into dating Jennifer so he could date Jessie and convince her it is over between him and Jennifer. Zack gets Jessie his date with Jennifer. Screech reveals to Jennifer about the date. 

Scheme: Senior discount with dressed as seniors.

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10 😁

 4.24-25 Home For Christmas Parts 1 & 2

December 7 - 14, 1991

Zack falls for a girl who works at the mall but is unaware that she is homeless. Meanwhile, the gang is busy getting ready for their production of "A Christmas Carol". Zack discovers the true identity of the homeless girl, Laura, and her boss accuses her of stealing a sports coat. This leads to her being fired from her job, prompting the gang to persuade her boss to let her come back. 

Good Points: Gives money to Laura's dad.

Bad Points: Calls Laura's dad a whine-o. Complains about early volunteer work. 

Assessment: For Christmas and dating a homeless girl, he ends up being a good boy.

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

4.7 Check Your Mate 

October 5, 1991
With the annual chess competition between Bayside and their rival Valley approaching, Valley decides to get some dirt on Screech, the school's chess champion. Things turn ugly when Valley steals Screech's lucky beret given to him by Violet. Meanwhile, Zack and Slater try to pull the old switcheroo with Valley's chess jock, a Russian exchange student.

Gambling: Bets with Valley punks.

Kidnapping and Impersonation: Kidnapped the Russian and dressed up as him

Assessment: He did it for Screech but also for his bet.

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10 😊

4.11 Pipe Dreams

October 26, 1991

When the school strikes oil, the kids go crazy for it after they find out how much the well is worth. However, they soon realize the costs outweigh the benefits.
Accident: Hits Becky the duck on the head with a baseball

Invasion of Privacy: Apparently Screech and Zack drilled a hole into the girl's locker room in a "noodle incident" (off-screen)

Lies: Lies to Jessie he will read her research on oil

Actions: Sprays oil on an oil tycoon

Assessment: Pretty good friend to his friends and Becky the duck

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10 😍

 4.18-19 Palm Springs Weekend Parts 1 & 2

November 16-23, 1991

Jessie and the gang are invited to her father's wedding, which is being held at the luxury hotel that her father manages. Jessie is displeased that her father is marrying a much younger woman. Meanwhile, Slater goes on a date with a royal princess, Zack and Kelly begin to rethink their relationship.

Lies: Lies about being on the aerobics team to Mr. Spano's fiance. 

Assessment: Helps Jessie get to the wedding. Jessie is the one at fault here.

Bad friend meter: 1/10 😍

5.22 Best Summer of My Life 

November 21, 1992
Zack takes a day off of school and reminisces, through clips from the Malibu Sands and Palm Springs episodes, about the time he and the gang spent in Malibu Sands and Palm Springs.

Actions: Skips school, says he's sick.

[This aired a year after the Malibu Sands arc and was a clip show. This mentions Kelly and Jessie but they aren't present, probably shot before the Tori episodes.]

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

 4.21 No Hope With Dope

November 30, 1991

Bayside is chosen by a Hollywood teen idol movie star as the location to shoot an anti-drug commercial. The gang later feels deceived after learning that the star himself uses drugs and pressures Kelly to try pot as well. 

Assessment: Zack gets Kelly out of taking drugs with the movie star

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

 4.26 Mystery Weekend 

December 21, 1991

The gang visits a mansion for a murder mystery weekend after winning a competition. However, a real murder attempt is made on the host who soon goes missing, and the gang has to find out who is responsible.

Assessment: Not much then his usual conning here and there. He is framed for stealing prize money and murder. His past crimes (stole principal's car, fake I.D.'s, dognapping, and a noodle incident of tying Screech to rollercoaster).

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10 😍

4.22 Rockumentary 

November 30, 1991

Casey Kasem tells the story of how Zack's band, "The Zack Attack," got together and their rise to fame.

Bad Friend: Quits Zack Attack but this is just a dream. I guess it is still an assessment of Zack's character.

Bad Friend Meter: 8/10 😠

4.16 All in the Mall 

November 9, 1991

After a failed attempt to buy tickets to the U2 concert, Zack and the gang find $5,000 abandoned at the mall, but things do not work out when the gang is chased by mobsters around the mall.

Schemes: His idea to use the money found to buy more tickets and make a profit causing the gang to stay overnight and run from the mobsters.

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10 😐

Season meter: 71/100

Giving there are more episodes (30) this season than season 1 (20) and 2 (17), it seems to be like two separate seasons--there is more evidence for his behavior. They aired 2 episodes per Saturday and had some episodes air on Sunday. Zack was actually good in 16 episodes. His crimes here include lying, gambling, impersonation, trying to use money found to buy more tickets and make a profit out of it, soliciting private information without permission, authority defiance, stealing the principal's car, skipping school, endangering two teenagers in a car accident, lying to avoid a date with an overweight girl, and trying to break up with his girl when he feels emasculated.

Saved by the Bell: Zack's Crimes - Season 2

Everyone says Zack Morris has done heinous crimes. Now that there is a revival coming to Peacock, I decided to go over the old Saved by The Bell episodes (no Good Morning Miss Bliss and no College Years) and review his crimes, misdemeanors, or just plain unfriendliness.

(order according to this link, not by TV airings or Hulu order)

https://inspiredrd.com/2020/05/saved-by-the-bell-correct-order/

Season 2 (or by Hulu, Season 3)

"Screech's Birthday"

Original Airdate: November 14, 1992

The gang forgets Screech's birthday and try to make it up to him by throwing him a late birthday party in Belding's office.

Actions: The gang forgets Screech's birthday. He gets the first hall monitor in trouble to get Screech the job. Takes over Mr. Belding office.

Assessment: Forgets Screech's Birthday but makes up for it. 

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

"Blind Dates"

Original Airdate: October 13, 1990

Mr. Belding's niece Penny is in town, and he forces Zack to take her out. Zack, however, wants to attend Kelly's party instead, so he makes Screech pretend to be him and take Penny out. Meanwhile, Lisa finds a date for Jessie, but Jessie is too self-conscious about her height to have a good time.

Blackmail: Mr. Belding blackmails Zack 

Lies: Has Screech impersonate him to Penny on a date. Also doesn't let Kelly know about the date he was promised to. Slater also lies to Screech to get Zack in trouble. 

Bad Friend Meter: 4/10

"The Prom"

Original Airdate: September 8, 1990

When Zack gets to go to Prom with Kelly his dream seems to be fulfilled. However, Kelly finds out that her father has lost his job, causing a financial hardship that makes her unable to make it to the prom; but Zack makes it up to her in the end. 

Assessment: Initially hurt by Kelly. Does the right thing at the end and gives Kelly a picnic.

Kelly's family: We meet her dad, she says it is a family of 7 but then in a later episode she says she is one of 7 kids, so wouldn't it be a family of 9 (including parents)?

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

"From Nurse to Worse"

Original Airdate: December 15, 1990

Zack asks Kelly to go steady with him, but while she is thinking it over, he falls for a new student (Nancy Valen), only to discover that she is actually the new school nurse. Meanwhile, Slater is afraid of getting his flu shot.

Actions: Zack blows off Kelly for the new nurse. Pretty shitty boyfriend to her. 

Kelly's Family: We hear one of Kelly's little brothers. That's 2 of 7 siblings.

Bad friend meter: 6/10

"Save the Max"

Original Airdate: September 22, 1990

Zack and Screech discover the room where Bayside High's radio station KKTY was housed. The station had been pulled off the air because of Mr. Belding's antics as DJ during his Bayside student days, but the gang successfully convinces him to put KKTY back on the air. Slater quits when he finds out everyone thinks he is a bad sports announcer but returns just when the gang needs him most.

Blackmail: He blackmails Mr Belding with a newspaper showing him mooning the school board.

Assessment: The group consensus is to let Slater down gently, Zack doesn't really do anything against Slater, 

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

"1-900-Crushed"

Original Airdate: November 17, 1990

Zack's new money-making idea is to give relationship advice to fellow students, with the help of Screech and Lisa. However, the plan fails when Lisa quits and he has to take over. As a result, he gives bad advice to various students, and is forced to deal with the consequences when a case of mixed-up phone calls puts Zack in the middle of Kelly and her sister.

Kelly's Family: We meet one of Kelly's younger sisters. That's 3 of 7 siblings.

Lies: Gives bad advice on a teen hotline, he breaks up Jesse and Slater, he also accidentally dumps Kelly. 

Bad Friend Meter: 7/10

Driver's Education"

Original Airdate: September 29, 1990

Fearing that Kelly would rather go steady with Slater if he learned to drive first, Zack plots to make Slater fail his driver's training. This leads to Slater having an accident in the practice car and a locker falling on Kelly. When she realizes who was behind the crash, she makes out her injury to be worse than it really is.

Lies: Has Screech call Mr. Belding like the Driver's Ed Teacher, then doesn't admit to stealing the student car. Kelly and Slater admit in the fault before he does.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

"Rent-A-Pop"

Original Airdate: October 20, 1990
In order to raise money for a school ski trip, the gang decides to organize a carnival. Zack has been failing, and Mr. Belding wants to conduct an interview between himself, Zack, and Zack's father. Not wanting Belding to call his father anymore, Zack hires an actor to impersonate his dad, but the plan backfires when the real Mr. Morris and Mr. Belding bump into each other at the carnival.

Lies: Lies to Mr. Belding about an actor he hired to be his dad.

Assessment: It's pretty bad to hire an actor to impersonate your father and lie to your father with a fake principal, even if it was possible. 

Bad Son Meter: 7/10

"Miss Bayside"

October 27, 1990

Zack and Slater make a bet on who can win the Miss Bayside Beauty Pageant and Zack bets that Screech will win. Jessie protests about the pageant and thinks that a male winner would be fair.

Lies: Zack lies about Screech's chances. Lies to everyone that Slater gave Screech a black eye, it was his robot Kevin.

Assessment: He gives the bet money back to Slater and cares for Screech

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

"Zack's War"

September 15, 1990
In order to make Zack change his ways, Mr. Belding forces Zack to join the Army Cadet Corps. Zack manages to persuade the others to join him, but he leaves them high and dry when they are not prepared for a competition.

Authority Defiance: Disrespectful to Mr. Belding

Lies: Convinces other kids to join the Cadet Corps with lies, and he quits. He refers to them as "suckers." He selects the 'best of the best' for blue team and the worse for the red, thinking the best was his. 

Bad Leader: He is mean to his red team, mocks them, and was not a good leader. 

Bribes: Tries bribing his commanding officer

Assessment: Zack admits he lied to Screech, Screech expresses his disappointment in him, he is a lousy friend here. This encourages Zack to return to the corp.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

"Model Students"

November 10, 1990

Zack convinces Belding to fire the nerds who run the school store so that the gang can reopen it as a "cool" store. Unfortunately, no one wants to come in; so as a scheme to attract customers, Zack and Screech secretly take pictures of the girls' swim team to sell in "The Girls of Bayside" calendars. A professional model photographer happens to see the calendar, and invites the girls for a professional photoshoot; but only Kelly is picked for an on-location shoot in Paris, which leaves Zack out in the cold.

Crimes: Has Screech takes unsolicited pictures of the girls and markets the calendar without their permission.

Lies: Lies and manipulates Kelly into staying and feel guilty.

Bad Friend Meter: 8/10

"Running Zack"

November 24, 1990

Zack fails his family heritage presentation. Unless he can make it up, he is off the track team. His teacher Miss Wentworth arranges a tutor for Zack named Chief Henry, who happens to be a Native American. Zack soon learns about his own Native American heritage but does not feel like going to the upcoming track rally when tragedy strikes.

Cultural Misappropriation and Cultural Insensitivity: The whole episode, so much Mark-Paul Gosselear apologized. At least the episode had its right heart as it was rare children's show that actively spoke about slavery. Shows rarely do so now on Disney Channel or Nick. 

Assessment: The worse thing he did to his friends was to use Screech as part of his racist class presentation. I give him a 3 as he makes it up with meeting Chief Henry--even though the garb he puts on later looks even more insensitive. I think Mark-Paul liked Chief Henry and the character arc there, which showed he didn't learn everything on "reservation" and in college. 

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

"House Party"

October 6, 1990

When Screech's parents leave him alone in the house while they visit Graceland, the gang accidentally breaks his mother's Elvis statue. In order to afford a replacement, they plan to hold a fund-raising party so they can hurry to get the statue before his mother returns home and finds out what happened.

Lies: Has Screech lie to his mom.

Gambling: Gambles with Violet's Ex.

Actions: Loses Screech's dog to Violet's Ex.

Bad Friend Meter: 7/10

"Jessie's Song"

November 3, 1990

Jessie turns to caffeine pills as a result of the pressure with midterms and her singing group, ignoring Slater's warning that the pills can damage her health. When Zack finds out about her problem, he cancels her performance and rushes to her side.

Lies: Has Screech dress as a female janitor to record the girls singing. (Violation of privacy)

Assessment: Zack is actually a good friend by getting Jesse some help. 

Show Lies: This episode is famous for her acting like she is on crack and it is just caffeine pills. Peter Engel claims he wrote it as Metaemphenies but the network had them change it. She didn't go to the hospital but you don't have to for caffeine. 

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

"The Fabulous Belding Boys"

December 9, 1990

The gang finds themselves in trouble when an obnoxious teacher bans them from the class field trip unless they pass a test. On the day of the test, the teacher does not show up, so Mr. Belding's younger brother, Rod, takes over and offers to take the class on a special field trip.

Assessment: No crimes or lies here.  

Bad Friend Meter: 0/10

"Glee Club"

December 23, 1990

The gang joins Screech's girlfriend Violet in the glee club in order to go to a competition in Hawaii. It seems that shy Violet is the only one with a voice, aside from Jessie (who caught Lisa's flu and is unable to sing). After Screech makes a fool of himself in front of Violet's parents, they forbid Screech to see her, and she quits the glee club. Scott Wolf (Party of Five) appears, part of the extras.

Lies: Zack records professionals and makes is it as if the Glee Club are actually singing in.

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10

3.17 Breaking Up Is Hard to Undo 

December 16, 1990

It is a bad day for couples as Zack and Kelly and Slater and Jessie respectively split up after a series of disagreements. Although neither party will be the first to apologize, they are miserable without each other. After Belding also has a tiff with his wife, the guys are left spending time with him while he is kicked out of his house, making matters worse. 

Jealously: He becomes jealous of Kelly seeing her ex-boyfriend and gives her an ultimatum. 

Belding's behavior: Spending time in Zack's room with three students with the doors closed. He even lays down on Zack's bed, which is used for the intro. Where are the parents? 

Homoerotic: Slater and Zack share an air kiss.

Assessment: Jealously is bad but he makes up for it in the end. 

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

Season Score: 66/100

I thought this one would be worse than the last season but in a lot of cases, he isn't responsible (Screech's Birthday, Save the Max, Miss Bayside, Jessie's Song, and Running Zack). To be fair there are less episodes here (16) than in the first season (20) and 3 of the first season were shown in later seasons.  In fact, "Screech's Birthday" was included in the first season DVD. His crimes include violation of privacy, lying, bribing, authority defiance, cultural misappropriation, hiring a fake dad and principal, stealing a student practice car, taking unsolicited pictures, and ruining Kelly's modeling career. 

Saved By the Bell: Zack's Crimes - Season 1

Everyone says Zack Morris has done heinous crimes. Now that there is a revival coming to Peacock, I decided to go over the old Saved by The Bell episodes (no Good Morning Miss Bliss and no College Years) and review his crimes, misdemeanors, or just plain unfriendliness.

(order according to this link, not by TV airings or Hulu order)

https://inspiredrd.com/2020/05/saved-by-the-bell-correct-order/

Season 1 (or by Hulu, Season 2)

"King of the Hill" (2.15)

Original Airing: December 9, 1989

Story: It is the first day of the school year, Slater is the new kid and Zack's rival for Kelly.

Lies: Lies to Slater about Kelly having leprosy, makes Screech lies about choking to make Kelly late for detention. 

Deals: Deals with Lisa and Screech to switch lockers and seats. 

Creepiness: Has a full poster of Kelly in his room

Authority Defiance: Touches and moves all of Mr. Belding's office belongings.

Bad Friend Meter: 2 out of 10

"Fatal Distraction" (2.4)

Original Airing: September 9, 1989

With the big dance approaching, Zack is determined to get Kelly to go with him. He goes to extreme lengths and bugs Jessie's room while the girls are having a sleepover. Unfortunately, the girls find out and decide to get their revenge by making it appear that Kelly is mentally insane.

Lies: Disguised as a stereotypical middle eastern foreign exchange student

Deals: Gives Cosmo magazines to Lisa to find out who the student body who they think Kelly will go to the big dance with. 

Crimes: Invasion of privacy, bugging Jessie's bedroom

Bad Friend Meter: 7 of 10

"Screech's Woman" (2.5)

Original Date: September 16, 1989

Screech is in desperate need of a girlfriend and Zack sets about finding him one. However, when there is not anyone willing, he dresses up as a girl and goes on a date with Screech.

Lies: Lies to Screech about Bambi and dressing in drag as Bambi

School Rules: Skipping class, talking on a phone in the bathroom

Assessment: so-so, lies to Screech but him being a good friend is debatable.

Bad Friend Meter: 5 of 10

"The Gift" (2.3)

Original Airing: September 8, 1989

When Screech is hit by lightning, he suddenly has the ability to see into the future, which Zack and Slater use to their advantage. Zack uses Screech's power to place bets with Slater.

Actions: Gambling, taking advantage of a friend, getting romantic with Kelly instead of studying

Lies: Lies to Mr. Belding and Mr. Testaverdi impersonating each other

Assessment: Takes advantage of Screech and mislead the girls on studying the wrong thing. Slater also bets. 

Bad Friend Meter: 4 of 10

"The Lisa Card" (2.2)

Original Airing: August 26, 1989

Lisa's father lets her use his credit card as a reward for doing well in school. However, she goes overboard with the spending, and the gang helps her think of ways to make some money to repay the debt.

Crimes: Prostitution (charges boys to kiss Lisa without her consent)

Creepiness: Sells Lisa's lingerie and other intimates in the hallway 

Lies: Lies to the student body to put donations on Belding's car

Bad Friend Meter: 8 of 10

"The Election" (2.13)

Original Date: November 18, 1989
Zack and Jessie are both running for class president, but Zack only wants to run because he found out that the winner gets a trip to Washington, D.C. When the trip is canceled, Zack has to prove he was not running just because of the trip.

Lies: Finds out the elected president gets to go to D.C. so he runs for president. He tells Screech who tells Slater who tells Mr. Belding, he then says things he doesn't believe in order to not be president when trip is canceled. 

Assessment: He wins but tells Jesse the truth, resigns, and gives the presidency to Jesse.

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

"Aloha Slater" (2.6)

Original Date: September 23, 1989

When Slater's dad is reassigned to Hawaii, Zack sees it as the perfect opportunity to get Slater to move away so all the attention from the girls comes back to him. Zack ends up making it seem like Slater is dying to the girls, but it backfires when Kelly finds out the truth after Zack steals Slater's trophy.

Actions: Has Screech spy on Slater's dad and Mr. Belding.

Lies: Lies to the girls that Slater is dying, he manipulates the gang to treat Slater like dirt.

Tricks: Makes Slater smell pepper to sneeze and ants down his shirt for him to itch.

Assessment: Slater also goes along with it and the girls aren't happy.

Bad Friend Meter: 7 of 10

"Dancing To The Max" (2.1)

Original Airing: August 20, 1989

Story: A dance contest at The Max hosted by Casey Kasem is set to be televised on NBC. Meanwhile, Jessie is self-conscious of her height.

Lies: Lies to Kelly about going to dance camp.

Actions: Takes flowers from Jesse's front yard

Assessment: Actually a good friend to Jesse.

Bad Friend Meter: 1 of 10

"The Substitute" (2.7)

Original Date: September 30, 1989

When Ms. Simpson injures her back, a substitute teacher named Tony Crane takes over her class at Bayside. However, when all the girls fall for Mr. Crane, Zack and Slater become jealous. They try to make it seem like Crane is married, and Crane plays along after he finds out what the girls were trying to do. 

Actions: Hires an actress to be Mr. Crane's girlfriend

Bad Friend Meter: 2 out of 10

"Cream for a Day" (2.8)

Original Date: October 7, 1989

When Kelly is nominated as homecoming queen, her dream is shattered as she faces the prospect of winning after she gets a zit. Zack comes up with a solution, but it does not unfold as he plans.

Crimes: Soliciting and selling in public school

Hustle: Selling pimple cream that later causes a rash

Assessment: He just caused blemishes for a day, which he had no control of.

Bad Friend Meter: 3/10

"The Mamas & the Papas" (2.12)
Original Date: November 11, 1989

For a class assignment everyone is put into pairs to act out married life so they are prepared when they grow up: Zack and Kelly, Jessie and Slater, Screech, and Lisa. However, Slater sets out to ruin Zack and Kelly's marriage with Screech's aid, because he wanted to be married to Kelly.

Assessment: Zack isn't that nice to Screech

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10

"The Babysitters" (3.14)

Original Date: December 1, 1990

Kelly leaves her infant brother Billy in the care of the gang while she gets her school picture taken. However, while they are babysitting, Kelly injures her arm, and the gang is left to care for baby Billy throughout the school day.

Child endangerment: The entire gang, starting with Kelly.

Stealing: Steals Slater's shirt for Baby Billy's diaper

Bad Friend Meter: To Slater, 8/10 but to Kelly 0/10

"Pined to the Mat" (2.9)

Original Date: October 14, 1989

Zack bets against a Valley wrestler named Marvin Niedick that Slater will win his wrestling match against Niedick. However, things go wrong when Slater decides to quit wrestling. Screech stands in for him; but since he is not as built for wrestling as Slater is.

Actions: Tries to manipulate Slater (who has quit Wrestling) into Baking, thinking he won't like it but excels it. 

Gambling: Gambles with Niedick and gets it trouble with Belding.

Bad Friend Meter: 2/10

"Beauty and the Screech" (2.10)

Original Date: October 21, 1989

In order for Kelly to go to a George Michael concert, she has to pass her science test. Zack persuades Screech to tutor Kelly, a ploy which is more for his benefit than for Kelly's. When Kelly and Screech's friendship becomes closer, as a result, Zack and Slater become jealous.

Lies: Lies to Mr. Belding, making him think Screech and Kelly are to marry.

Assessment: Out of the bad things he could've said about Screech, them getting married wasn't that bad. 

Bad Friend Meter: 1/10

"The Zack Tapes" (2.14)

Original Date: December 2, 1989

During class, Zack learns about subliminal advertising and realizes that it could be used to trick Kelly into going to the dance with him. However, Kelly catches on to his scheme and the girls decide to teach Zack a lesson, which leaves him humiliated.

Show Lies: Subliminal advertising doesn't quite happen like this.

Lies: Has Screech crossdress to switch Kelly and Lisa's tapes

Actions: He puts subliminal messages in tapes for Belding and Bayside girls

Assessment: Zack pretty much wants to control and brainwash people.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

"The Friendship Business" (2.11)

Original Date: November 4, 1989

Zack and his friends form a "company" selling friendship bracelets for a business class project. He names himself as "boss," but Kelly, Jessie, and Slater feel he is treating them poorly, leading them to break away and form a rival company selling a similar product.

Actions: Usurps Jessie's President-ship and becomes president of the friendship bracelets. This causes Jesse, Slater, and Kelly to split up from the group. When he abuses (workload wise) Lisa and Screech, they leave. He puts the gang out of business by having Mr. Belding wear of their products.

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

"Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind" (3.12)

Original Date: November 23, 1990

Zack and Slater break the school's professional camera and hatch a plan to make quick money to pay for a replacement before Belding finds out. A tabloid is offering money for photos of real aliens, so they dress Screech up as an alien in order to fool the tabloid. A special agent with the government is more than convinced that Screech is an alien.

Lies: Lies to a lieutenant who he thinks is a magazine guy that Screech is an alien. Makes a whole show in the school for the lieutenant there is an alien, 

Assessment: Endangers Screech with the government. 

Bad Friend Meter: 5/10

"Slater's Friend" (4.23)

Original date: November 28, 1992

Screech is left to look after Slater's chameleon when he goes away, but things soon go awry.

Creepiness: Keeps a cardboard cutout of Kelly under his bed.

Negligent Animal Care: Takes care of Slater's chameleon but it dies because of negligence. Kelly, Screech, and Jesse are also culpable. 

Lies: Zack lies that the chameleon Artie is still alive. 

Bad Friend Meter: 6/10

"Save that Tiger" (2.16)

Original Date: December 16, 1989

Zack and Slater are involved in the annual prank war against Valley, which takes place at the same time as the big cheerleading competition between the schools. Screech is the Bayside mascot and has an important part in Bayside's routine. However, after Zack and Slater kidnap Valley's mascot, two students from Valley kidnap Screech. 

Crimes: Trespassing, Vandalism, Dognapping, Insect endangerment, other assorted pranks

Assessment: Screech did get kidnapped but it wasn't Zack's fault

Bad Friend Meter: 1 of 10

Season Score: 70 of 100

Zack is not as bad as he is in later seasons, he is a bad friend and liar but his crimes are bugging a bedroom, gambling, pimping off Lisa, impersonation of teachers, selling items on the school campus, and soliciting.