Boy Meets Girl

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired

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9.2
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Lily Manning, separated from her husband, and Rick Sammler, divorced for 3 years, meet by chance when her daughter, Grace, injures her ankle in a soccer game. Rick and Lily meet at their children's school and feel an immediate attraction. They date, but family problems interfere: Rick's son Eli is having trouble academically, and Lily's daughter Grace feels unpopular and unattractive. Rick and Lily are embarrassed when her children catch them entwined on the couch.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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  • Refreshing.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By sylviasd, Jun 18, 2008
    I remember watching this show nearly ten years ago. At the time, it looked so new and so different to everything that had been done so far.

    Yesterday I decided to watch the pilot again. Surprisingly, I felt like it was still fresh. I think not another show has talked so well about divorce, consequences on the children and struggles the parents are confronted with. The dialogues are so well written, the idea of making the characters speak and explain their feelings in black and white was fabulous.

    We can also feel that the camera "loves" the actors. There is special attention to detail. All this just created a perfect atmosphere. I've decided to watch the other episodes too. A road trip down Once and Again lane...moreless

  • The start of something new.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By sh811a, Mar 01, 2007
    The trouble with most pilot episodes are they never really start things on the right foot because the only really weekness with them is they push so much information in that it sort of gets in the way of the story. But this was a pilot episode that was really done right, the pacing was at the right speed and the character's from Lily and Rick as well as the minor ones with them like Judy, Gracie, Eli, and Zoe were fleshed out we had enough time to know them except for Karen and Jake but the interactions with the two help you understand where Lily and Rick are with them emotionally and sort of set you up for what's to come later. Anyway what I like about this epsode was simply Lily and Rick. From the first moment we feel deep pathos for them knowing that both are going though a painful divorce despite difference in time, Rick's was about 3 years and Lily's about 8 or 9 months, the wounds are still raw and they both have an emptyness within their hearts that needs to be filled. And of course by chance encounter like in all romance stories and real life of course they both meet.
    It's funny and heart warming at the same time seeing the two despite such a short time warm up to one another and get the ball rolling on their love lives. From Rick asking Lily out but is just extremely nervious, reminds me of the mannerism of any teenager or collage student just struggling ask a certain girl they've just seen, it's understandable since Rick as well as Lily haven't dated for a very long time. The dates themselves just seeing Lily bowl was funny as well as when both of them go to Lily's house mainly just to do platonic activities nothing sexual but of course homonal energy is so high they fail and almost engage in intercourse but are then interupted by Lily's kids and Jake untimely walking into them, it was just hillarous seeing the reactions of Gracie who freaks out a little, Zoe is more on curiosity, Lily and Rick it's slightly controlled embarassment. We even feel bad when for a brief time Lily back out on what both Rick and her are doing due to certain doubts she is suffering from. We easily see the time apart from one another is hurting them and they both need each other whether they know it or not. And of course we feel relief when Lily gets back with Rick, and we know that it's the start of something new.moreless

  • Once and Again - Episode 1 - Pilot - My Review

    10
    "Perfect"
    By loverslost, Jan 23, 2006
    Lily Manning (a soon to be divorced mother of two children, Grace and Zoe) by chance meets Rick Sammler (a divorced man with two children of his own, Eli and Jessie) in school when Grace injures her ankle playing soccer. Rick happens to be in school because Eli is not doing well in his studies, and he (with his ex-wife Karen) has to have a talk about their son with his teacher. Anyway, Rick cannot stop thinking about Lily and builds the courage to give her a call and asks her out for dinner. Eli knows that his father likes Lily, but Lily's children have no clue. So when Eli starts noticing Grace in the school hallway, she gets the wrong idea and starts thinking that he likes her. Since their dinner goes well, Lily and Rick decide to meet again for bowling, and this time, they decide to go back to Lily's place since the kids are out with their father. Only Grace, Zoe and Jack (Lily's soon to be ex husband), walk in on them making out, and Grace is really upset. Grace also realizes why Eli was noticing her, and since she is very self-conscious about herself, she feels like no one will ever like her. Lily decides to break up with Rick because she feels like its happening too soon. Later, Lily has a talk with Grace and tells her that she should face her fears and realizes that she herself should do the same. So, she decides to meet Rick again.

    I found this to be a wonderful episode because we get to see how Lily and Rick first meet, and how unlike other pilots, it doesn't seem to drag too much. As jrb1183 said, many pilot episodes seem a little awkward but when you see the first episode of "Once and Again", you know they hit it off really well. You can see the chemistry build up between the various characters, and they is very entertaining to watch.moreless

  • A Promise Made

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By jrb1183, Aug 01, 2005
    This is the one that started it all, folks. Recently seperated soccer mom Lily Manning (Sela Ward) and divorced dad Rick Sammler (Billy Campbell) meet at their children's high school and make attempts to start dating. Watching the pilot again in the hindsight of the entire series, it is striking to see just how sure of itself the series was even at the beginning. The pilot is not awkward the way some other show's pilots are and the fact that the two main characters are just getting to know each other helps us to gain all of the needed exposition in an unforced manner. I can remember watching the pilot episode on the first night it aired and thinking, "this show is going to be really special." Almost six years later, I can honestly say that "Once and Again" is my favorite television series of all time. The pilot set the standard for what was to follow. It sets up the characters and the storyline and leaves us wanting more. Sure, some of the characters are less fleshed out than they would ultimatly be, particularly Jake (who is such a jerk in this episode he borders on caricature) and Karen (who is a little chillier than usual). These are minor quibbles, though. The pilot does what a good pilot should do: it makes a promise to the viewing audience about what the show will be and the kinds of stories it wants to present. It invites the viewers to come along for the ride. Those of us who did are truly grateful that we stuck with the show and it was this well made and executed pilot which first reeled us in.moreless
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