Peer Pressure

All through the third season of “Everwood” I’ve had the feeling that the main characters are being strongly influenced by the people around them. That’s nothing new, of course; it happens everyday.

It’s a plot device, for sure, but some of the characters wouldn’t have made the decisions they did if it weren’t for a peer saying something to them (and even not saying anything).

The quote as the title of this post occurred in the penultimate episode. Bright, Amy’s brother, suggested that if Ephram wants to talk to her (as she wasn’t answering, or returning his calls) he should just go to her home and confront her, face-to-face. That wouldn’t be Ephram’s ‘normal’ tactic. In fact, Ephram made a lot of sudden and unexpected decisions through the whole season. Most were catastrophic for himself and Amy. And all because he was heeding Bright’s advice.

Other characters had similar choices along the way, some good, mostly not. And it didn’t matter what age they were, no one is immune from following (and rebelling against) what other people think.

We all grow from our mistakes. Peer pressure is what moves us along into our future(s).