#bttf minute

[knickynoo]

After having officially finished the BTTF Minute podcast, I'd like to share another piece of conversation that I really liked.

It was during the scene where Marty first shows up to '55 Doc's house and chases him out to the garage, where Marty then goes through the whole "I know how you got the bruise on your head" story where he recounts the invention of the flux capacitor. One of the hosts of the show (can't remember which off the top of my head) mentioned that he was surprised Marty could remember all the details of that story he'd only just been told in the parking lot with Doc. Then Nick said something like, "Maybe that's what makes him such a great assistant for Doc. He's got a good memory."

And I just absolutely love that that ended up being their conclusion, because I feel like it's sort of an unconventional trait to assign to Marty? Especially considering the fact he's labeled a slacker by Strickland, and that Marty just generally appears frazzled and confused a lot. It's easy to label him a scatter-brain, make all the "Marty has a single brain cell" jokes and everything. He's a silly guy.

So them just casually agreeing that Marty's got a really good memory, and that it's part of why he works so well with Doc is super interesting! And you know what? I agree with them and think it's a great headcanon. Marty was told the flux capacitor story once at like 1:30 in the morning after just having witnessed a car travel through time. Yet he committed the entire story to memory in the moment, even remembering the name "flux capacitor" which is impressive considering that's a brand new term he'd just been introduced to. And he's able to re-tell the story for Doc in such a panicked moment after being sent to the past and having suffered recent head trauma.

Marty remembers it because he was interested! Totally invested in everything Doc was saying in that moment, so the whole story stuck, nearly word for word. And being in the "Marty has adhd" camp, I think it's very fitting of his character to be seen as a slacker or lazy by others and then have these moments where we see just how bright he is when the environment is right. And I love thinking about how maybe when they first met, Doc understood this right away. That he looked at Marty and went, "Oh, this kid is smart. He just doesn't know it."

[knickynoo]

I started re-listening to the BTTF Minute podcast like 6 or 7 months ago, am finally reaching the end of it, and I just have to say that one of my favorite comments of the whole show is when Nick is discussing Marty's puffy vest and concludes that he wears it because he likes to feel like he's "wearing a hug." Marty absolutely would, and I accept this as fact.

[knickynoo]

I continue to be amused by my revisiting the BTTF Minute podcast.

There's a conversation discussing MJF's very distinct way of walking. The commentary includes:

"He doesn't seem to like...move like a human being in this minute."

"It's one of my favorite things about him, well, Michael J. Fox in general because it just seems kind of a throughline with his characters is they all kind of walk, like, really erratically like that."

And it made me think about how when he was filming "Light of Day," the director took him aside and was like, "You don't walk, you bounce. And your character isn't supposed to bounce." So they put him in these heavy boots to both remind him that his character is supposed to be more serious and also physically prevent him from bouncin' all around.

[knickynoo]

You know, as I listened to the BTTF Minute podcast before, they got into a discussion about George and Lorraine's relationship in the Twin Pines timeline that I really liked.

In the episode, they're breaking down the McFly dinner scene and focusing in on when Lorraine is telling the story of how she and George met. And this is a scene I've mentioned in a post or two before, because it's just so sad. You can tell that Lorraine is still so in love with George—or at least in love with the version of him who kissed her on the dance floor that night. Her face brightens as she talks, and you can just hear the fondness in her voice. She's that young girl again, hopeful and in love and smitten with this guy who she helped care for when he was hurt.

But then the tone changes. She's brought back to reality—to a husband who is so wrapped in his own world that he doesn't even acknowledge her. He's facing away from her, eyes glued to the TV, unaware of the loving glance being directed his way. He doesn't even respond when she asks him if he remembers the night of that terrible thunderstorm.

All of a sudden, Lorraine is slapped in the face with reality. She's drained of that hope, and in its place is the realization that she's stuck with George. Stuck in a lonely marriage. Stuck in a life that young girl never would have pictured for herself.

Anyway, this is where I really liked the commentary the podcast hosts, Nick and Scott, gave regarding the scene.

In talking about George, they point out, "He never had to try. He never had to fight for her," and, "Literally, he got run over by love."

Which I think condenses the situation very well. George was hit by a car, carried into the Baines house, and all the groundwork was instantly laid for him. Lorraine fell head over heels for this poor, injured, awkward guy and established their relationship herself. George didn't have to fight; his dream girl was handed to him. And for someone like George, who is already very much a wallflower and doesn't stand up for himself or anyone else, it made it all that much easier to let his marriage go stale. Take Lorraine for granted, in a way.

Then, Scott got to talking about how George and Lorraine were brought together on accident and by an accident. It was George accidentally falling from the tree and then the literal being hit with a car accident that led him to Lorraine. And he goes on to say,

"Which, in a lot of ways, that's kind of what the movie's about, in that they fell in love with an accident, and it's just like, oh, love shouldn't be an accident. Love should be something that you earn and work for."

And like. Idk, I've been thinking about that all afternoon. Just. About the trilogy's whole message (to me, at least) boiling down to love, which I've made many a post about on this blog. But it's so true. Everything in these movies comes down to and is directed by love.

Marty's love for his parents. His love then helping to shape George and Lorraine's love. Marty's love for Doc, and Doc's love for Marty, and the way they are constantly saving each other and willing to sacrifice themselves. Doc's love for Clara. Marty's love for Jennifer. Marty's love for his siblings. The movie's "theme song" being "The Power of Love."

The movies wouldn't work if all these characters took the more passive approach. If they all grew comfortable and complacent like Twin Pines George is shown to be.

I dunno, it's just been ringing in my head for hours. Love shouldn't be an accident.

[knickynoo]

Re-listening to the BTTF Minute podcast, and I forgot how fun it is. Some of my favorite commentary thus far:

• the description of Marty as, "a cool youth with a scratchy voice."

• "It's small even for him," in regards to Marty's tiny yellow guitar

• Their discussion about the amp and conclusion that Doc built it as "a friendship bracelet for Marty."

• "Mountain Dew Hat Guy. I can't handle Mountain Dew Hat Guy," plus their headcanon that he's a professional arcade gamer

[lonepinetimeline]

New episode! Happy Anniversary @bttfminute 🥳

[bttfminute]

We did a thing!

[bttfminute]

‪On August 28th... Nick and Scott are BACK!‬ ‪One week of shows. One LIVE event. ‬ ‪One last RIDE before we're HISTORY.‬ ‪See you in the Future.‬