An earlier Klosterman argument favored Reality Bites as a Gen X film and contrasted its romanticized slacker with Singles’ pathetic version; the current response ultimately values both without requiring a winner.
Steve may be a bad train designer: his pitch supplies coffee, music and vibes instead of evidence justifying billion-dollar disruption, so the mayor’s quick rejection and his firing make sense.
Bailey is badly underused, with no arc; identifying Jim True-Frost as The Wire’s Prez prompts a joking Baltimore-police future for the character.
Nirvana should have been included, yet its refusal and contempt for fame are also what made it special; Unplugged, Saturday Night Live and MTV appearances complicate the selling-out argument.
A counterproposal favors using Imodium in the stereo scene rather than an actual Nirvana performance or Cobain cameo; a live appearance might distract Steve from calling Linda.
Friends is accused of borrowing the setup and character types, with Janet–Rachel and Steve–Ross parallels; opinions differ on whether Crowe deserved compensation or had simply refused the opportunity.
