Ep 22. Gutter Queen

After 21 episodes filled with shenanigans, Even Stevens season 2 episode 22, titled Gutter Queen, takes a more serious and reflective tone. In this episode, Ren Stevens, played by Christy Carlson Romano, becomes the unlikely star of the school's bowling team after taking up the sport with her father, Steve Stevens, played by Tom Virtue.

At the outset, Ren is hesitant to join the team, saying that she "doesn't like sports" and calling bowling a "weird hobby". However, after realizing that the team is in danger of forfeiting if they can't find a fifth player, she reluctantly agrees to join. It soon becomes clear that Ren has a natural talent for bowling, astoundingly high scores from the beginning. Dennis Blunden, played by Steven Anthony Lawrence, is especially shocked by Ren's talent and becomes her biggest supporter and fan.

In typical Ren fashion, she soon becomes overly invested in the game, practicing nonstop and becoming somewhat of a lone wolf on the team. Her devotion to bowling comes at the expense of her relationships with her best friend, Ruby, played by Lauren Frost, and her crush, Bobby, played by Nick Spano. Ren's competitive drive and lack of sportsmanship also causes tension with the rest of the team, who feel like she's showing off and not taking their opinions seriously.

As the championship match approaches, tensions escalate further. Ren becomes convinced that the team's success rests solely on her shoulders and becomes fixated on winning at any cost. Things come to a head when she realizes that her father has been coaching the opposing team. Feeling betrayed and conflicted, Ren confides in her mother, Eileen Stevens, played by Donna Pescow, who wisely counsels her to separate her personal feelings from her competitive desire to win.

The episode's climax takes place during the championship match, where we see Ren and her team facing off against her father's team. It's an emotional and tense game, with each side pulling out all the stops to secure victory. Ren finds herself becoming increasingly frustrated by her inability to bowl a perfect game, despite her earlier success. Meanwhile, her father tries to reach out to her, apologizing for hiding his coaching position and encouraging her to focus on playing her best game.

Ultimately, Ren learns a powerful lesson about sportsmanship, self-control, and the true meaning of victory. The episode ends on an uplifting note, with Ren and her teammates, as well as her father's team, coming together for a post-game celebration.

Gutter Queen stands out as a memorable episode of Even Stevens, largely due to its depth and meaningful themes. While the show is known for its comedic sensibilities, Gutter Queen shows that it's capable of exploring more complex and serious subject matter. With excellent performances from the cast and strong writing, this episode is definitely worth watching for Even Stevens fans, as well as anyone who appreciates a good coming-of-age story.