Vietnam Bound The Vietnam War is constantly referred to in the series. Soda, Steve and Two-Bit, in particular, often discuss enlisting or being drafted. Steve is very interested in the military and the war, but is perfectly willing to wait a year or two. I have a feeling that a couple of them would have eventually been in the war, had the story continued.
Greasers and Socs The general pattern of the series involves Ponyboy's greaser friends becoming more involved with Randy's Soc friends. Given that they first became involved when one of Pony's friends (Johnny) killed one of Randy's friends (Bob), this is a very interesting way to go. At times it seems to move a little too fast, and after the pilot those events aren't referred to, but by the end of the series the social class divide seems a lot smaller. Tim is involved with Cherry, Soda is involved with Marcia, and even Scout is getting to be friends with Randy and Marcia.
William Robert „Billy Bob“ Thornton in San Fra...
Billy Bob Thornton, pointing at photographer takin...
Hobo (Billy Bob Thornton album)Not necessarily good or bad, just interesting.
Doogie Curtis, M. D.
Ponyboy's voice-overs at the beginning and end just come off cheesy. Part of it is that Jay Ferguson is a better physical than vocal actor. They're also usually too pat. They really don't sound like Pony's voice from the novel, for the most part.
Spelling The opening credits misspell half the names. In the episode summaries, I've tried to keep the spellings from the book (Ponyboy rather than Pony Boy, Two-Bit rather than Two Bit). I'm particular that way. In addition, Buck is sometimes listed as "Buck Merrill", with two l's. In the book and in other episodes, it's just one l. And speaking of "Merril", it gets some interesting pronunciations here: In "Winner Take All" Darry pronounces it to rhyme with "squirrel".