In 1980, a group of high school students face various social struggles. Wealthy "brain" Lindsay wants to rebel. Her geeky freshman brother Sam and his two friends are targeted by a bully.

When Mr. and Mrs. Weir go out of town for the weekend, Lindsay hosts a keg party. Sam, Bill, and Neal are worried that the party-goers will get too rowdy, so they substitute a keg of non-alcoholic beer for the one the freaks have on ice.

Halloween doesn't go as expected for Sam, Lindsay, or their parents.

Kim befriends Lindsay but she has ulterior motives, while Sam is bullied mercilessly by Karen Scarfolli, whose locker is next to his.

Daniel cons Lindsay into helping him pass an algebra test, while Sam and his pals try to figure out the basics of human sexuality.

Lindsay and Nick get more serious, and her parents give unwanted advice. Sam joins the yearbook staff to get closer to Cindy, who thinks of him only as a friend.

Lindsay stops hanging out with her "freak" friends after a car accident, and decides to rejoin the mathletes. Sam adopts a new modern hair style and wardrobe in the hopes of impressing Cindy.

Neal learns his father is cheating on his mother. Ken develops a crush on the tuba player in the school's marching band and Lindsay helps set them up.

When Bill talks about being allergic to peanuts in class, Alan tries to prove he's lying but Bill ends up in the hospital after an allergic reaction. Lindsay smokes weed for the first time.

Nick stays with the Weirs after a fight with his father and the geeks go to a make-out party.

As McKinley High prepares for a visit from Vice President Bush, Ken and Sam must sort out conflicted feelings in their love lives.

Nick explores disco, Lindsay listens to the Grateful Dead, and Daniel tries something new. What's cool? Friendship.