Ep 17. 47 Hours and 11 Minutes

Case study analysis for Greek season 1 episode 17 '47 Hours and 11 Minutes'

The show Greek revisits the campus life of students in the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University. It revolves around the life of Rusty Cartwright, a nerdy freshman, who is a legacy pledge at the Kappa Tau Gamma fraternity, trying to adapt to the Greek life.

In episode 17 of the first season, '47 Hours and 11 Minutes,' Rusty and his Kappa Tau Gamma fraternity brothers come up with an idea to host a pledge retreat to boost their fraternity's image. The retreat comprises an escape room challenge, where the pledges are locked in a room and have 47 hours and 11 minutes to escape.

The episode opens with Rusty and his fraternity brothers engaged in a discussion about how to attract new pledges to their fraternity. Rusty suggests organizing a series of events, which will lead them to their ultimate challenge, an escape room. The fraternity agrees to Rusty's proposal, and they set out to host the event.

The show portrays the escape room as an ultimate test of endurance, which challenges the pledges' agility, intellect, and courage. The pledges are locked in a room with limited food and water and must find clues, solve riddles, and decipher hidden messages to escape the room. Though the task appears daunting, the pledges embrace the challenge, and the competition soon turns intense.

Meanwhile, Casey Cartwright, Rusty's sister, is struggling to prepare for the LSAT exams. In her quest to excel in the exams, Casey fails to understand the importance of taking a break and relaxing her mind. Her boyfriend, Evan Chambers, offers to help her prepare for the exams, but Casey is convinced that she can ace them by herself.

The episode tries to highlight the pressure and expectations students face in their academic lives. Casey's character is portrayed as an overachiever, who is not willing to accept failure. Despite her academic excellence, Casey is struggling to cope with the pressure. Her character is relatable to many college students who face similar academic stress.

The episode also brings to the fore the challenges of being a pledge in a fraternity. The pledges are put through physical and mental trials throughout the 47 hours and 11 minutes they are in the escape room. The episode shows that the fraternity pledges need to be strong, both mentally and physically, to survive the challenges as they go through the pledging period.

As the pledges continue the escape room challenge, some begin to experience fatigue and become restless. Meanwhile, Rusty is keen to ensure that the pledges complete the challenge, and he encourages them to persevere. The episode portrays Rusty as a leader who helps his fellow pledges to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.

The Greek season one episode 17, '47 Hours and 11 Minutes,' is a well-executed and intense portrayal of the hurdles students face in their academic and social lives. From the pressure of excelling academically to the endurance challenges in fraternity pledging, the show captures the essence of college life.

The episode ends on a high note as the pledges complete the challenge and are initiated into the Kappa Tau Gamma fraternity. Rusty's leadership and determination to succeed are portrayed as playing a crucial role in the pledges' success.

In conclusion, Greek season one episode 17, '47 Hours and 11 Minutes,' is a must-watch for anyone keen on understanding and appreciating the intricacies of college life. The episode highlights some of the challenges that students face in college while also portraying the life lessons and values necessary for success.