Jake, Reinvented

Jake’s unique smile is a motif that represents his secret plan to win Didi’s heart. After spending considerable time and effort to set his plan in motion—changing his appearance, joining the football team, throwing amazing parties—Jake feels that he is close to achieving his dream of being with Didi. His smile indicates his confidence that he will ultimately succeed.

Jake’s smile is almost always connected to Didi. Jake flashes his smile when asking Rick to invite Jennifer to his next party, hoping that Didi will come along as well. He also smiles when he first encounters Didi at the party, and again later when Didi stands by his side during the showdown with Todd. Each time, his smile indicates that he is taking another step along the path to being with Didi. Conversely, the smile fades as Didi begins to slip away.

The mischievous aspect of Jake’s smile hints that Jake’s plan relies on Appearance Versus Substance. His winning smile is part of a cool-guy persona, with which he hopes to become popular and impress Didi. That outward appearance is fake, however, masking the insecurity caused by Didi’s former rejection. The smile is a barrier that Jake sets up to protect his real personality from view, an attempt to ensure that no one discovers his secrets.