Back in the day I didn't have cable TV, and just a little black and white manual box. I would get home from 3-11 PM shifts at the bookstore and there wasn't much on to watch (two English channels on non-cable in Montreal, in them days.) That's how I first caught Freaks and Geeks.
It starts off seeming like a lightweight teen comedy, so you have to give it some time to grow. When they started the show, they gave all the writers (and actors? I forget) a questionnaire asking them about their teen experiences, and almost all the storylines come from those. Hence you will, at multiple points, identify.
I think more and more people are finally seeing it, in part cause it's on Netflix, and in part because 5 of the men involved went on to become a movie mini-industry unto themselves:
Producer Judd Apatow
Creator Paul Feig
Seth Rogen
James Franco
Jason Segal
They knew they were going to be cancelled so Feig wrote a great final episode to wrap the season up. It's perfect. (I just rewatched the show, and am amazed all over at how great it is.) One of the freaks, played by Franco, is the very cool and good looking Daniel who is terrible at school, and basically thinks he's stupid and will never be good at anything.
As punishment for something he's sent to join the A/V club, to run the class projectors. Of course A/V club is the special haunt of our geeks. "He's being sent to A/V... as punishment?" But in an inspired moment our Elder and Wiser Geek invites Daniel to play D&D with them. And Daniel not only has fun, but wins the game. Which, if you've never played, does require actual talent--creativity, and puzzle solving. He's finally good at something.
It's the best, best storyline. I could watch it 100 times.
Feig said he envisioned Daniel going to prison the next season. But I believe that in A/V he club he became interested in cinema and went on to make small, independent films.
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