Caitlin’s Way (also known in Australia under the title Just a Kid) is a short-running Nickelodeon drama franchise created by Paul Belous and Thomas W. Lynch. Narrowly the series took a two-year run until it's cancellation in 2002.
Main characters[]
- Caitlin Seeger; Caitlin Seeger is a 14-year-old girl who has been in and out of foster homes since age eight, when her mother Katherine suddenly died. Her father had left when she was four. Caitlin, still angry about her mother's death, hides her grief in her tough-girl persona and gets into trouble frequently. She loves photography and is usually seen with her camera which once belonged to her mother. Her dream is to become a professional photographer. After getting in trouble and expelled from her Catholic school, Caitlin is given the option of going to a juvenile detention facility or going to live with her mother Katherine's cousin Dori Lowe (whom Caitlin did not even know existed), her husband Jim and their son Griffen in Montana by the judge that she meets with. Caitlin agrees to go to Montana. While there, she meets and rescues a stallion from wranglers whom she names Bandit. As time goes by, the Lowes and Caitlin learn to accept each other and Caitlin gets what she's always wanted for a long time: a loving family and a permanent home. She loves to read and her best subject in school is English; her worst is math. The locket that Caitlin wears 24/7 is the same locket that her mother used to wear and she is often seen listening to her mini CD player. Caitlin used to play soccer and she associates the sport with her mom because the last time Caitlin played soccer with her best friend was the day that her mom Katherine died. Caitlin's favorite color is black.
- Dori Lowe; Dori Lowe is Jim's wife, Griffin's mom, the cousin of Caitlin's mother Katherine, and a veterinarian. She suggests that Caitlin come to live with them. Dori told Caitlin once that she and her mother never really had much contact which is why they did not know about her until recently. She has a home office and works with most of the animals there are in High River. As a loving mother, Dori tries to warm up to Caitlin by acting like her mother figure, which has at times Caitlin resents since she doesn't want anybody taking her mom's place and causes her to push Dori away at times and has even hurt her feelings with things she has said about her. Caitlin eventually learned the truth about her mother's death from Dori who tells her she died from an Aneurysm that killed her instantly. Caitlin breaks down over hearing this and Dori says she assumed that Caitlin knew. Caitlin admits to her that nobody had ever told her. The two eventually become closer throughout the show and Caitlin finally accepts Dori as her new mother figure after Dori explains that she wants to be a mother to Caitlin, but not be one that replaces her own mother. In high school, Dori was on the girls' soccer team but wasn't very good so she Dori had to work particularly hard to stay on the team.
- Jim Lowe; Jim Lowe is Dori's husband, Griffin's father, and the local sheriff. Caitlin sees him as the only strong father figure she has had in her entire life since her own father left her. Jim is a loving father and husband, always willing to help his family out whenever they need him. When Caitlin first comes to live with them, the two of them feel awkward around each other, but they eventually come past that. Jim loves Caitlin as his if she was his own daughter and does whatever he can to help her.
- Griffen Lowe; Griffen Lowe is the 14-year-old son of Jim and Dori and Caitlin's second cousin. He is a very smart kid, always earning straight A's. Griffen's hobbies include computers, riding his bike, playing the guitar, and singing in a band with his best friends Brett and Eric called Bad Hygiene. When he first learned that Caitlin would come to live with them, he wasn't too happy about it. The two of them often get into fights and Griffen will usually make cruel remarks about her past to anger Caitlin. Despite all the arguing, they eventually form a brother and sister like relationship and become each other's best friends. They will always help each other out, no matter what the situation is or how much trouble they get into. He is often the voice of reason for Caitlin and he's always there to give advice to her and has admitted to her that he never likes it when she is sad, but is always there to comfort her.
- Bandit; Bandit is a wild Buckskin stallion whom Caitlin helps rescue from wranglers who soon later rescues her from a rabid wolf and the two soon bond. He belongs to Caitlin as of "Stray Part 3." Dori allows her to keep him after Bandit doesn't show any signs of Rabies. Caitlin decides to name him Bandit, after a horse that was in a story her mother used to read to her when she was little. Except when she's grounded, Caitlin usually rides Bandit every day. In "The Present Part 1" Will and Sarah thinking Bandit was their colt that ran away almost took him from Caitlin, but in "The Present Part 2" Will sees how much Caitlin loves him and that she has given him a good home and allows her to keep him. Bandit almost died at the end of Season 1 after he got his leg caught in a rusty old bear trap, but Dori saved his life.
- Cousin; Cousin is Griffen's dog. He's very friendly and loves everybody. During "Making Allowances," when Caitlin brought Cousin into the store, he caused a ruckus. After Season 1, Cousin isn't seen or mentioned again.
- Alfalfa; Alfalfa is Caitlin's Calico cat. Dori comes up with Alfalfa's name while she's bottle feeding her after she's born. We meet her in Season 2. In Season 3, Caitlin decides to give Alfalfa to Ruth to replace her cat Mortimer, but when she gets to Ruth's house, she finds her dead and as a result she gets to keep her kitten.
Plot[]
With all of the peer-pressure, schoolwork, hyperactive hormones and scary decisions floating around, growing up can be tough enough! But it’s even tougher if you’re Caitlin Seeger. Imagine adding a new home, a new family and a new environment to an already-bumpy adolescence. Caitlin’s a rebellious orphan from Philly who did just that: She headed west to live with distant cousins in Montana to avoid Juvenile Hall. Thanks to her relatives, the Lowes, their son Griffen, and a little help from a wild horse named Bandit, Caitlin just might make it! [via Nickelodeon/Nick.com]
TV Media[]
TV Series[]
- Main article: Caitlin's Way (television series)
Most of the series' plot and storyline is mostly from the show itself.
TV Specials[]
The three episodes from the show "Caitlin's Way: Stray", "Caitlin's Way: The Present" and "Caitlin's Way: The Promise" are the only one-hour length episodes to be featured in the show.