Is Zack Morris a Serial Killer?

Throughout the series, Saved by the Bell bases many episodes on the varied schemes, deceptions, and outright lies of All-American boy next door Zack Morris. Zack is at once charming and good looking and devious and conniving. It is the later qualities that are most alarming. Because while the show bases much of its humor on Zack’s more aberrant behavior, it ignores the warning signs of the psychopathic personality exhibited therein. Significantly, Zack has little regard for the truth and a distinctly dubious ability to discern right from wrong. Darker still, SBTB simply glosses over the sudden disappearances of dozens of Bayside teenagers, often last seen alive in Zack’s company. One question looms ominously over the series: Is Zack Morris a serial killer?

Zack’s history of dating women immediately before they disappear forever is lengthy and unsettling. There was Wendy Parks, the overweight girl who won Zack in the date auction, Melissa, the disabled girl Zack met through the Teen Line, Laura Benton, the homeless girl who moved into the Morris’ house at Christmas (notably her father disappeared from the Morris household as well), Jennifer, Slater’s girlfriend from Germany who began dating Zack, Joanna, the new girl that Zack and Slater fought over, and Kristy, the female wrestler. Even Slater’s sister J.B. vanishes soon after dating Zack. Furthermore, while Stacey Carosi appears in several episodes, once she “returns to New York,” she is never heard from again.

The principle of Ockham’s razor suggests the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is most likely the correct explanation.  In the case of Zack Morris, the simplest explanation is clear – Zack is methodically killing these women and disposing of their bodies. Furthermore, in order to allay suspicion it appears that Zack is somehow covering up his scheme through a sophisticated rouse. Notably, no one at Bayside seems to find it threatening that numerous women have simply disappeared.

Lending credence to the theory, Zack fits the profile of a serial killer. According to serial killer expert Harold Schechter, the following characteristics typify the serial killer:

• The majority are single, white males. 
• They are often intelligent, with IQs in the "bright normal" range. 
• Despite their high IQs, they do poorly in school, have trouble holding down jobs, and often work menial jobs. 
• They tend to come from unstable families. 
• As children, they are typically abandoned by their fathers and raised by domineering mothers. 
• Their families often have criminal, psychiatric and alcoholic histories. 
• They often are mistrustful of their parents. 
• It is common to find that as children, they were abused—psychologically, physically and/or sexually—by a family member. 
• Many spend time in institutions as children and have records of early psychiatric problems. 
• They have high rates of suicide attempts. 
• From an early age, many are intensely interested in voyeurism, fetishism, and sadomasochistic pornography. 
• More than 60 percent wet their beds beyond the age of 12. 
• Many are fascinated with fire starting. 
• They are involved in sadistic activity or torturing small animals.

Zack fits squarely into eight of the fourteen categories. Zack is obviously single and white. We also know that he is exceedingly bright as evidenced by the fact that he scored a 1502 on the SAT without even trying. Furthermore, despite the fact that Zack is vastly intelligent – even more so than SBTB “brains” Jessie and Screech – the series constantly references Zack’s poor performance in school. In addition, Zack’s family is clearly unstable. His parents have little involvement in his life and rarely appear in the series. Furthermore, Zack’s father Derrick Morris is almost wholly absent. For example, in the episode “Rent-a-Pop,” Zack’s father will only pay attention to him if Zack calls him on a cell phone. Zack also has trouble trusting his parents, or any other adults for that matter. Even more troubling, the only animals ever left in Zack’s care during the series – Becky the Duck and Artie the Lizard – ended up dead.

Markedly, Zack demonstrates an intense interest in voyeurism and mind control. In the early episode “Fatal Distraction,” Zack and Screech bug the girls’ sleepover party in order to find out who Kelly is going to take to the dance. Later, in the episode “Jessie’s Song,” Zack has Screech dress up as a cleaning lady so he can record the girls singing in the locker room. Finally, in the episode “The Zack Tapes,” Zack uses subliminal messages in a cassette tape so that Kelly will date him. These are not the healthy pastimes of a normal child.

Several other characteristics, while not explicitly present in the series, are certainly possible, or even likely. For example, it is possible that psychiatric problems, or possibly even a suicide attempt, may have led to the Morris family’s relocation from Indiana, where Zack studied under the domineering Miss Bliss, to Bayside. In addition, Zack’s constant scheming may have emerged from a profound shame of his bed-wetting. Zack’s family history is also inherently suspect. Zack’s father Derrick always struck this reviewer as a lush and, considering his high-powered job in computer sales, possibly even a cokehead. Zack’s mother, Melanie, also exhibits a cavalier attitude toward drug use. In the episode “Fake I.D.’s,” Mrs. Morris is depicted returning from a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert singing Puff the Magic Dragon, a song closely associated with marijuana. Finally, though Zack is never abused in an episode, in the episode “Rent-a-Pop,” Zack hires an actor to portray his father in a meeting with Mr. Belding so that Mr. Morris will not discover that Zack is failing a class. Presumably, Zack fears his father’s reprisal and takes great pains to avoid a harsh punishment.

Whatever the cause, Zack’s rash of killings exhibits a clear pattern. Zack meets a teenage girl, he charms her, developing some sort of twisted affection along the way, and then kills the victim, wiping clean all evidence of her existence (a feat made easier by the fact that Zack can stop time at will). The evidence is strong enough to make this reviewer question whether Zack was responsible for Chief Henry’s death in the episode “Running Zack.” Though Chief Henry certainly does not fit Zack’s victim profile, his death occurred early enough in the series that his death was conceivably an accident or twisted experiment. Maybe Zack was just fooling around, torturing the poor old chief when things went too far. All this reviewer knows is that Chief Henry clearly fits one pattern – he spent time with Zack, Zack expressed feelings for him, and he died with Zack seemingly the last to see him. It fits too neatly.

Of course, plenty of contrary evidence exists suggesting that Zack is not capable of such treachery. The most obvious example occurs in the episode “Drinking and Driving.” As fully examined by this reviewer, Zack proves incapable of maintaining even the most simple of lies. As cracks develop in his story, Zack not only abandons his scheme, but confesses far more information than necessary. He could have easily evaded punishment, but instead admits his entire plot.  Accordingly, it seems unlikely that he could carry out a multi-year killing spree without detection. Furthermore, except for the animals and Chief Henry, there are no bodies proving that Zack has carried his nefarious plan to fruition.

This evidence, however, is hardly exculpating. Instead, we are left with the disconcerting reality that NBC made a show where the main character systematically and brutally murdered at least ten people the centerpiece of its Saturday morning schedule.

Comments

[Lord Kyron Kooken III]

Interesting analysis. As a student of the series, I consider this theory completely possible. That said, I suspect that a more careful analysis would reveal that Zack is likely being framed by a jealous Screech. Consider that, in the episodes cited, Screech often takes on a comparatively minor role. This is almost certainly due to the fact that life- taking is an involved process, as is the subsequent disposal of bodies. I'm willing to wager that a more thorough analysis of Bayside's oil reserves would reveal not only Texas Crude, but also the badly decomposed remnants of these unfortunate females.

Also, prior to his untimely death, NBC president Brandon Tartikoff was developing a controversial series entitled, "Saved by Habeas Corpus" featuring much of the same cast.

[Son of Feeney]

Lord Kooken,

Your hypothesis is well founded in that Screech made a clear break with reality during the course of the series. This reviewer has often postulated that Screech in fact killed Zack early in the run and the remainder of the episodes are the disjointed ramblings of his deluded mind. Notably, this premise would explain the discontinuity that pervades the series. At bottom, however, Screech is far too consumed by his victimhood to actually harm his tormentors.

Many of these issues will be explored in greater detail in the coming weeks. The Son of Feeney is currently collaborating with another SBTB scholar on an extensive study of Screech's psyche that will appear in this oeuvre.