So, it wasn't the haircut after all. Ha!

When Keri Russell's scalping shook the world last season, everyone blamed Miss Felicity's ratings nosedive on those infamous trimmed tresses. Sure, it wasn't the best look for the luminous young actress, but really, could a few bad hair days cause that much trouble? Ted Koppel would be out of a job.

No, the problem was far less fashionable than that.

Even before she registered at the fictional University of New York in 1998, our mop-top was every critic's schoolgirl fantasy, the great auburn hope for the WB and sensitive youth dramas everywhere (which were all on the WB anyway). Then reality set in. Yes, it was well acted, even excellent at times. But everyone was so damn sullen! Before you could say midseason replacement, producers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves spiced up the coeds, saved the series from an early dismissal and rustled up Russell a Golden Globe.

Then sophomore year - and that haircut - happened, and fans dropped out like jocks from Quantum Physics 101. Why'd they really leave? One word - boredom. From fall to May's finale, it was all dull, recycled plots and disposable players (Ruby? Eli?) as the gorgeous regulars slogged through more angst than you could shake a Dawson's Creek at. But while no one was looking, the cast was quietly honing their acting chops to become one of TV's finest ensembles.

Now, juniors, I am happy to report that the kids are all right. The ratings are up, even though Russell's hair is still short, and the high Nielsen G.P.A. has won the struggling series a second semester in 2001 (classes resume in 13 weeks, after Jack & Jill tries to fetch a pail of viewers). How come the new lease on college life? Well, because it's not all about Felicity anymore. Or her hair.

It's about Scott Foley's Noel (the Potsie of the crew) letting loose, bagging that Doritos chick (a shockingly good Ali Landry) and landing a gig at red-hot Web site Icebox. It's about the fabulous Tangi Miller turning Elena into the sexiest sister on TV as she battled her pious guy's faith and the temptations of the flesh (as of last week, flesh was winning, one-zip). And it's about flaws for everyone! Felicity took a boozy stumble into a stranger's bed. Bad boy Ben (Scott Speedman) finally hit Al-Anon instead of another person after his alcoholic dad (John Ritter) bussed his babe. And new girl Molly (Sarah-Jane Potts) revealed her darker side - and her deadly boyfriend (Eddie Cahill) - just in time to kick the living Christmas lights out of tonight's ominous cliffhanger.

We've all seen the previews. Someone brings a gun to the gang's holiday party, but after that, I'm not saying. That's why it's a cliffhanger, folks. What I can tell you is that Felicity's mom (Eve Gordon) drops in on her daughter and doesn't like what she finds, two couples face splitsville and a lovable loser lets slip his secret regrets about the girl that got away. Drama, humor, romance and suspense - it's a huge episode that could have been the show's last. Thankfully, we'll get more in a few months, and things are finally looking less hairy for the show's future.

But just to be safe, let's all keep those scissors out of Russell's reach, Ok?