For christmas I ended up with the DVD Collection of My So-Called Life. Since that time, I have had ample opportunity to watch it a few times. Now, I remember all the reasons why I liked this short lived television series from 1991.
MSCL was break-through tv. It was the first show that portrayed what life was like from the inside out. Angelas narrative thoughts were and continue to be, quite profound and very insightful. A glimpse into her world allowed other teenagers and parents to feel what it was realty like to be a teenager in the early 90's.
It is raw and gritty with the pumped up beautification, valley girl lingo,pimped up hair dos and clothing of Beverly Hills 90210 removed.Its the real deal.
Clair Danes is fabulous as central character Angela Chase. She is introspective and looking for love...trying to find herself amongst the ashes. Her mother, Patty, is a rather annoying character who reeks of perfectionist tendencies and over achievement. Ah, another child who never lived up to her parents lofty expectations. Yeah, she can be pretty hard to watch sometimes.
Her father, Graham, is well meaning, kindof searching for himself as well and extremely henpecked. He cowers to his wifes every whim and he don't wear the pants in that family, Patty demasculanized him ages ago. He does play the concerned, caring, even-keeled parent very well.
Wilson Cruz plays Rickie, the feminine, gay character that brought teenage homosexuality, homelessness and abuse out of the closet for all to see. I remember the weird feeling I got when he would just walk into the girls bathroom and like, no one tried to show him out...the girls just accepted him for, well, just another girl. He was a cool gay guy who wasn't constantly on the prowl...a great character and a good, caring, trusted friend.
Sharon is Angelas once childhood friend. Somehow they part ways in high school but manage to have that "sisterly" feeling towards one another. They still care for each other, just at more of a distance. Sharon turns out to be the character who engages in and talks about her sex life. OMG,teens have sex?? Yeah, it really was pretty darn honest and somewhat informative.
Rayanne, oh I struggle with liking this character. Rayanne is the flower-child of the single, "new age", liberal, hands-off parent who drinks cocktails in the morning and has no visible means of support. Rayanne is absolutely obnoxious in her manner of speaking, clothes, hair, you name it. She is the typical teen who skips school, drinks to excess, has sex with as many guys as she can and she is Angelas new best friend.
Angela and Rayanne are total opposites...maybe thats why they ended up as close buddies...each wanting what the other one has. Rayanne is smitten with Angelas caring father and Angela longs for the freedom of expression and non-overbearing, tolerant mom.
Brian Krakow is the guy next door, the boyhood friend we all grew up with. He is a straight A student, kind, never gets into trouble...and he harbors a long-hidden secret crush on Angela that he can never fully admit to. Yeah, Angela would have been so much better off if she and Brian had just got wild and naked one night in the bushes...but No, Angela falls for a boy named Jordan Catalano.
Jordan Catalano is nothing but pure, physical animal lust and attraction. He is gorgeous but not too smart. Heck, he can't even read but Angela falls for him. His goal in life is to be one of those guys that runs the snow making machine at a ski resort. And no one ever just says, "Jordan",..its always "Jordan Catalono" as if it is, like, one word. Jordan has problems and issues of his own from the illiteracy, abusive home life and being a tool for his friends, his guy buddies who practically drag him around on a lease. He is a cad for wanting to hide his relationship with Angela from them. Its almost like he is ashamed of her...and she takes it, for awhile.
Tino, who the heck is Tino? His name gets mentioned in almost every episode. He is some invisible, cult leader-like figure who: named the band Frozen Embryos and is the lead singer, gives rides to Rickie and Rayanne, arranges music gigs and doesn't show up, finds empty houses for the kids to party in, etc...
I like this series because it really was the first tv that was honest and true, not sugar-coated and fluffy. It told it like it really was..High School was uncomfortable, a jockeying for position, a conundrum of expectations from every direction, mass confusion, hormones,etc...
If you ever get a chance to watch this series or rent the dvd, check it out
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