My So-Called Life.

Swimmingtrunks · Post by **Swimmingtrunks** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:59 pm

I'm on board with you, yeahduff- I watched the whole series last year on DVD, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It wasn't without its weaknesses, but there were characters, and more real characters than what passes nowadays. They weren't necessarily likeable- even, or maybe especially, the main character- but there was something about the exaggerated drama and the self-centered attitudes that just captured the essence of- maybe not the teenage experience per say, but actually being a teenager. It's an ugly time for a lot of us, but at the same time, we all go through it.

So yeah. My So Called Life- Awesome. Yes. I always seem to make posts when I'm feeling incoherent.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:37 am

i watched my so-called life as an early teenager... I was twelve or thirteen when the show was originally on, and I remember loving the show. I had a shit time in middle school, so I found it easy to relate. And really I think that because the show primarily focused on outcasts of the social US highschool life, it wasn't as well received by those that found themselves more akin to 90210.

Serenagold · Post by **Serenagold** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:56 pm

The main problem MSCL had with reaching an audience was that it ran Thursday nights, opposite of Friends and Seinfield. It was like the worst timeslot possible and really hurt the show in the ratings department.

That said, MSCL was an amazing series. I think the only thing that captured teenage life better in the 90's was the book Girl by Blake Nelson. (A highly recommended must-read.) What was so great about MSCL was that it never went over the top into cheesy teen-drama-land. Angela dumps all her friends to hang out with some cool outsiders. The fights were all realistic. The concerns were all real. And in the end, friendships fall apart and renew. There was a harsh cruelty to it that only exists in reality and a fair amount of vulnerability that you couldn't help but to relate.

Swimmingtrunks · Post by **Swimmingtrunks** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:54 am

Hey, I don't know whether this thread was coincidentally timely or not, but apparently the heads behind MSCL have started up another project- quarterlife. It seems to be released in short segments of episodes, and is based on young twenty-somethings instead of teenagers. From what I watched thus far it seemed a little on the usual for a friends-group-drama sort of thing, but there are definitely lines and parts that stand out- so much that some sounded like they could be right out of MSCL. Despite the fact that it's somehow aligned with MySpace and Bitsie Tulloch is not quite Claire Danes... I think I'm going to keep an eye on it.