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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Jill Murphy

Only 19 episodes ever aired of the 1994 cult favorite MY SO-CALLED LIFE, but those same 19 episodes are still airing in reruns, entrancing a whole new generation of teenagers with their realism and intensity. For teens Angela Chase (Claire Danes), Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), Rickie Vasquez (Wilson Cruz), Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall), Sharon Cherski (Devon Odessa), and Rayanne Graff (A.J. Langer), life in high school is, like, hard -- or whatever. Angela's story follows the true transition of a suburban girl from a middle-class family as she breaks off from her best friend from junior high (Sharon) and the geek next door (Brian) and begins to discover herself in high school. Angela dyes her hair, befriends the school tramp (Rayanne) and her gay best friend (Rickie), and falls for the epitome of the dumb, hot upperclassman, Jordan Catalano (his first name is rarely spoken without his last name following).

Is It Any Good?

5

My So-Called Life handles standard high school woes with delicate insight, covering everything from zits, a gun at school, and the cool kid who can't read to censorship in the classroom, best friends' betrayal, a teen boy's struggle to come out, and other situations that run the sexual gamut.

My So-Called Life made TV history by being the first show to include "like" and "ya know" in its teen characters' dialogue. Unfortunate as that may be, it is relatable for the average American high school student -- My So-Called Life is a show that actually speaks their language. Also, the series' topics (and the maturity with which they were handled) put My So-Called Life ahead of its mid-'90s time -- which ultimately may have been part of the reason for its quick demise. But it has rarely left the airwaves since, airing over and over in repeats, a fact that speaks to its lasting quality and ability to deliver both entertainment and conversation for teens and their parents.

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