I know it’s not quite fall yet, but Amy’s recent post about re-reading Anne of Green Gables every Spring reminded me of how I love to watch My So-Called Life every fall.
It is my favorite tv series of all time. Not because it was the best show ever, or the most well-written, or the best acted, or the most creative plot lines. Although in all of those areas I believe it ranks high among other series, and likely highest of it’s genre. It is my favorite because it felt most true to my life.
I was Angela Chase. I’m sure a lot of teenage girls felt the same way, but her story so closely mirrored my own that I always felt connected to her character and the rest of the characters on the show. Each time I watch it, although I know the plot lines and the dialogue so well, I get wrapped up in the story. I am thrilled when Jordan first notices Angela and calls out her name, I hold my breath when he leans toward her in his car waiting and hoping he’ll kiss her, I commiserate when Angela finally has a relationship with Jordan but he doesn’t acknowledge it publicly, and I want to get up and dance with her (and sometimes I do) when she realizes that she is finally over him.
I know all of the stories and all of the characters so well. They are just like old friends, so familiar, I love them all. Every character on the show has been a person or a few different people in my life and I can’t help but watch and associate them with the people and memories of my own years in high school. I had my own Rayanne and Rickie and Sharon and Jordan, and of course Brian Krakow. What girl didn’t have a Jordan and a Brian Krakow in their high school life? (If you have no idea what I’m talking about you might want to check out this fansite that provides descriptions of the characters and plot-lines.)
I watched it when it originally aired on ABC when I was in seventh grade and then when it subsequently aired on MTV every year through high school beginning every September, and now I watch it on DVD every fall as school begins. Just hearing the theme song feels like fall and going back to school and wearing plaid and flannel.
One Comment
I’ll have to come over sometime and watch a couple of episodes of My So-Called Life with you.
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[...] on to My So-Called Life. I’m sure everyone remembers how much I adore My So-Called Life and how much it reminds me of fall. Well, my dear friend Amy also had a great affection for the [...]
[...] a teenager it meant plaid skirts, flannel, and hooded sweatshirts, it meant My So-Called Life reruns would begin and it meant long dark evenings just sitting in my car talking with [...]