My So-Called Life (Complete Series)

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking!
Review: I love this show soooo much! I am currently 15 and as a teenager, we need more shows like this. At first I started watching Degrassi when I was about 12 and I loved that show so much, so I continued to watch it. Then, I noticed that there was going to be a new show airing on my birthday, January 1st. It turned out to be My So-Called Life and I continued to watch it because Claire Danes was on the show and she was truly my idol. I had first seen her in Romeo & Juliet (1996) and I just had a feeling that this show was going to be even better. I fell madly in love with MSCL and I'm 100% sure that you will, too. This show made me realize that I'm not alone when it comes to the pressures of being a teenager.

Rating:
Summary: Finally on DVD!!
Review: Ever since TV was invented, there were shows about the trials & angst of being a teen ager. What makes 'My So Called Life'so great?

Lets start with the performances - which were great, especially considering this was an unknown cast - from everyone - not only the main characters, but also from the supporting cast, no matter how small their part was.

Then there was the writing, that somehow managed to perfrctly describe what being a teenager feels like.

Then there were the situations - these weren't kids that were only obsessed about sex, nor were they aliens - they were normal kids, just like most of us, dealing with love & sex, but also with relationships with parents, with old & new friends, with drinking & drugs, driving, learning disabilities, and teen homosexuality and its possible reprecautions. Not only did it deal with the lives of 15 / 16 years old, it also involved the story of the Chase family parents, and of little sister Danielle - so it appealed to many group levels, not only to tenagers in a very narrow age range.
The only thing wrong with this set is the lack of special features, which would've helped it be more than just a recording of one of the best ever TV shows.

Rating:
Summary: adolescence---- REAL adolescence
Review: this is an amazing show. it was critically acclaimed and rightfully so. it's great because it's honest and has real feeling. the subject matter is interesting and unlike anything else on television. i crave shows that are real... i'm not talking about reality television, because that's not real. this is one of the smartest and most entertaining series from the 1990s. even the storylines with the B characters are intriguing. it's unfortunate that they quit making this dvd set. somehow make sure you see at least one episode... rent it, borrow it from a friend, do whatever you can to catch this miracle.

Rating:
Summary: ~*~Compete Season 5 Disk DVD-Set AVAILABLE!~*~
Review: I have a copy of the rare Complete My So Called Life 5 DVD Box set available, which is now very rare and out of print. Email me at [e-mail] if you are interested.

Rating:
Summary: See MSCL on Netflicks
Review: You can rent MSCL on Netflicks,an online dvd rental program. It's about fifteen bucks a month for unlimited movies. A lot cheaper than buying the program.



Rating:
Summary: Loved it since I was 8
Review: I remember watching this show when I was like 8. I didnt really get the shoe, and I dont even think it mattered to me. All I knew was that her name was Angela. I was so upset when the MSCL got cancelled. But years later I got into Degrassi. And I was so stoked to find out that MSCL would be coming on The-N. I love this show so much. Each episode is awesome. Angela is so deep. everything in her life affects the way I view situations in my like. definately the BEST SHOW EVER!!!

Rating:
Summary: Sublime portraits
Review: I have always disliked teenagers. When I was a child, they frightened me. When I was an adolescent, and was forced to spend most of my time in their exclusive company, they depressed me--all the more so because I was one of them. As an adult, they annoy me. As such, I tend to detest every TV show or movie that deals with their "issues". But I must admit that this show, with its undeniably superb quality in every aspect, forced me to reconsider my lifelong stance. As much as I hate to admit it, a TV show actually adjusted my attitude towards an entire demographic class. I still prefer to avoid interacting with them, but when I do, I am much less judgmental and cynical towards teenagers than I used to be. But it must be said that the show's writers displayed an acute sensibility to every character in every age group--the parents, the little sister, the teachers, the grandparents. The writing--and the acting and directing--achieved the sublime task of bringing the conflict and ambiguity of each person's inner life into the audience's radar. It's almost as if the viewer is deified, transformed into some sort of angel or ghost that can read the hearts of people who try so hard to hide them, engendering a profound, almost supernatural, empathy. When I first casually tuned in, half way into something like the fifth episode in its original airing, I was stunned. At first I didn't know what it was--I landed in one of the scenes where the mom and dad are interacting by themselves. The music and camera work kept my thumb off the remote, but I became enthralled by their portrayals. When I realized it was "that new teen show", I was tempted to skip it, but I couldn't. I watched the rest of the season religiously. A beautiful example of what good television can aspire to. I was always impressed by Claire Danes--she perfectly braided the foolish self-centeredness of adolescence into the wistful, reflective wisdom at the character's core. So much of the show was on her shoulders, and she carried it like a true professional, making it look easy.

Rating:
Summary: Teen Angst at it's Best
Review: Angela Chase is your typical teen in many ways. But her character is complex and defies the standard of your average teen girl. She has two parents who desparately try to communicate and understand their complicated daughter and a little sister who often gets on her nerves. Her best friend is a "trouble-maker" who finds herself in trouble with alcohol, drugs and other issues and a love interest who doesn't exactly live up to the standards of a true "boyfriend."

These characters engage us in complex ways. You find yourself empathzing with each but always "routing" for Angela. All of the embarrassing, awkward moments throw us back to our own high school years. The first loves, difficulty in certain classes and challening relationships with our siblings and parents. This was one of the best series on television and we are fortunate to have it available on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Related to my era - growing up in '60s
Review: Very emotional for me. Great! I had a love in the '60s who wasn't very available -- I could definitely relate. Forty plus years later I still dream about him and it's still very emotional to see him at reunions. We just had our 40th reunion. I still cry after seeing him. Re: My So Called Life: I love the whole story line; it takes me back some yet I now realize that it's still the same in many ways for many young people. I really feel for young people today for I think life is really rough for a lot of you. Please love and respect yourselves and others. Let's all be on the same team. It's so difficult for 2 people to get along sometimes no wonder there's war. I pray for this to change. God Bless.


Rating:
Summary: Better than it looks
Review: In responce to the "Thirtysomething" review...This show was diffrent than the other teen shows that aired in the 90's. I would hardly concider the characters as almost-privlaged. This show talks about real issues that relate to teen life; sex, drugs, alcoholism, and abuse. The characters are hardly "token". This show was more realilistic than others (90210 for example). It was a normal show with normalish (hey it's still television) teens dealing with normal problem. And concidering the lack of gay characters on mainstream television at the time, I would hardly concider Ricky "the stereotypical gay guy" the fact that the character chose to wear make-up doesn't necissarily make him a sterotype. Before characterizing the characters as "token" you really need to go back to when the show was first aired on television, times were diffrent then and having a guy (openly or otherwise) was not a common sight to see.

All in all I thought the series was a good depiction of teen life, the issues that teens face today are the same as they were in the 90's when this show first aired.