GGS 11.09 One & Done: My So-Called Life
Welcome to our “One & Done” series! On the first week of every month this year, we will get the gang (Susan, Kelly, Cort, Amelia, & Chris) together to discuss a series that was prematurely canceled in or after the first season.
We kick off this so-called series with all 19 episodes of 1994’s “My So-Called Life” (Hulu).
This was an interesting one in that we came at the show from different perspectives. Amelia and Cort watched the series when it first aired and were the same ages as the characters in the show. Kelly watched it later when it went into repeats on MTV, and she already had a toddler (maybe another baby, too—can’t remember). And Susan and Chris experienced the show for the first time with this viewing.
Susan and Chris thought they wouldn’t make it through episode 1. So. Much. Teenage. Angst. It did take Susan about half the episodes before she enjoyed the show. Chris was hooked by the end of episode 1. And we all agree that the show is fabulous.
Yes, Angela (Claire Danes) is self-absorbed, oblivious, and single-mindedly focused on Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto). (I dare you to try to say his name without saying his whole name. Jordan Catalano. You can’t do it. You just can’t.) But she is the vehicle through which the show creator Winnie Holzman shares lessons and shows growth.
We love all the other teen characters of Rayanne, Sharon, Delia, Ricky, and Brian. Oh, and the ever-invisible but dying-for-attention Danielle. It seems as if the only time her parents notice that she’s there is when she’s dressed like big-sister Angela.
We really appreciate how the show isn’t just about the teens. Parents and teachers not only are present, but have actual personalities and story arcs that we care about. We want to know if Graham gets his restaurant, and if he leaves Patty for Hallie. We want to know more about Mr. Katimski and if he gets fired for being gay.
We already know what Angela does when she grows up. She gets bipolar disorder, changes her name to Carrie, joins the C.I.A., and…. You can find out the rest on “Homeland” (Showtime). Jared Catalano joins a real band, becomes an actor, wins an Oscar….
For real, though, listen to the end of the podcast as Cort tells us what Holzman had planned for season 2, if Claire Danes had decided to keep doing the show.
Next month’s One & Done series is “Awake.”
Next week we’re back to regular programming with “The Roshomon Effect”: “Roshomon” (HBO Max), “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai” (Criterion), and “Hoodwinked” (YouTube).
Follow Cort’s podcast with Brad at PureFandom.com
Check out Susan’s movie stats on Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/barbisu/stats/
Listen to Kelly’s podcast at Brand + Design Scoop
Original music by Garrett Thompson
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