The DVD Dissection: My So-Called Life - The Complete Series
Posted by Chad Webb on 11.08.2007
The brilliant short-lived show finally gets the DVD treatment it deserves!
Claire Danes: Angela Chase
Jared Leto: Jordan Catalano
A,J. Langer: Rayanne Graff
Wilson Cruz: Rickie Vasquez
Bess Armstrong: Patty Chase
Tom Irwin: Graham Chase
Lisa Wilhoit: Danielle Chase
Devon Gummersall: Brian Krakow
Devon Odessa: Sharon Cherski
Created By: Winnie Holzman
Directed By: Mark Piznarski, Scott Winant, and Todd Holland
Series Air Date: 1994 -1995
DVD Release Date: October 30, 2007
DVD Running Time: 1110 minutes
Episode Running Time: 60 minutes (w/commercials)/47-48 minutes (w/out commercials)
The Show
Very few shows accurately excavated the tension and anguish of adolescent angst. The Wonder Years was the most popular, Freaks and Geeks was basically truthful and geared more towards comedy, but My So-Called Life captured the essence of this confusing time like no other show in history. Its short-lived lifespan was no doubt tragic, as it could have been increasingly spectacular with future seasons, but thankfully these 19 episodes have been bestowed upon the fans to treasure for years to come.
What separates My So-Called Life from other televisions shows is how daring and ambitious it consistently was with regard to thematically rocky terrain and controversial issues. It was groundbreaking quite honestly. Topics like homosexuality, student violence, teenage alcoholism, drug use, homelessness, and so forth were not covered on Full House or Saved by the Bell. In addition, when certain subjects did arise, they were then integrated into that universe, and were not dismissed like most half-hour sitcoms would have done. The honesty of My So-Called Life reached countless kids and tugged at their heart strings in an intimate way.
Created by Winnie Holzman, and Produced by Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Glory) and Marshall Herskovitz (Thirtysomething), the show is set in Three Rivers, Pennsylvania, a fictional suburb near Pittsburgh, and the students attend Liberty High. It ostensibly revolves around Angela Chase, a 15 year-old girl who is struggling with her identity and who she wants to be. She starts hanging out with Rayanne Graff, a rebellious classmate who drinks and has relations with numerous males, and Rickie Vasquez, a sexually ambiguous Latino/African American. By associating with these people, Angela has a falling out with her best friend of many years, Sharon Cerski, and constantly worries her parents, Graham and Patty. Angela has a hard crush on Jordan Catalano, a quiet guy in a band called Frozen Embryos. Along for the ride is Angela's younger sister Danielle, and her neighbor Brian Krakow, a highly intelligent Jewish boy who is in love with her.
My So-Called Life initially aired on ABC for a short time from August 25, 1994 to January 26, 1995. Due to low ratings, the show was cancelled, but fans protested so fervently that serious consideration was given to revving its engines again. However, Claire Danes (Angela Chase) was reluctant to continue at that point. Her film career was looking up, and when discussing the reasons for the show not returning, she is mentioned the most, but from what I have seen, the crew was not all that saddened. In the extras they describe the cancellation as a "slow impending death" because the network would only renew the series for a few episodes at a time, so no one ever knew how much longer it would last. What makes it upsetting is the enormously distressing cliffhanger it concludes on.
The fans did attempt to urge ABC into bringing it back, but when rumors spread over the Internet that Danes had a part in the cancellation, a huge debate commenced between those who supported her, and those who were furious with her decision. We all would have loved another season, but the fact remains that My So-Called Life was ahead of its time and ABC had no clue how to promote it. Winnie Holzman stated that she did not write the show specifically for teens, so of course the network was stumped on how to publicize it. When MTV picked it up, and aired the episodes continuously, the shows fanbase grew larger. The premise fit into MTV’s style perfectly for that period.
One incontestable fact was how largely unpredictable the storylines were. This made the show progressively more addictive because audiences were handed something unusual, yet pleasurable at the same time. No dramatic resolutions or life lessons were learned via a talk with parents, no astonishingly ridiculous twists occurred, and no immediate or miraculous conclusions happened. It was unlike anything viewers had seen. Ironically, in the pilot, Graham says "Clichés happen" to his brother. What is odd is how My So-Called Life possessed virtually no clichés. The characters seemed more human than we were used to, hence their actions, and the impact of the consequences, was profound and authentic. Furthermore, Holzman’s ripe trajectory enveloped both adults and children.
Claire Danes is Angela Chase, and she is fabulous as a sobering and neurotic protagonist. Her body language is what makes her performance so outstanding. As Rayanne Graff, A.J. Langer takes what could have been an irritating character, and transforms her into a lively loose cannon. Wilson Cruz paved the way for all sorts of gay characters as Rickie Vasquez. But Rickie is an engaging person because of his acting as a moral core to Rayanne and Angela, not just because of his mysterious sexual preference. Rickie was a bizarre invention for TV, but the crew built him with delicacy. Brian Krakow is played with tremendous range and spot-on timing by Devon Gummersall. Brian is socially inept, but not in the traditional sense. He is a regular guy with feelings of his own, and he learns a lot during the course of the show. He might be my favorite character. Patty and Graham Chase are portrayed by Bess Armstrong and Tom Irwin. I know parents like this, and have witnessed similar arguments that occur in the storylines. From a child’s perspective the parents are aggravating, but that is the point. Devon Odessa is Sharon Cerski, and she shines most when it is only she and Angela on screen. What makes her interesting is that all of us have encountered rough patches with friends, and Sharon expresses that transition beautifully. And finally Jared Leto made a name for himself as Jordan Catalano, and if anyone doubts his talent from his film or music career, all they need to do is look at his efforts here. He was not even intended to be a regular character, but he was so convincing that Holzman immediately asked him back.
The influence of My So-Called Life on pop-culture is irrefutable. Regardless of such a mammoth cult following, acclaimed reviews, and multiple awards, the fascination stems from addressing and pioneering hot button problems in society. Without its presence, the mounds of imitators could not have copied many of its ideas, and failed in doing so. The list is endless. It is worth noting that Catherine Clark wrote a book called My So-Called Life Goes On that is not considered official story. A more magical show cannot be found anywhere on high school traumas’. All the proper ingredients fell into place, and a gem was born that the masses could easily identify with.
The Episodes
DISC 1
Pilot (48:18) - One of the best introductions in television, period. I already discussed the plot above, but it starts with Angela Chase dying her hair crimson glow, and breaking away from her long time best friend and rebelling against her parents. From here on out, you are hooked. 10.0/10.0
Dancing in the Dark (47:30) - Angela tries to get closer to Jordan by getting a fake I.D. She plans to meet him with Rayanne and Rickie over at Brian’s house while working on an extra credit project. Brian has no clue. The parental dancing sub-plot was just ok, but the rest was fantastic. This exposes the hardships for males and females in connecting and forming chemistry. I loved it. 9.0/10.0
Guns and Gossip (47:25) - Chaos ensues when Brian witnesses a scuffle and a gun going off, and Angela’s interaction with Jordan caused some false gossip to spread rapidly. This is one of the best episodes of the show, brilliantly realizing the touchy issues of gun violence in school, not to mention stupid rumors, and how they spiral out of control. 10.0/10.0
DISC 2
Father Figures (47:46) - In a multi-generational father/daughter conflict, Patty must take charge when her father induces an audit from the I.R.S. Meanwhile, Angela gets into trouble regarding some free Grateful Dead concert tickets. The emotion went a little heavy this time, but this still contained many heartfelt and important messages in terms of relationships with a father. 10.0/10.0
The Zit (47:26) - Angela and Patty are coming to grips with the feeling that they are not as beautiful as they think they should be. Patty has developed lines on her face, and Angela has a zit. I have seen a lot of shows that touch on zits, but this one just throws a different twist on it so that the ending is not forseeable or dumb. This is another great episode. 10.0/10.0
The Substitute (48:12) - Liberty High School must confront censorship when an off the wall substitute teacher persuades the class to write liberal poetry. This had a Dead Poet’s Society ring to it, but trust me, it doesn’t unfold like you may suspect. 9.0/10.0
Why Jordan Can’t Read (47:27) - Angela learns that Jordan can’t read well when an emotionally draining note falls into his hands. This increases her fondness for him, and the two even schedule a date. The song by Leto, the uncertainty of gambling with young love, and its potential ramifications made this episode superlative. 10.0/10.0
DISC 3
Strangers in the House (48:22) - Sharon’s father suffers a heart attack that causes Graham to question his own mortality. While her father is in the hospital, Angela and Sharon mend old wounds, and share some tears. Awww. This was not nearly as strong as other submissions, bit still solid. 8.5/10.0
Halloween (48:25) - Angela finds herself investigating the death of a former student in this quirky Halloween episode. Also, Patty and Graham ditch a party to have sex in costumes. What was neat is that this had some talk on Kurt Cobain, who had just died. This plot was very weird in retrospect, but still amusing. 8.0/10.0
Other People’s Mothers (47:36) - Rayanne is having serious trouble with her alcohol addiction. When she almost overdoses at her own party, Angela’s mother saves the day, thus aiding her rapport with her daughter. This began a string of flawless episodes. This might have appeared over the top, but as we all know, excessive underage drinking does happen. 10.0/10.0
Life of Brian (48:18) - This time, the voice over comes from Brian as he struggles daily with how best to express his incoherent feelings and responses. His life becomes uncomfortable when a dance arrives. He asks one girl, but Angela doesn’t have a date. Also Patty recommends that Graham take a cooking class. Superb stuff. 10.0/10.0
DISC 4
Self Esteem (47:53) - Lots of various story threads are sorted out. Angela’s relationship with Jordan in the boiler room is not what she had in mind, Brian is still obsessing over Angela, a teacher requests Rickie join the drama club, and Graham turns out to be an intelligent chef. Some of these episodes hit home hardcore for me as I experienced so many similar situations. 10.0/10.0
Pressure (47:51) - Angela does not now whether or not she should sleep with her bf Jordan Catalano (it's a law that you must say his full name), and Graham is pressured by Hallie Lowenthal to go into the restaurant business. I thoroughly enjoyed both Angela’s and Graham’s portions of this episode. We all know how complicated these decisions can be. 10.0/10.0
On the Wagon (48:02) - Angela is spending all of her time with Jordan Catalano, and Rayanne is trying to stay sober. Since Rayanne has so much free time, she elects to join Jordan’s band. How does devoting oneself to a significant other affect how you spend time with friends? This episode addresses deftly that. 9.0/10.0
So-Called Angels (48:59) - Rickie’s homelife takes a turn for the worse where he ends up sleeping in an abandoned building with runaways and homeless folk. While Angela strives to help him, she meets a mysterious girl. The “angel” piece was a bit unnecessary, but Rickie is given a lot to handle at long last. 9.0/10.0
DISC 5
Resolutions (48:40) - It is New Year’s Eve, and everyone is making resolutions they can’t keep. Graham is considering Hallie’s proposal, Rickie’s existence is still tough, and Brian is stuck tutoring Jordan. Rickie’s material with the teacher got way intense, but overall this episode worked terrifically. 9.0/10.0
Betrayal (47:53) - Angela is now over Jordan Catalano, but when Rayanne has sex with him one drunken night, it forces their friendship to crack down the middle. To make matters worse, Brian caught the whole affair on tape with his yearbook camcorder. A riveting and classic episode from beginning to startling end. 10.0/10.0
Weekend (46:35) - Patty and Graham have planned a weekend getaway where she caves in and gets hammered. Back at the house, Angela is in charge, and Rayanne visits, but a pair of kinky handcuffs force her to stay. This was undoubtedly the weakest episode, but that does not mean it was bad. Compared to the bulk however, it was shaky. 7.5/10.0
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities (47:24) - Jordan asks Brian to help him with winning back Angela, Sharon and Rayanne unexpectedly become close, and one girl has a crush on Rickie. The season/series finale was utterly masterful, and even thought the cliffhanger left us craving more, it does not change how great it was. 10.0/10.0
The Video
This transfer has been wonderfully improved since the first version. The most notable alteration of the video is the costumes, which range from a wide variety of colors, especially on Rayanne. The pastels and dark tones look splendid. The inside of Angela's house is primarily a dreary place in terms of lighting and shades of furniture. The school looks like any school I suppose. Flashy colors or bright visuals were never a priority for this show. Realism was always the key, so that is what the video quality resembles more than anything else. As a rule, I say that video and audio is of little importance, but in the case of My So-Called Life, there was ample room for adjustments, and "Shout" has delivered. Hardly any grain, soft spots, or blurriness can be seen, and aside from some balance issues, it is without flaws. This is presented in full frame with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
The Audio
The audio will reveal no more complaints either. The sound mixing is first-rate with the score and various 90's songs coming across superbly. The music is really the main facet of this portion that can be judged because the show itself is mostly talking. The narration and dialogue are both completely understandable all around. I never had to adjust my volume knob to any extreme. No one whispers on this show. Everybody speaks very clearly at a satisfying pitch. Subtitles are included in English, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is magnificent. Let me tell you, the audio and video will not get any better than it has been constructed on this set.
The Packaging
My So-Called Life - The Complete Series is distributed in a cardboard box set that opens like a scrapbook. Inside is a cardboard digipack that unfolds with three sections holding six overlapping discs. Also included is a booklet, a big one, which is fantastic with Jordan’s note, reflections from Joss Whedon, and all sorts of doodles. Also inserted is an advertisement for other DVD releases. The casing is cardboard, but thick enough that it is secured well, not flimsy, and will look nice on any shelf display. The cover is also good, as it expresses Angela's attitude throughout the show. The menus are top-notch with a short clip from an episode on the discs, followed by more images to then navigate. Packaging doesn't get much better than this.
The Extras
On November 19, 2002 a hideous box set of My So-Called Life was released that only had the episodes, no extras, and poor audio/video quality. It was ridiculously expensive and hard to locate. It is now out of print.
Audio Commentaries - The commentary tracks are such a welcomed supplement to this set. There are six in all, which range from average to extraordinary. “Pilot” has Marshall Herskovitz, Winnie Holzman, and Scott Winant. “Other People’s Mothers” has Bess Armstrong and Claudia Weill. “Life of Brian” has Devon Gummersall, Todd Holland, and Jason Katims. “Self-Esteem” has Claire Danes and Winnie Holzman. “So-Called Angels” includes Wilson Cruz, Winnie Holzman, and Scott Winant. “Weekend” has Lisa Wilhoit, Bess Armstrong, and Adam Dooley. The best is “Pilot” where the creators chat about all sorts of unknown trivia. As a whole, these tracks are funny, enlightening, and never boring. Some understandable blank spots can be heard here and there, but these are all scintillating.
My So-Called Life Story (23:49) – This is your standard mini-documentary, but this just scratches the surface of the extras. This concentrates on the road to debuting, the characters, the cancellation, writing, and creator Winnie Holzman. Interviews from cast and crew members are abundant and informative.
A Conversation with Claire Danes and Winnie Holzman (21:45) – This feature has the star and the creator sitting apart from each other having a nice discussion. They talk about maturing throughout the show, feeling like shooting took place in a bubble or in its own world, first kisses, the tarot cards, and so on. This is an absorbing exchange, one that explains a great deal.
A Conversation with Marshall Herskovitz and Winnie Holzman (14:19) – This is a shorter chitchat, but still instructive and hilarious. These two tackle the initial idea, writing as a girl’s diary, doing research, inspirations, a possible 30 minute running time, and Claire Danes. The more admiration you have for the show, the better you will like these extras.
The Characters - This is divided into three sections. The first is titled “Angela” (15:56), the second is “The Chase Family” (16:02), and the third is “The Friends” (28:52). These featurettes begin with voiceovers from the performers now, and proceed to really sink their teeth into the characters. Updated interviews with each person is amazing, except that Jared Leto is the only one who chose not to contribute. I don’t know where I would start in divulging what topics are raised. I shouldn’t spoil too much of the set for you. This is one of the best parts if you like looking at how they have changed over the years.
Interview with Claire Danes (8:02) – Danes opens up about her story which began with My So-Called Life. Her acting, attitude, risks, and how she burrowed into character are among the subjects. She looks gorgeous, and her evident respect for the show kind of makes all the frustrations about her involvement in the cancellation dissolve away.
The Music (15:41) - W.G. Snuffy Walden is the man behind the theme song and every other piece of music in the series’ run. He, Marshall Herskovitz, and other crew associates disclose plenty of information on the melodies from the tiny ones we overlook, to the popular songs, and the “Go, Now Go!” line at the beginning of each episode. I can’t remember when a package spent this much time on music. Bring it on.
Highlights: The 1995 Museum of Television and Radio Panel (31:23) – This is an edited version of a Q & A session that has most of the cast present, except Leto. The questions are actually intriguing, unlike on Kevin Smith’s DVD’s, and stimulate thought. This is another matchless bonus.
The Show: 10.0/10.0
The Episodes: 10.0/10.0
The Video: 9.0/10.0
The Audio: 9.0/10.0
The Packaging: 10.0/10.0
The 411: By reliving the pain, delight, awkwardness, anger, and cringing battles with life in high school, it cements My So-Called Life as a television show that no one can compete with. On a side note, this contained one of the most striking scenes in TV history with Angela and Brian standing in the middle of the street across from each other at night. This brought back memories of my teenage years that were forgotten. It is that real and that vivid of an experience. The devastating cliffhanger made our mouths drop to the floor, but Winnie Holzman and the Producers do let some potential second season storylines slip that could have flourished. This is one of the best box sets of the year with technical specifications that are proficient, packaging that is stunning, and a heaping load of extras that will keep fans busy for months. Is this cheap? No, but it is well worth the price, and you will not be sorry you spent the money.
