My So-Called Life - The Complete Series (1994)

Featuring all 19 episodes of the sadly-defunct television series MY SO-CALLED LIFE this definitive box-set follows the trials and tribulations of 15-year-old Angela Chase (Claire Danes) as she navigates through the adolescent dramas of middle-class American high-school life. Danes won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the angst-ridden Angela bringing a universality to the character that has granted the show its timeless appeal. Although the mopey redhead is always the focal point of the episodes there's no shortage of excellent supporting roles including Angela's heartthrob crush Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto); shy admirer Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall); wild-girl best friend Rayanne (A.J. Langer); closeted gay friend Ricky (Wilson Cruz); and often-clueless parents Patty (Bess Armstrong) and Graham (Tom Irwin). With its great acting smart dialogue and moody direction MY SO-CALLED LIFE deserved more than its single-season run and retains a loyal cult following. Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 826663105582 Manufacturer No: SF10558 Product Description

My so-called life dvd

I have waited so long for this to be available....I absolutely love it! Each program is complete, and a few have commentaries., Booklet that comes with it is fun, gives a little more info on the show and storylines. Wish there was more 'behind the scenes' or other footage of the actors, and at least a little something of Jared Leto...thats really the only bit thats missing July 3, 2008

A blast from the past

I was so excited to see they were releasing this again. I was introduced to this series thanks to MTV and love reliving that time in my life as I watched the episodes. Claire Danes...what a talent before her time. This show really helped a lot of actors and actresses get a their start. It is great to see them all again. June 11, 2008

My Favorite Moments

Writing a review for something that I loved as much as I loved "My So-Called Life" is so much more difficult than writing a negative review. Unlike flaws, the stuff that makes up the fabric of a great television shows aren't as easy to point out. Good writing, good direction, good acting, good lighting, and everything else that goes into a television show, if well done, blends together in a very organic way and, instead of standing out, contributes to the overall effect of the show. Such in the case with "My So-Called Life," which makes this gem of a show so much harder to review.

If I had to pick out what was best about this show, I guess I'd say how downplayed and true to life the writing is. There are no huge revelations, no earth-shaking events... just life, as seen through the eyes of Angela Chase (played by Claire Danes, who is a force of nature). Her relationship with her friends evolves erratically throughout the series, as does everyone's view of her. Nothing is static from episode to episode, and the resolution made in the end of Episode 6 might be completely reversed in Episode 7. Another great part about this show is that none of the characters are just fodder. Each of them (even some of the recurring characters) seem to have an equal share of the "My So-Called Life" pie.

Speaking of which, I thought it was so admirable that creator Winnie Holzman made the parents such complex characters and gave them so much screen time. Heck, there were even episodes where I thought Pattie and Graham Chase got more screen time than Angela. Even some of the best teen oriented shows had the parents reduced to either moral-support figures or foils for the teen protagonist, but Angela's parents were so much more. Like all of Holzman's characters, they were intensely flawed yet sympathetic characters that interacted wonderfully with the cast.

The presentation of the show is unrivaled as far as TV on DVD goes. Many episodes have commentary, the menus are quirky and reflect the mood of the show (and are backed with great music), and there is an entire bonus disc filled with insightful special features that have interviews and features on all the lead actors as well as the creator, Winnie Holzman. There is a companion book with the DVD that features an episode guide and some essays, notably one from Buffy/Angel/Firefly creator Joss Whedon. The box that holds the DVDs looks and feels like a big, thick book, much like what the series itself felt like when I was taking it in.

The attention to subtlety and detail of "My So-Called Life," both in the show itself and the presentation, is what made the show so great. There are no big swooping gestures, no contrived beautiful-people drama, just a truly poignant, true-to-life story about a young girl. Highlights of this criminally short series are "So-Called Angels" (the tear-jerking Christmas episode), "Life of Brian," and the series finale, though--as Joss Whedon pointed out in his essay--it would be silly to try to point out the best part of "My So-Called Life," because I would just start describing each episode. And you might as well just watch the series. Because you won't regret it.

9/10 June 8, 2008

it was my so called life...

you know whats crazy about this show is it really was my life. i mean i loved this show so much. it made me understand myself to see my self. if you never saw the show SHAME ON YOU!!! if you werent born when the show came out ok maybe you have an out but still SHAME ON YOU!!! i received this as a 26th bday gift, i cried like i was 15 again. It to this day is one of the best gifts i have ever gotten for my bday.

the show is truth, love, anger, hate, acceptance and above all understanding how maybe why it is the way it is. you are really able to see why you did what you did why we did what we did. its just your so called life. April 19, 2008

Thirtysomething for People Under Twentysomething

At last, a show that deals with the tragedy of being young, beautiful and well-off. Boo-hoo-hoo. April 14, 2008

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