Amazon.com video review:
A show so popular with its core audience that it runs in
syndication even though only 19 episodes were made, My So-Called
Life was the world's first introduction to actress Claire Danes
(Romeo & Juliet, Home for the Holidays,
The Mod Squad), who played the lead character Angela. In
"Dancing in the Dark," Angela daydreams during science class,
recalling the few times she's been kissed. She's been thinking about
Jordan Catalano, a handsome boy who seems out of her reach. Her spunky
and out-of-control friend Rayanne decides to throw the two together by
getting Jordan to drop by Brian Krakow's house, where Angela and Brian
(who has a crush on Angela) are doing a science project for extra
credit. Meanwhile, Angela's parents try to rekindle their
marriage-worn affections by taking up ballroom dancing. While both
Angela and her parents muddle through their experiments with romance,
viewers are treated to a well-written, shot and edited show, which set
the pace for all hour-long teen oriented programs to come.
"Guns and Gossip" continues with the parallel story structure of
"Dancing in the Dark." Brian Krakow witnesses a gunshot in the hallway
at school. As word passes, Brian becomes more and more of a legendary
figure. While he is pressured by school officials and uptight parents
to identify the person involved, Angela has to contend with rumors
that she slept with Jordan Catalano. Boys start looking at her
differently, and she finds herself at delicate odds with Jordan. Less
about romance and more about teenage issues, "Guns and Gossip" is a
sophisticated intertwining between the power of rumors and the truth
of actual events. --Shannon Gee
Amazon.com video review:
Although the television show My So-Called Life ran for
a mere 19 episodes, its popularity has lived on in syndication,
various Web sites (that include fan fiction and episode analysis), and
home video. Volume 3 of the video series includes the episodes
"Father Figure" and "The Zit." In "Father Figure," Angela's father
Graham, who was considering having an extramarital affair, senses that
Angela is beginning to pull away from him. He tries to remedy this by
giving her and her friend Rayanne Grateful Dead tickets. While Rayanne
(who doesn't know her father) is joyous, Angela, who is suspicious,
wants nothing to do with the tickets and decides to scalp
them. Angela's mother Patty is also struggling with her own father who
doubts her ability to run the family business. When the business is
audited by the IRS the same night as the concert, fathers and
daughters clash as they try to equalize their relationships.
In "The Zit," the sophomore girls top-40 list is released at
school. While Rayanne is deemed "most slut potential" and Angela's
estranged friend Sharon is voted "best hooters," Angela's only award
is a big pimple on her chin. As her self-esteem shrinks, Patty insists
she participate in the yearly mother-daughter fashion show, coaching
her on "how to look your best." Although Patty has always been told
how pretty she is, her own insecurities on aging have projected onto
fixing up Angela, who feels she will never live up to her mother's
expectations. Bess Armstrong, who plays Patty, gives a complex
performance here and Angela and Sharon exchange harsh words in a scene
that rings true to life. --Shannon Gee
