It's TV Time!

Since I've been down for the count with exhaustion and sickness, my extra curricular activities have been limited to television. I can't read for more than fifteen minutes without getting a migraine, and the computer screen is equally as bad.

So what have I been watching?

Well, one of my favorite shows, White Collar, airs new episodes during the summer, so that kept me busy for an hour a week. Add to that Covert Affairs, My So Called Life, and a Buffy re-watch, and I'm pretty much in heaven.

My So Called Life - I know I'm supposed to be doing recaps weekly of this show, but I cheated and watched a few in a row. The last episode I watched was PRESSURE, and I have to say that I'm really starting to have this crazy love-hate relationship with Jordan. Just when I think he's going to push past his rebel without a care persona, he says something really jerky to Angela. Jordan! I just want to fall in love with you!

I'm also starting to like the parent plot line. It's hard not to feel bad for Patty with her weird parents, and for Graham, who has no clue what he really wants to do with his life. I'm glad he finally seems to be finding his place. He's come a long way from the cheater we first encountered.

Doctor Who - My other obsession right now is Doctor Who. To those who don't watch it - why the heck not? It's an amazing show. And it's so much more than sci-fi time travel. It has compassion, romance and comedy. There's really something for everyone in this show. In the interest of not spoiling it, I'll just say, OH BOY!, the eleventh doctor's storyline just keeps getting better and better. I urge you to pick it up if you don't already follow!

So what's on your television lately?

My So Called Life: Halloween

The obligatory Halloween episode. Every show has at least one. Maybe even a few if it's been on long enough, and today I'll let you know my thoughts on how MSCL handled it.

As soon as Angela changed into her costume, I got a weird feeling like I'd seen this episode before. Then it hit me. The whole vibe of this reminded me of a Buffy episode from Season Two - I Only Have Eyes For You. Sure, it didn't end with someone shooting Angela, but it still conjured up the same creepy feelings in me. It turns out that the original air date for "Halloween" was 1994 and that episode of Buffy didn't run until 1998, so maybe Joss Whedon was taking his cues from this show? Anyway, onto the rest of the story.

I also got a weird Buffy-like feeling when Patty visited the costume shop. It reminded me so much of the episode where Buffy and her friends all become their costumes (also titled "Halloween"). I was waiting for the shop owner to do some kind of transformation into Ethan Rayne. But unless the writers are Time Lords there's no way this was influenced by Buffy since it aired before Buffy even existed. In any case, Ethan does not appear, and Patty heads home with a Rapunzel costume for her, and a swashbuckling pirate for Graham. Both are so turned on by each other that they never even make it to the party at Sharon's house. I have to say this was a nice bit of comic relief in the midst of the scenes with Rayanne, Angela and Krakow.

Overall, a solid episode. Even though there wasn't a ton of Jordan/Angela screen time, I think I'm starting to get their relationship. If you can even call it that.

Best part of the episode: Danielle dressed as Angela. Her impression is spot on.

My So Called Life: "Strangers in the House"

Nothing like a tragedy to bring some old friends back together, huh?

This whole episode is propelled forward by Sharon's dad, whose only appearance is on a TV screen in the hospital. With no one at home to take care of Sharon, Patty and Graham suggest she come to their house. As one might imagine, this ends up being totally awkward for Angela.

Despite the initial weirdness, I enjoyed the struggle that Angela went through. Does she talk to Sharon? Does she leave her alone? Can they ever go back to how it was? Eventually it all becomes too much and Angela takes refuge under the high school bleachers to have a good cry.

She's not the only one who uses this place to hide, though. Jordan is down there smoking and they share a really sweet moment. Until Jordan's dumb friend interrupts and it's all ruined.

---WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG POST FOR AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT---
I'm starting to like Jordan.
---BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOG POST---
Sharon's dad pulls through by the end of the episode and we've all learned something by the end. Even though it's a little sappy, I kind of liked the scene where Angela and Sharon reconcile. It's funny how I didn't like Sharon, but now I'm hoping the two can go back to being friends again.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
Danielle: If dad did die, who'd give me away?
Angela: What? (beginning to laugh)
Danielle: Who'd give me away at my wedding?
Angela: You're so weird..(still giggling)
Danielle: Why?
Angela: 'Cause who's gonna to marry you? (laughs)

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

• Graham should be a chef. The writers have been harping on how good of a cook he is, and it's highlighted in this episode with the dessert he brings to the hospital.
  
• Lots of friendship sparks going on in this episode - Brian and Rickie, Rayanne and Sharon, Angela and Sharon, Angela and Jordan (okay, maybe that's not a friendship spark), Angela and Danielle

My So Called Life Episode Recap: Why Jordan Can't Read

I'm officially renaming this episode from the above to "Why Jordan is a Jackass".

It all starts with a note written by Angela that Rayanne loses - and Jordan finds. Lucky for Angela, her confession of undying love for the hottie is still a secret because even though all the notes had his name at the top, Jordan didn't read them. Not because he's an honest guy, but because he couldn't. He doesn't know how.

This revelation astonishes me. I don't get how someone makes it through high school without knowing how to read. I understand a kid skating through and not having much reading comprehension, but to not be able to read a note is mind boggling to me. Any teachers reading this - please feel free to weigh in and explain how this could happen. Has this changed since the '90s?

Assuming Jordan can read, Angela confronts him and makes up a lame story about a boyfriend who died. Thank god for Jordan's friend who interrupts them. Before the scene is over, Jordan invites Angela to see Frozen Embryos practice. And everyone is jealous when Jordan sings a song named "Red" and it's totally about Angela. Except it isn't. Jordan is just in love with a car.

That's not even the best part of the whole thing, though. The best is when Angela asks him out on a date and he stands her up. The reason? He just didn't feel like going. And people think this guy is a heart throb? I really hope Angela comes to her senses and gets over this guy fast. Even Krakow would be better at this point. Writers of the show - prove me wrong! Make me change my mind! I'd like to love Jordan just as hard as all the people who've recommended this show to me.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
Angela: If only there were a button somewhere that I could push to force me to stop talking. (I totally know the feeling, Angela!)

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

• I still don't care about the parents.
  
• Of all the movies Angela could ask Jordan to see, why does she pick one with subtitles?
  
• I think I want Angela to stand up for herself because I spent a disproportionate amount of my sophomore through senior years of high school pining over a guy who I see today and realize was totally not worth it.

My So Called Life: "The Substitute" Recap

This episode starts off with an unruly bunch of kids waiting for their substitute. When he arrives, he acts like he doesn't care, which makes the students pay attention. Soon, they idolize him and his awesomeness. Word spreads through the school, and kids ditch their other classes in favor of English.

Things go sour when the sub includes a racy haiku in The Lit, Liberty high's creative writing mag. The principal bans the magazine, and everyone thinks the sub is fired. But Graham finds out that the sub fled because he had to appear in court for back child support. Inspired by all the good things the sub taught her, Angela makes photocopies of The Lit and distributes them, which earns her a chair in the principal's office.

Overall, I'd say the episode was pretty good, even though it got a little PSA at the end. I like how Angela is finally passionate about something. It's a nice break from her obsessing over Jordan or fighting with her parents.

I enjoyed how Patty and Graham flip flopped in the scenes with Angela. I'm sure it was confusing to Angela because one minute they're telling her to stand up for "common courtesy" to the sub, but then when another situation arises where it could involve her getting in trouble, they want her to back down. Being former activists, I bet this was hard for Patty and Graham to tell her.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

The racy haiku (which isn't a haiku at all), of course!

He peels off my clothes like a starving man
Would peel an orange.
His lips taste my juicy sweetness.
My legs tangle with his;
We become one being,
A burning furnace
In the cold dark basement of love.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

• Ha! I never would have thought Sharon was the one who wrote the haiku! Rayanne even had me fooled!
  
• What sort of attendance system does this school have that kids can just show up in other classes for days without anyone realizing it?
  
• I dig the love for overalls in this episode.
  
• Doesn't seem very safe to have all those lit candles around the classroom.
  
• Uh oh. Jordan can't read. Since this is the title of the next episode, I assume this will be addressed.
  
• Why do they keep mentioning buying kitty litter? I have never once seen a cat in their house.
  

What did you think of this episode?

My So Called Life: "The Zit" Recap

This episode was a lot different than some of the previous ones. It wasn't about Jordan or the parents, but instead about how those little insecurities you had in high school never fully go away. And for once, I'm going to say that I didn't mind Patty's storyline. It provided the perfect balance to Angela.

Once again, Claire Danes's acting is spot on. I loved how the zit on her face was all-consuming. She couldn't stop looking at it, touching it, obsessing over it. So real. Especially for someone in high school.

And then the list. Oh, the list couldn't have come at a worse time. Poor Angela isn't on it, but both Sharon and Rayanne both make the cut. I'm not sure I'd be as happy as Rayanne for being labeled 'biggest potential slut',but it seems to make her day.

Sharon, on the other hand, isn't as happy. It's interesting how Angela is upset she didn't make the list, but then Sharon is upset she did. Moral of the story - no one is ever completely happy with themselves, so you just have to suck it up and move on with life.

Unless you're Patty's other daughter. In that case you need to don your best fake flowers and crimped hair and work that runway!



QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
Rayanne: So Krakow, how come you never ask me over anymore?
Jordan : She wants you, man, go for it.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• I don't get how Angela didn't make the list. Only a few episodes ago, every guy in school wanted to get with her because of the note someone passed around.
  
• I'm glad Sharon stood up for herself like that.
  
• I like the friendship blooming between Ricky and Krakow. They both serve as some great comic relief.
  
• I'm hoping Angela and Sharon can put their differences aside and become friends again. Maybe not best friends, but something.

My So Called Life: Episode 4 Recap - "Father Figures"

When I saw the title to this episode, I groaned out loud. For those of you who have been following my reviews, you probably realize it's a parent-centric episode.

While Patty and Graham are starting to grow on me, I'm still not digging their story lines. Ok, Graham is a (wannabe) cool dad and Patty's dad doesn't trust her with business decisions. I like that the characters are being developed, but we BARELY GOT ANY JORDAN CATALANO this episode! And that makes me sad. And yes, I totally blame Patty and Graham for hogging the plot this week.

So what did I like about the episode, you ask? Well, it was interesting to see Angela's reaction to both Ricky and Rayanne crushing on her dad. I mean, what could be more embarassing to a teenager than their best friend telling them their dad has nice stubble? That same dad giving you and your friend Grateful Dead tickets, that's what.

The one time we did get to see Jordan this episode is priceless. It shows how desperate Angela is to prove she's cool. All he has to do is make a small suggestion and she jumps on it, even if it means crushing Rayanne's hopes of getting to the concert.

It's nice to see that Angela gets what she deserves on both ends of the spectrum. Both Graham and Rayanne are not happy that she sold the tickets and she ends up having to make amends with both. I like that the show holds Angela accountable for her actions, even if she is just being a bratty teenager.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
Krakow: Here, do you want to... borrow my sweater?
Angela: Thanks.
Krakow: Just don't sweat into it or anything.
(Oh Krakow! You're so dreamy!)

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• Krakow on rollerblades ignoring Graham. Why was Graham asking him to help anyway? I guess he's looking for a teenager to bond with.
  
• Well Sharon totally disappeared, didn't she?
  
• The Patty/Dad story was just a little too Lifetime movie special for me.
  
• I just had to laugh when Angela nonchalantly pulled out the tickets. I like how she follows it up with, *sigh* "tickets" when Jordan doesn't notice.
  

Did you watch this episode? What did you think?

My So Called Life Recap: Episode 3 - Guns and Gossip

This episode of My So Called Life features an issue that was still pretty hot in the mid-nineties: guns in school. While I appreciate that the writers wanted to tackle a tough subject in a unique way, I wasn't all that interested in the storyline. It's great to see Brian stand up for himself, and to highlight that Ricky is being bullied, but Angela's problems seemed to overshadow it all.

We start out the episode with Angela and friends in class. A note is being passed, and after each person reads it, they stare at Angela. This can not be good. When Angela finally gets the note, we see that it says this:

Which would be totally awesome if it were actually true. But since it isn't, Angela naturally enters into freak out mode. Of course, matters get worse when a varsity letter wearing sleezoid passes her a note in class that I can only assume said something to the effect of "Hey I hear you're a slut. Let's do it.", because Angela runs out of the classroom and ends up in the counselor's office.

After a vent session with the counselor, Angela retreats to her bedroom, shuts the door and wallows in her own sorrow while blasting The Cranberries (OMG I love that song!). She doesn't have long to pout, though, because Patty comes in, fresh from meeting Rayanne's mom at a school meeting. Apparently, Rayanne's mom told Patty that Rayanne told her that Angela has a boyfriend named Jordan. Dear God! Can Angela ever escape the gossip train??

Patty tries to have a VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION about sex with Angela, which is unnecessary, as Angela explains (with my favorite line of the episode):

"I'm not having sex. I'm not even close. To an embarrassing degree."

Angela decides she will confront Jordan to find out if he spread the rumor. Instead of just going up to him, she waits in his line of sight and pretends to read the first aid poster in the hall. Jordan reveals that he did not start the rumor, but suggests that if people are already saying they did it, they might as well just do it. Smooth Jordan. Real smooth.

As much as Angela wants to, she's appalled by the way he just puts it out there, so she walks away.

The next day, Angela overhears Sharon in the bathroom talking about Angela and Jordan, so she hides in the stall to hear what she has to say. Apparently, Brian Krakow started the rumor!! NOOOOO! I don't believe it.

Turns out I should have believed it, because it's true. Brian did it to get back at her. Ouch.

Angela encounters Jordan again, who clumsily apologizes for asking her to have sex with him earlier. He realizes she's not that kind of girl. Which is all good and sweet until he keeps talking. As the apology is still hanging in the air, he says something so completely devastating, I don't know how Angela just didn't curl up and die when she heard it.

"You know, that I barely even know you, which is, of course, true, and that basically, you and I mean nothing to each other."

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• UGH! I'm beginning to hate Sharon. She gets so little screen time, but she pisses me off every time I see her.
  
• I have a hard time believing that every guy in the school was obsessed with Angela once they heard the rumor. Does this school have some sort of slut shortage?
  
• Brian covering for Ricky struck me as weird. He spread the rumor about Angela, but then covers for one of her "new" friends? Doesn't really make sense.
  
• I loved the principal's bow tie and suspenders.
  
• I'm starting to get why people swoon over Jordan, but this is my favorite of his looks. I think it's the stubble.

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My So Called Life Recap - Episode 2: Dancing in the Dark

Episode 2 of MSCL explores the idea that getting what you want may not always be all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes the thing you imagine is better than the reality.

We start with Angela reflecting on the three times she's been kissed - at summer camp, a family wedding, and the beach. Each kiss is a bigger failure than the one before it. The counselor has a girlfriend, the usher did it on a dare, and the lifeguard was really just giving her CPR. Ouch.

This brings us to Angela's current crush - Jordan Catalano. She's so obsessed with him, she can't even concentrate on the conversation Ricky and Rayanne are having. Rayanne can't take it, and urges Angela to take it to "phase two", but Angela is reluctant. Lucky for her, Rayanne does it for her.

A plan is devised where Jordan will deliver the fake ID he is getting for Angela to Krakow's house, where Angela will be working on an extra credit project for science class.

Then a whole bunch of things happen with the parents. There's a dance class, a haircut and red dress, but it's all very heavy on the metaphors and I'm not very interested in it.

Back to Angela - When Jordan pulls up, she tells Rayanne that she changed her mind. At first, I didn't get this, but after thinking about it, it makes sense. Angela has built up this encounter with Jordan for so long, there's no possible way it will ever be as perfect as it is in her head.

And boy is she right.

Jordan tries to kiss her (twice!) while she's mid-sentence, so she pulls away. Then she says something sort of empowering, considering this her crush to end all crushes:

"Quit it! I mean, you have to work up to that. I don't open that wide at the dentist."

To add insult to injury, Jordan basically calls her a baby. And even after all that, she continues to fantasize about him. She's unable to giveup this romanticized version of him and admit that, while he is an excellent leaner, he is also kind of a jerk.

"We both stopped talking. Part of his sleeve was touching my arm. I don't know if he knew. Then everything started to seem perfect for some reason. The feel of his shirt on my elbow, the fact that I had an elbow."

Oh, to be fifteen again.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• I'm not very interested in the parent storyline, but I appreciate how it ties into Angela's story. Her dad sort of gives Jordan an out with the line - "It's hard to figure out how to be a man."
  
• I love the scene with Ricky, Rayanne and Krakow. It's some really nice comic relief in an otherwise heavy episode. They all have good chemistry.
  
• Sharon gets on my nerves. Probably because I'm a perennial do-gooder that always follows the rules, too.
  
• Man, I hope Angela gets her storybook kiss with Jordan soon.

Did you miss last week's recap of the pilot? Never fear! Click here!

My So Called Life: Episode 1 Recap - "Pilot"

Back in 1994, I was starting seventh grade, while Angela Chase, the main character of My So Called Life, was entering her sophomore year. It may seem like a small gap in age, but there was a world of experiences separating 7th grade me from her. Needless to say, I was not in the core demographic for this show, so it passed me by when it originally aired.

After countless friends and fellow bloggers sung its praises, I decided it was time to give it a try.

Since the show is not available to watch through the streaming feature on Netflix, I turned to Hulu. About two minutes into the show, I got a message that said I needed to be a subscriber to watch the rest. Grrrrrr. I already pay for Netflix, so I wasn’t about to pay for Hulu as well. I went to the next logical place – Youtube. The first video I tried was void of audio, so I ended up watching it in five, ten minute clips. That was a real pain, and the quality was very bad, so I’m adding the discs to Netflix and am going to watch the rest on my TV from the comfort of my couch.

Anyway, on to my thoughts of the show.

It starts out with Angela and her friend Rayanne begging for money. At first I thought, “Okay, this is where Angela is going to get arrested or something,” because then that would introduce conflict, but the goal of the scene is to introduce Rayanne as this quirky, odd person.

In the next scene we meet her not quirky friend Sharon. Showing Rayanne and Sharon scenes so close together sets up a good conflict. Will Angela choose the safe friendship of Sharon, or the crazy rollercoaster ride that is Rayanne?

The one thing I can’t ignore about this show is the fashion. Yeah, flannel was totally cool in the 90’s, but now it seems so dated. I wonder what people will think of skinny jeans in fifteen years?

Even though the fashion is outdated, I never felt like the show itself was outdated. Angela struggles with the same things every teen struggles with – the challenge of wanting to be independent, but also needing the security blanket of loving parents. The scene where she quits yearbook displays this beautifully. It’s like her way of asserting her independence, even though goody-goody Sharon totally tattles on her in the next scene! How rude!

So it seems Angela has chosen the dark side for now, and has no qualms lying to her dad about a play rehearsal so she can go to a party on a school night.

Before I go on, I want to talk about this party. Did anyone ever go to a party like this in high school? Cause I sure didn’t. A live band in a backyard with an impromptu mosh pit that sends Angela onto the ground to eat some dirt? Sort of unbelievable, but I’ll let it go because when she sees Jordan it’s all rainbows and butterflies. Errr…okay, maybe not. It’s more like, welcome to Awkward Town, population two.

Jordan is watching a music video on mute and barely acknowledges Angela’s presence, but she somehow takes that as an invitation to sit down. If nothing else, Angela’s got some guts – because I wouldn’t have been able to act so calm with such an excellent leaner sitting five feet from me.

Jordan leaves with his friends and Angela goes home. She walks in on her parents having an argument. Angela’s mom flips on her and Angela essentially tells her to just “chill”. For some reason that flies, and the scene ends with everyone mad at each other.

Cut to Friday night where Angela lies (again!) to go to some club with Rayanne and Rickie (aside: I love Rickie!). Rayanne gets wasted and almost sexually assaulted, but Angela stops the guy. The cops show up and escort both Angela and Rayanne home. Before the car can leave the lot, a drunk Rayanne spots Jordan and starts yelling for him.

Now, I’m all for an uplifting moment when the crushee finally notices the crusher, but this was sort of odd. First of all, they’re in a dark parking lot, and the cop car and the car Jordan is getting out of are a good distance from each other. Angela is inside the police car, but Jordan still sees her and calls out her name. That’s sort of a stretch. I will say that the way Angela smiles when she realizes he sees her did get me all tingly inside.

At this point, Angela starts to realize that she’s taken her mom for granted. She sees what it’s like to really be Rayanne and she’s unsure about it. She gets dropped off by the police officer, only to see her dad with another woman (he’s supposed to be playing pool with his brother), and all the walls start coming down around her. After a rousing rendition of crying to “Everybody Hurts”, she apologizes to her mom and we get our (sort of) happy ending for the episode.

OBSERVATIONS

• ABC? Why did I always think this originally aired on MTV?
  
• Jodie Barsh? What happened to her? Whatever it is it, it doesn’t sound good.
  
• Jordan Catalano is so mysterious.
  
• Ugh. I know exactly how Sharon felt in the bathroom scene. Though I never confronted my friend about it, I experienced something similar in college. Thankfully, it all worked out fine for me. I ended up meeting a really great set of new friends, most of them I still talk to today. Keep your head up Sharon!
  
• Why are they learning what the first person is in sophomore English? Wouldn’t that be something you learn much earlier in life?
  
• The woman who plays Patty Chase reminds me a lot of the mom on Buffy. I think it’s the voice.