This show is rubbish when revisited some 20 years later. I remember being a teenager watching. My friends and I lived vicariously through Angela's ongoing romance with Jordan Catalano. But as an adult, the show leaves me frustrated. Note the countless long pauses, leaving so much unsaid. I wish the writers would have created more drama with much needed confrontations or private dialog between main characters. Instead, constipated glances and pursed lips are meant to convey a bevy of emotion. What is drama without the inevitable exposure and confrontation? I'm bewildered by the unwarranted tension between any adult and the teen-aged cast. There is always a rolling of the eyes or a pushing away whenever an adult attempts to communicate with the kids. I guess MTV wanted to solidify its status as a "network for the youth" because Angela's parents are not fully developed and only exist to further Angela's narrative. The only dialog they share is to talk about Angela. But just imagine if this show was made for today. I believe the same story lines would ring true. Just add story arcs that give the parents dimension. Allow Angela to stop hiding her feelings and to communicate to Jordan and to actually confide in her mom. What if these characters could actually emote! What a revelation.
Review of My So-Called Life
