My So Called Life Review

My So-Called Life was never a typical TV afternoon special.

Although there was only one season, Life pushed the boundaries of television by portraying teenage angst in an honest and subversive way.

Often there were no happy endings.

The problems were not solved at the end of each episode.

Issues such as child abuse, teenage alcohol and drug addiction, homophobia, adultery, censorship, homelessness, and violence in schools were all brazenly showcased.

The bottom-line was that life at home and school was pretty shitty.

Life is now rightly regarded as one of the best teen TV series of all time.

The main character’s voice-over, the fourth-wall confessions, and the dream-like cross-cuts add texture to each episode.

Life is a haunting last snapshot of pre-internet America.

Ambiguous, nasty, dark, bittersweet and painfully realistic.

A series that will continue to have an impact.