My So-Called Life: The Complete Series is a new DVD compilation containing all 19 episodes of the intelligent and bold TV series which ran on ABC from 1994-1995. Unfortunately, before the show found an audience, it was prematurely cancelled by the network. 

Viewers are introduced here to 15-year-old Angela Chase (Claire Danes), an introspective teenager trying to navigate through adolescence and discover her true self. Until recently, Angela was a bright student who consistently made her school’s honor roll for her academic achievements. This suddenly changes after Angela meets Rayanne Graff (A.J. Langer) and develops a strong bond with her. Rayanne is manipulative, dishonest and promiscuous. She’s known for making dangerous choices without thinking about the consequences.

Angela’s parents Patty (Bess Armstrong) and Graham (Tom Irwin) become concerned for her when she abruptly stops communicating with them. They are baffled when she casts aside her lifelong friend Sharon Cherski (Devon Odessa) without valid reason. Angela believes Sharon is too self-conscious and straitlaced. She gravitated to Rayanne and her friend Rickie Vasquez (Wilson Cruz) simply because they lack inhibition and always go with the flow.

Meanwhile, Angela’s neighbor Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall) is having difficulty accepting her volatile romance with Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto). Despite being likeable, Brian lacks friends because of his bad social skills. He has been fond of Angela since pre-school but cannot bring himself to express these feelings to her. The only reason Angela tolerates him is because of his genius IQ level. Angela acts like Brian’s friend to con him into repeatedly helping her with difficult homework assignments.

Brian despises Angela for signing him up to tutor Jordan behind his back.  Jordan’s teachers have repeatedly written him off because he can’t read or write. He also has a hard time processing his thoughts due to an undiagnosed learning disorder. Angela is the only person who knows Jordan’s hidden pain and that he is an extremely gifted lyricist. Until meeting Angela, Jordan completely gave up on himself. 

Cruz delivers a powerful performance here as Rickie Vasquez. Throughout the series the character grapples with his sexuality, finally realizing he is gay. When Rickie decides to tell the uncle who raised him about this development, he is severely beaten and left to survive on the mean streets of Pittsburgh.

Ironically, this storyline paralleled the actor’s own experience. After My So-Called Life was picked up as a series, Cruz decided to tell his parents he is gay. He feared they would read articles about his sexuality if the show became popular. The actor’s father responded by making Cruz pack his bags. Cruz then lived in his car during filming and hid this from the rest of the cast.

Langer is also strong in this show, especially in scenes where her character hits rock bottom with an addiction to alcohol and prescription pills. However, as series creator Winnie Holzman points out, Claire Danes is the heart and soul of My So-Called Life. Making her acting debut in this TV series, Danes gives an enchanting and unaffected performance as Angela.

(Released by Shout! Factory; not rated by MPAA)