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  • ABC
  • Aug 25, 1994
  • ABC
  • Aug 25, 1994

Summary My So-Called Life started in 1994 on ABC. It was very popular. It was a show that many could relate to and came off as more realistic than many other high school shows. Unfortunately, ABC cancelled it after one season. It has remained a favorite for long after. There are many questions left unresolved. If there was a season 2, would R...

Created By: Winnie Holzman

  • ABC
  • Aug 25, 1994
  • ABC
  • Aug 25, 1994
My So-Called Life
Season 1
Season Premiere: Aug 25, 1994
Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 19 Critic Reviews
must-watch
92
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 22 User Ratings
8.5
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary My So-Called Life started in 1994 on ABC. It was very popular. It was a show that many could relate to and came off as more realistic than many other high school shows. Unfortunately, ABC cancelled it after one season. It has remained a favorite for long after. There are many questions left unresolved. If there was a season 2, would R...

Created By: Winnie Holzman

Where to Watch

Season Episodes

View All Seasons
Episode 1 • Aug 25, 1994 • 49 m
Pilot
Angela Chase begins a friendship with Rayanne Graff and Rickie Vasquez. At home there is tension between her and her mother.
Episode 2 • Sep 1, 1994 • 48 m
Dancing in the Dark
Rayanne arranges for Angela and Jordan to meet under the pretense of Jordan selling Angela a fake ID. Meanwhile, Angela's parents take ballroom dancing lessons.
Episode 3 • Sep 8, 1994 • 48 m
Guns and Gossip
A gun goes off in school, and Rickie is involved. A rumor makes the rounds at Liberty High that Angela slept with Jordan.
Episode 4 • Sep 15, 1994 • 48 m
Father Figures
Angela gives her father the silent treatment, and Patty must deal with her own father when the printing shop is audited by the IRS.
Episode 5 • Sep 22, 1994 • 48 m
The Zit
A list makes the rounds at school rating the sophomore girls; Rayanne and Sharon are on it, but not Angela. Patty wants Angela to join her in a mother-daughter fashion show.
Episode 6 • Sep 29, 1994 • 49 m
The Substitute
A substitute teacher captures the hearts and minds of Angela's English class, but he may not be all he seems to be.
Episode 7 • Oct 6, 1994 • 48 m
Why Jordan Can't Read
Patty thinks she may be pregnant, and Angela learns of Jordan's reading problem.
Episode 8 • Oct 20, 1994 • 49 m
Strangers in the House
Sharon moves in with the Chases after her father has a heart attack.
Episode 9 • Oct 27, 1994 • 49 m
Halloween
Angela fears that Jordan may be expelled, and she has visions of a Liberty High student who died years earlier.
Episode 10 • Nov 3, 1994 • 48 m
Other People's Mothers
Angela wants to go to Rayanne's party, but is stuck at a party for her grandparents instead. Meanwhile, Rayanne's drinking starts to spiral out of control.
Episode 11 • Nov 10, 1994 • 49 m
Life of Brian
Brian is caught between taking Angela or a new girl at school to a dance. Rickie has a crush on a new student at Liberty High.
Episode 12 • Nov 17, 1994 • 48 m
Self-Esteem
Angela ignores her schoolwork to spend time making out with Jordan in the infamous boiler room, but Jordan doesn't want his friends to know that they're together.
Episode 13 • Dec 1, 1994 • 48 m
Pressure
Angela feels pressured by Jordan to have sex.
Episode 14 • Dec 8, 1994 • 49 m
On the Wagon
Angela and Rayanne start to grow apart, and Rayanne joins Jordan's band. Patty worries that Rayanne may have started drinking again.
Episode 15 • Dec 22, 1994 • 50 m
So Called Angels
Rickie finds himself homeless on Christmas, and Angela tries to help him with the aid of a mysterious homeless girl.
Episode 16 • Jan 5, 1995 • 49 m
Resolutions
It's a new year, and everybody's making resolutions. Rickie finds himself homeless once again, and Brian finds himself tutoring Jordan.
Episode 17 • Jan 12, 1995 • 48 m
Betrayal
Rayanne wins a role in the school play, but betrays Angela by sleeping with Jordan. Patty suspects Graham and Hallie's relationship may be more than professional.
Episode 18 • Jan 19, 1995 • 47 m
Weekend
Angela's parents leave town for the weekend, and Rayanne accidentally handcuffs herself to their bed.
Episode 19 • Jan 26, 1995 • 48 m
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
Brian writes a letter to help Jordan win Angela back, Delia has a crush on Rickie, and Graham's cooking impresses the restaurant's investors.

Top Cast

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View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 19 Critic Reviews
92
95% Positive
18 Reviews
5% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 19 Critic Reviews
92
95% Positive
18 Reviews
5% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Aug 27, 2015
For viewers who scream for quality, this is it...I can't answer for today's teens, but from this geezer-gazing distance, the show is amazingly, wonderfully right. As an added benefit, it's a perfect reminder of why I never again want to be 15. [24 Aug 1994, p.C1]
By John Engstrom FULL REVIEW
100
Aug 27, 2015
Marshall Hershkovitz and Ed Zwick, the team that brought us "thirtysomething," have a grasp of adolescence that's so real you can smell the Clearasil. [25 Aug 1994, p.45]
By Ellen Gray FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 22 User Ratings
8.5
91% Positive
20 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
9% Negative
2 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 22 User Ratings
8.5
91% Positive
20 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
9% Negative
2 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

100
Aug 27, 2015
Easily the best new series coming to TV...With enough rich characters to fill several series, Life could become the latest show to shake up network television. [25 Aug 1994, p.1C]
By Manuel Mendoza FULL REVIEW
100
Jul 12, 2013
Holzman's writing is brilliant. [25 Aug 1994]
By Marvin Kitman FULL REVIEW
90
Aug 27, 2015
The show's other standout is Bess Armstrong, as Angela's loving, conflicted mother, Patty. She is equally compelling and convincing as a woman still so in touch with her youthful idealism and values that she can't believe she's also a disapproving mother. [23 Aug 1994]
FULL REVIEW
80
Aug 27, 2015
There is much in the next few weeks that is touching, humorous, painful and admirable. But not insightful, or at least not insightful enough to make going back to high school something that seems like must viewing between 8 and 9 on Thursday nights...Still, My So-Called Life is likely to be as good as you're going to get this season as far as new shows are concerned. [24 Aug 1994, p.65]
By Ed Siegel FULL REVIEW
42
Aug 27, 2015
My time spent in Angela's life was a wasted hour in my own so-called life. [24 Aug 1994, p.47]
FULL REVIEW
See All 19 Critic Reviews

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