History Series / MySoCalledLife

%%* FiveManBand
%%** Angela: TheLeader
%%** Sharon: TheLancer
%%** Brian: TheSmartGuy
%%** Rayanne: TheBigGuy In the context of day-to-day teen social warfare, name someone tougher.
%%** Rickie: TheChick, and not because he's gay.
%%** Jordan: TheSixthRanger

* AnnoyingYoungerSibling:

** To some extent inverted in that Angela is often a deliberately-annoying older sister to Danielle. But since the series is told ([[ADayInTheLimeLight mostly]]) through Angela's eyes...

** Most notably, Brian (as Betty) and [[FullNameBasis Jordan Catalano]] (as Veronica). Not a standard example, in that Angela (as Archie) no longer has much tolerance for Brian, even as a friend. See WhatCouldHaveBeen / WordOfGod, below.

* ChickMagnet:

** Less conspicuously, Graham (Angela's father), although he was invisible to girls back in high school.

* {{Dramedy}}
* TheDulcineaEffect: It ''is'' HighSchool, after all.

* DyeingForYourArt: Claire Danes, as Angela Chase. Both the actress and the character naturally had dark blonde hair, but in the first episode Angela dyes hers "crimson glow."

* FavouritismFlipFlop:
** In the earliest episodes, this was one of Rickie's trademarks -- almost but not quite to the point of HypocriticalHumor -- as he was always seeking approval and didn't have much confidence in his own opinions (or thoughts or feelings or self-worth or ...) (As the series progressed and [[CharacterDevelopment Rickie developed more of a backbone,]] he relied on this less and less.)

%%** Also Sharon Cherski, at times.

* MissingMom:

** As mentioned above at DisappearedDad, Patty is adopted and has not met her biological parents.

%%** Jordan Catalano toward Angela (at first).

* StalkerWithACrush: How Angela views Brian in her less patient moments. That is, when she's not [[SelectiveObliviousness being]] utterly [[ObliviousToLove oblivious]].
** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in the final episode, when Brian [[spoiler:accidentally confesses to Angela that he's PlayingCyrano behind "Jordan's" beautiful love letter to her.]]

* UnresolvedSexualTension:
%%** Plenty. But the central UST is between Angela and [[FullNameBasis Jordan Catalano]].
** According to WordOfGod, there's plenty of UnresolvedSexualTension between [[spoiler:Angela and Brian. Angela rejects Brian (at least for now) in part because she and Brian know each other ''too'' well, and are ''too'' similar, with too much history -- and he's therefore a threat. By contrast, Jordan Catalano is a mystery and not much of an intellectual challenge -- and thus, on some level, he's less threatening as a teen crush. See also WordOfGod / WhatCouldHaveBeen, below.]]

* WhamLine: Patty's conversation with the homeless girl in ''So-Called Angels'' is going fairly normally until she suddenly realizes what's going on and asks [[spoiler:"How did you die?"]]

* YouJustToldMe: Brian traps himself in one of these during a quarrel with Angela. See SuspiciouslySpecificDenial, above.

* GagBoobs: Sharon Cherski, in the episode ("The Zit") wherein an [[SexinessScore anonymous girl-ranking poll]] designates her as having the "[[BuxomBeautyStandard best hooters]]" of all the sophomores in the school. As is typical of the show, it's played for {{angst}} as well as humor.

* ACupAngst: Angela. One of many things driving her nuts in the episode "The Zit" -- not least because her ex-best-friend Sharon was just voted "[[BuxomIsBetter best hooters]]" in the sophomore class. (Sharon's [[DCupDistress not pleased with the situation either]].)

* GagBoobs: Sharon Cherski, in the episode ("The Zit") wherein an [[SexinessScore anonymous girl-ranking poll]] designates her as having the "[[BuxomIsBetter best hooters]]" of all the sophomores in the school. As is typical of the show, it's played for {{angst}} as well as humor.

An American television TeenDrama, created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Creator/EdwardZwick and Marshall Herskovitz as a SpiritualSuccessor to their critically acclaimed {{dramedy}} ''Series/{{Thirtysomething}}''. This show about an {{angst}}y high school student, [[MeaningfulName Angela Chase]] (played by Creator/ClaireDanes), like, really ''spoke'' to those of us who were teenagers when it aired.

* CallBack: Sometimes for dramatic purposes, sometimes comic. An example of the latter: in the episode ''Betrayal,'' Rayanne snarks about the play "Theatre/OurTown" -- [[HypocriticalHumor before auditioning]] for the part of Emily -- "It's just a stupid play. Dead people come back and visit. Like that's really gonna happen." This is two episodes after ''[[DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime So-Called Angels.]]''

** [[DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime Christmas episode]] ''So-Called [[MeaningfulName Angels]]'' maintains its central focus on Angela, but for the first time Rickie gets ADayInTheLimelight, of sorts. He gets a few more before the end of the series.
* DeadAllAlong: A minor character in the DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime episode.

%%* DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime

* MagicRealism: Most notably in the episode ''Halloween'' and the DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime episode ''So-Called Angels.''

* StickySituation: In episode 19, Angela has a dream where she tries to follow Jordan, but find her feet stuck to the floor.

* CLassPrincess: Sharon popular, good-looking (one boy says she has the "best hooters" in the sophomore class), a cheerleader, and dating a football player. She's also sweet as pie and friendly with virtually the entire student body, including all the outcasts.

%%* HollywoodNerd: Brian Krakow.

%%* BreatherEpisode: The [[AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent sitcommy]] ''Weekend''.

** A striking single-character example: At the start of the series, Angela [[DyeingForYourArt dyed her hair]] a [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair very unnatural]] [[HeroesWantRedheads shade]] of "[[FieryRedhead crimson glow]]," signifying the abrupt start of her teen rebellion and her attempt to remake her life. As the series progressed, and [[CharacterDevelopment Angela edged back a bit from her most extreme behavior]], her hair began to drift back toward its original color.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Or, in Angela's case, you gotta have "[[InsistentTerminology crimson glow]]" hair. See also ColorCodedForYourConvenience and DyeingForYourArt, above.

* BathroomStallOfOverheardInsults

* ACupAngst: Angela. One of many things driving her nuts in the episode "The Zit" -- not least because her ex-best-friend Sharon was just voted "[[GagBoobs best hooters]]" in the sophomore class. (Sharon's not pleased with the situation either.)

* AgeAppropriateAngst

* {{Angst}}
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Brian's LoveLetterLunacy to Angela.

** Danielle, as far as Angela is concerned.

* BittersweetEnding

* BrattyHalfpint: Danielle, Angela's kid sister -- at least as far as Angela is concerned.
* BrattyTeenageDaughter: Angela certainly has her moments.
* BreatherEpisode: The [[AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent sitcommy]] ''Weekend''.
* BrokenBird: Rayanne.

* CampGay: Rickie Vasquez is a borderline example -- not quite StraightGay, not quite CampGay.

* ChainedToABed: In the penultimate episode ''Weekend.'' HilarityEnsues. Twice.

** [[FullNameBasis Jordan Catalano]].

* ControlFreak:
** Brian. His parents are even worse, allegedly.
** Patty (Angela's mother).
** Sharon Cherski, at least to her [[TheDitz clueless boyfriend]], Kyle.

** Played with. Danielle both admires and resents Angela, but Angela finds Danielle annoying.

* CovertPervert: Sharon's mother, Camille Cherski.
* CutShort: It received a season finale, but then it was canceled.
* ADayInTheLimelight: A few, but most clearly the episode ''Life of Brian.''

* DeadpanSnarker: Almost everyone.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of the TeenDrama genre.
* DialogueReversal
* DisappearedDad:
** Rayanne's.
** Rickie's biological father.

* TheDitz: A mild example: Kyle, Sharon's perpetually clueless boyfriend.

* DoggedNiceGuy: Brian. [[spoiler: Subverted, in that Angela winds up with [[FullNameBasis Jordan Catalano.]]]]
* DoTheyKnowItsChristmasTime

* TheEeyore: Brian.

** Angela did this a lot, too.

** Also Sharon Cherski, at times.

* FiveManBand
** Angela: TheLeader
** Sharon: TheLancer
** Brian: TheSmartGuy
** Rayanne: TheBigGuy In the context of day-to-day teen social warfare, name someone tougher.
** Rickie: TheChick, and not because he's gay.
** Jordan: TheSixthRanger

* GagBoobs - Sharon Cherski, in the episode ("The Zit") wherein an anonymous poll designates her as having the "best hooters" of all the sophomores in the school. As is typical of the show, it's played for {{angst}} as well as humor.

* GoodBadGirl: Rayanne Graff. Or at least the image she tries to project.

* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Rayanne Graff and her mother, Amber Vallon.

* HilarityEnsues: [[AvertedTrope Averted]], at least to the extent that such events on the show tend to transpire in a [[TruthInTelevision realistic]] [[RuleOfDrama manner]] rather than follow traditional sitcom logic.

* HollywoodNerd: Brian Krakow.
* HotBlooded: Angela. Rayanne. Sometimes Sharon.

* InformedJudaism: Brian Krakow and Hallie Lowenthal.

* IronicEcho

* KidsAreCruel: Well, HighSchool students anyway.

* LikeIsLikeAComma
* LovableNerd: Brian.

* MaleGaze: For the most part, [[AvertedTrope averted]]. (See FemaleGaze, above.) When the show uses it, it's nearly always to highlight that the shot is from Brian's point of view.For example, in ''Betrayal'', we get a few POV shots from a camera operated by Brian, and one shot is aimed directly at Sharon's chest.

** Possibly Rickie's mother.

* MoodSwinger: Angela and Rayanne.
* MoodWhiplash / MoodDissonance

* NewTransferStudent: Delia Fisher.
* {{Nice Jewish Boy}}: Brian.

** Jordan Catalano toward Angela (at first).

** Rickie toward Delia; same result as Brian/Danielle, [[StraightGay different reason]].
** Brian toward Delia, at first.
* OddFriendship: This is surprisingly common, and perhaps the most optimistic thing about the show. The events of the pilot are set in motion by Angela forming one of these, with Rayanne, but there are several other important ones:
** Sharon and Rayanne.
** Brian and Rickie.
** Brian and Jordan.
** Rickie and Delia.
* OfficialCouple: Angela and Jordan.
* OneSceneTwoMonologues

* PlayingCyrano: Brian, for Jordan.
* PluckyComicRelief: A few. Most notably Rickie and Rayanne. Danielle at times.

* SelectiveObliviousness: Everyone at one time or another.
* ASimplePlan: Subverted. (See HilarityEnsues, above.)
* SliceOfLife

* TheStoic: Jordan Catalano.

* TeenDrama: Both a {{Deconstruction}} and a classic in the genre.

* ThisLoserIsYou: A [[{{wangst}} not-always-comic]] example.
* TimeshiftedActor: Creator/KaleyCuoco plays "Young Angela" (around age seven) in a {{Flashback}} at the beginning of the episode "Father Figures."

* TooDumbToLive: Nicky Driscoll. Less "dumb" per se than "reckless" and "self-destructive."

* TroubledButCute: Jordan Catalano.

** Sharon Cherski.
* TVGenius: Averted. Brian is a more true-to-life version of this trope.
* TVTeen
* TwoLinesNoWaiting
* TwoScenesOneDialogue: For example, in the episode ''Strangers in the House.''

* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Brian.
* UnreliableNarrator:
** The narrator (in [[ADayInTheLimelight most]] episodes, Angela) is seldom willfully deceptive -- just [[SelectiveObliviousness selectively oblivious]].
** Sometimes played for nearly simultaneous [[MoodWhiplash humor and pathos]], as when Angela, feeling self-conscious about all the guys staring at her, narrates about how easy high school life is for guys ... only for the camera to pan to [[LovableNerd Brian]] being bullied by his classmates.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: Plenty. But the central UST is between Angela and [[FullNameBasis Jordan Catalano]].
** According to WordOfGod, there's also plenty of UnresolvedSexualTension between [[spoiler:Angela and Brian. Angela rejects Brian (at least for now) in part because she and Brian know each other ''too'' well, and are ''too'' similar, with too much history -- and he's therefore a threat. By contrast, Jordan Catalano is a mystery and not much of an intellectual challenge -- and thus, on some level, he's less threatening as a teen crush. See also WordOfGod / WhatCouldHaveBeen, below.]]
* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist:
** Angela, at times. [[{{Angst}} Not always played for comedy.]] One always ''loves'' her, but one often ''hates'' her simultaneously.
** Same with Brian in the ADayInTheLimelight episode ''Life of Brian.''
* VerbalTic: Not ''unusual'' expressions, but rather exaggerations, by the show's creators, of common [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_disfluency speech disfluencies and fillers]]. Perhaps the two most ubiquitous examples are the interjection "like" and the phrasal suffix "or something," which are sprinkled liberally into the dialogue of nearly all the teenage characters, seemingly as a way to let them to have poetic or philosophical musings without, like, coming across as pretentious. Or something.

* WellDoneSonGuy:
** Rickie is a [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] example.
** Brian.
** Patty (Angela's mother) is the DistaffCounterpart -- Well Done Daughter Gal?

* WildTeenParty: Several. But not as wild as you might expect from a TeenDrama.

* ZipMeUp: In the last episode, Delia has Rickie zip up her jacket...just moments before she opens his [[TransparentCloset closet door]].

* LovableAlphaBitch: Sharon is an early [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] of the AlphaBitch trope - although she's popular, good-looking (with the "best hooters" in the sophomore class), a cheerleader, and dating a football player, she's also nice as pie and friendly with virtually the entire student body, including all the outcasts.

* ScoutOut: In the episode, "The Substitute," Angela's younger sister is working to sell her Girl Scout cookies.

Compare ''Series/FreaksAndGeeks''.

* OnlyChildSyndrome: Of the seven youth regulars, only three have siblings: Brian, whose older sister is mentioned to live in Denver, and Angela and Danielle, who are sisters. The other four are only children. Note that the six teenagers were all born in about 1980, at the beginning of what is known as the "Echo Boom", when many Boomers settled down and had families of their own, and birthrates started rising again (in other words, their having siblings would be more realistic).

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: As if the science room scene in ''Life of Brian'' weren't blatant enough (when Delia brushes Brian's hand, his thoughts to the viewer are "Finally! An erection from actual physical contact!"). However, within the context of the scene, the next line is funnier and much subtler. Delia is having Brian explain paramecia to her, and she's just bent down to look through a microscope, so naturally her next question to him is: "What are the little hairy things around the edges?", and it takes Brian a second or two to break out of his daydream.

* AndStarring: Tom Irwin as Graham, the only actor who appears out-of-sequence (alphabetical order) in the opening credits (the only other adult, Bess Armstrong as Patty, appears first anyway).

* {{Adorkable}}: Delia Fisher

* {{Kuudere}}: In a weird way ... Brian. He tends to go quiet or get [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]], but he really does care about people.

** Possibly Brian, but he's far more of a {{kuudere}}.

* {{Flashback}}: Used occasionally, usually to time periods years before the series takes place.

* YouSuck: A [[{{wangst}} not-always-comic]] example.

** A lot of the divide is simply Baby Boomer (the adults) vs. early Generation Y'er (the teenagers). Unlike many other teen shows, the adults (refreshingly) are not necessarily portrayed as being "uncool" or "out of touch." However, they grew up in an era where, for example, bullying was simply seen as a "rite of passage" and something the kid was responsible for handling on his own, which is a big part of the reason why they have such a hard time communicating with them about the issue in the gun episode.

* DramaticPause: The characters often pause mid-sentence, giving the dialogue a lurching and improvisational feel, even if the line is otherwise constructed very elegantly. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when Rickie mimicks Mr. Katimski, who is probably the most {{egregious}} offender. But all the major characters did this a lot. In the case of [[BookDumb Jordan Catalano]], it was used to highlight how he was fumbling to come up with something, anything, to say. That lurching sensation, mentioned before ... was further heightened by having the actors ... pause at just the right point in the sentence that the apparent meaning being expressed ... seemed to change after the pause.

* DVDCommentary: Alas, not on many episodes. Maybe some day.