#31 - Angela Chase and Rickie Vasquez, 30 Years Later: The Politics of ‘My So-Called Life’ - Leftist Teen Drama

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey. I'm Maria. I work at a labor union by day and write and watch too much TV by night. I like to say I've been firmly in The CW's clutches since it was The WB. As the great Seth Cohen on The OC once said about the fictional teen drama, The Valley, TV teen dramas are mind numbing escapism.

(00:01):
They exist in a fantasy world where 20 something hot actors are usually cosplaying high schoolers in melodramatic depictions of adolescents. But that's honestly why I love teen dramas so much. I love the tropes and the ships and the not at all subtle product placement. I love the early offs theme songs and the cameo performances by pop punk bands. I love the newer generation of shows that are more diverse and representative of the vastness of teenage girldom.
And I especially love the moments when TV teen dramas get political. You guys, we can organize, stand together, speak with one voice. Karl Marx has come alive for me today. Now it just seems so obviously wrong that those who control capital should make their fortunes off the labor of the working class. Well, since you've fired us, you've given us plenty of time to pick in.
Workers of the world, you're not profiting. Long live the revolution. Welcome to another episode of leftist teen drama. I'm super excited to reintroduce Diana, my lovely friend who I know from being in the world of labor comms and Twitter before it was awful. You might remember her from being on our episode about the strike episode of Sex Lives of College Girls, which, ironically, a new season of that show just dropped today.
Yeah. I just noticed it when I was logging in to Max. I was like, oh, I didn't even know they were due. That's exciting. Yeah.
Yeah. Do you wanna reintroduce yourselves to the listeners? Sure. I'm Diana Hussain. It's like a very niche world of labor comms that Marie and I know each other.
But we also have a lot of things in common, including this weird little, like, love of teen dramas and romcoms. However, specifically from the appreciation of the working class narratives that come out of some of these, especially from the nineties and 2000, I think was, like, like, low key time for these kinds of narratives. So I'm very excited to be here. It's it's very funny. I think in my initial bio for the last time I was on, I literally put in there specifically, like, one of the things that got me into liking this genre was the show My So Called Life.
So it's very funny. Very excited to to get into it. It was really, really fun to rewatch some of these episodes that I haven't seen in a long time and see how it holds up today. Absolutely. Yeah.
So I think after we did that episode together, you were like, this was really fun. Let me know if you ever wanna do My So Called Life. Like, I think that's literally what you said to me. And so I was like, okay, great. Because I feel like My So Called Life had been on my list to cover on this show since I started, and I had never gotten a chance to fully watch it through.
So this was, like, a really nice excuse to do so. And it ended up working out because this is the 30 year anniversary of My So Called Life. It premiered in August of 1994. Me and most of my so called life have being 30 in common. I was also born in 1994.
So it was honestly a really great time for us to do this episode because so many retrospectives about the show came out this year. So we have a lot of, like, really interesting behind the scenes, like, insights to pull from to talk about exactly how groundbreaking this show really was. So, yeah, today's episode is really just about My So Called Life being a deeply political and groundbreaking show that was unfortunately very short lived. We talk a lot on this show about the curse of the 1 season Netflix teen drama that gets, like, canceled after 1 season. So before it gets to find its audience, this is kinda like the OG that happening like, this and, like, Freaks and Geeks are like the OG, like, one season teen show that just, like, did not do well, and so now it's a cult classic.
And the funny thing is, like, you say those 2 shows, but, like, they've been very top of mind Freaks and Geeks. Like, obviously, a lot of analysis that came out about My So Called Life, like, does a lot of comparisons. But I think there's an actual connection. It was, like, one of the writers or something went on to Freaks and Geeks, so there's, like, a actual connection. So it is very, very sad and unfortunate that these had that kind of experience, but it also, like, led them to be in these kinda cult classics that live on forever anyways.
Absolutely. And also jolted a lot of, like, actors to, like, fame or were, like, their one of their first projects, and then we later are, like, oh, shit. They were in that? So a couple of, like, stray thoughts I had are that I love the theme song. I always miss theme songs these days.
There's rarely theme songs in teen dramas to the extent there used to be. And I don't know. I just like the whole, like, stylized, like, having every actor as their character. Like, I don't know. It just feels so nineties.
Like, I love it. It's literally the thing they parody in that Too Many Cooks thing that came out a few years actually, I think it came out, like, they just had the 10 year anniversary of that Too Many if you remember what I'm talking about. Jesus. Yeah. I I can't believe that.
It's like literally the parody of that kinda nineties, like, intro sitcom drama kinda show and then takes it a little, like, crazy far. But it's funny because it is kind of that that vibe that does not really exist as much. And now it's all about the 8 minute long, super artsy long, very dramatic hints about all the season kinda HBO intros. Yes. If there is an intro.
Yeah. If there is more than, like, a dramatic title reveal. Yeah. Exactly. Like, the the I feel like Riverdale was very influential in that regard in, like, creating the whole, like, like, you just see the name across the screen.
Yeah. And then, like, one other thing that made me real so this was my first time watching it. And I think that one thing that really stuck out to me immediately was that Beth Armstrong, who plays Patty, is, like, such an OG teen drama mom. She's, like, later is a teen drama mom on 1 Tree Hill when she plays Haley, James' mom. I just love that.
And I think she's a really great teen drama mom character. I don't remember feeling this way. So I will say this. Like, my experience it's funny. I'm a couple years older than her.
Yeah. Let's talk. Let's talk about MC. I remember when this show, like, was airing on MTV, but I was too young for it. So I remember watching it and being like, oh, this show, I'm like, I I knew it existed.
I think Claire Danes was like around and other stuff later on. And we just kinda knew her as like, oh, that was the show show with Clor Lanes. But I I got more into it later. My friend and I got into it. I wanna say, like, college or maybe high school.
Something where it was, like, a little more allowing to understand the nuances of, like, teenage angst. So it's it was really fun to kind of relive some of these episodes again and, like, absorb it from, like, a perspective of, like, today. And gosh, it's very, very fascinating. Some of it's sad how things kind of, like, the more they change, the more they stay the same. Mhmm.

(00:22):
But that's kinda what makes this show so great and, like, groundbreaking. And I think there's a lot of it. And I don't know how much we'll get into it in a minute. But, like, the groundbreaking nature of, like, centering, like, teenage girls and teenage women and, you know, teenagers period. And, like, their issues and, like, like, in a way where it's not like a joke or a parody or something or even just dramatized.
Like, I think Beverly Hills 90210 was around at the time. So it was, like, very, like, you know, fancy and and all that. But, like, it was more like a Gossip Girl kinda vibe before that. But this was like the real realistic and like kind of almost like normalized teen drama on Teen Aang. So it was really really fun to kind of relive it, like, after knowing it as kinda like really young and kinda understanding what it was.
It was like, you know, a unique show. And then today, how it how it truly does hold up. And I sort of got the funny thing is before I even went and read some of the analysis, I'll just say this. I was like, oh, this is Euphoria, period. The show is Euphoria, but Euphoria is like a stylistic version of it on HBO in 2024.
So or whatever. I don't even know if that's coming back. Yeah. I mean, I mean, it is very much the show 2026 or something. God.
It's like they'll be all so grown up by then. Oh my god. Yeah. For me, like, obviously, I was born the year they came out, so I was not the target audience. I have to say it's kinda poetic.
I I think this is, like, the OG leftist teen drama. Like, I really think it, like, defined what being a leftist like, I think Angela is like a a leftist in the making. Like, she goes on to go she does grad student organizing and then she becomes a SALT later in life and a union organizer. That is Angela's trajectory. And it's just very poetic that it's like it it's like the year Maria was born, and here we are 30 years later.
And now this leftist teen drama podcast exists because a show 30 years ago existed. Okay. That's pretty cool. I'm gonna take the poetry. Yeah.
It's poetic. It's come full circle. Yeah. Absolutely. Because I think, like, for me like, I'm trying to remember, like, when I was first, like, even introduced to the concept of the show, and I feel like I knew it existed growing up.
But for some reason, I never, like I don't know. Maybe it was never stream I mean, like, streaming was only really a thing in, like, high school for me, I guess. So weird to think of that now because it's just, like, so the way that we watch TV for so long. I know my mom hadn't seen it. Because my mom is, like, one of the reasons that I love TV so much.
She, like, unapologetically loves TV and has always watched so much TV. She would always watch teen dramas with us. She's the reason that we watched Gilmore Girls when I was, like, a literal child. Like, I watched that shit live. And, like, she loved My So Called Life.
And I remember that when I told her that I hadn't seen it, like, maybe semi recently, I told her I was doing it, but I was gonna, like, watch it this year. She was like, oh my god. You never watched it? And I'm like, you would've been the one who would've shown it to me. Come on.
Babe, I've thought too much for you. She was like, I don't know. Because okay. This sounds this is very fun because I I also am into, like, TV and movies because of my mom. We used to, like, growing up, like, she was, like, you know, immigrant Arab mom.
And we would go to Blockbuster, like, every Friday. Go to Blockbuster. She'd come out like a stack of movies. Like, whatever movie there was, she would watch it all. Every single Kiefer Sutherland movie, every single whatever movie, she watched it.
And then I would go and get, like, my little $2.50 kids movie and stuff like that. And, like, that's how I got into, like, rom coms because she would watch whatever would come out. And so there's all these, like, random nineties movies from, like, you've never heard of but you've heard of the actors. Like, how he really got into John Cusack movies as a kid, which is great because talk about, like, leftist kings today. Just like a little humble brag, he follows me on Blue Sky for some reason, and I I told my mom about that recently.
But, I your mom sounds I I don't know. Maybe I'm just, like, assuming things, but she's got cool Patty vibes. Doesn't she? Yes. Totally.
Mom's mom's a little bit of a Patty. Patty is a hero. I love Patty's evolution on this show. I I can't wait to get into it. Absolutely.
Watching the show for the first time this year was really fun. It is interesting. It took me a minute to get into the pace of, like, a nineties show. So I feel like the first couple episodes were dragging for me a little bit, but then I got into the pace. I think that's literally just me being used to, like, you know, 20 twenties era, like, pacing, truly.
But one of the things that I love about the show that I had to shout out is Angela's monologues. They're so good. They're so angsty. You know, Angela's monologues walk. So Jughead Jones' literary magazine asks, monologues to run.
And my favorite one that I shouted out in our notes is, I thought by the age of 16, I would have a love life, but I don't even have a like life. That was totally me in high school. I was just like, wow. Teenage me would have related so hard. There was one oh, I wish I wrote it down.
She has a really funny quote when she's talking about the zit. Oh, yeah. Something about, like, is this zit me or am I the zit? Or is it just me now? Or something like that?
Like, it's so, like, it's very funny. And I would say, like, this is also part of how the show is groundbreaking in these monologues. Like, the inside thoughts of, like, a teenage girl, like, unheard of at the time. And to the point of, like, the pacing and I'm like, that's kinda what made this show good and, like, the way we can like, the the way it, like, impacted people is that it took its time. It let, like, random thoughts of a teenage girl just flow.

(00:43):
They did that thing where they gave some other people more thoughts. I think in one of the interviews with the creator, she said that had it continued, they would have done more character kind of monologues like that and followed, like, the inner thoughts of more of the characters even more than they do on the show. Like, at one point, I think the little sister has that. I think that that's it's unique to this era of, like, nineties kinda shows, but it wouldn't be something that if god. And I've I've been thinking I was like, they haven't done a reboot of this.
Yet. Oh, god. Please don't. And I'm like, I'm just scared because I'm like, oh, no. When's Claire Danes gonna be desperate for that?
Like, Claire Danes Uh-huh. Loving mom. Oh, boy. But I think they'd have like a whole different style of it and like that would take away from what made this show so impactful. Totally agreed.
Yeah. I just saw that they're trying to do a Friday night lights reboot and I'm like, stop. Just stop. It's not even that long ago, man. What are they gonna do?
Who's gonna be my coach? I'm so I'm like I'm intrigued, but I'm also like, no. That show is just so good. Like, just leave it alone. Leave it alone.
Yeah. Talked about it like a timeless show. I was recently rewatching it. I was like, yeah, man. This is good.
Yes. And we have talked about Friday Night Lights on 2 separate Oh, damn. I was literally like, Maria, come on. Bring me out on the sports show. There's definitely a possibility that there's some untapped ground.
But, yeah, we did something about the time that a bunch of them, like, the black players, like, refused to play. There's also a plotline like that in All American, which is a football show, like, that exists now. Oh, okay. We did, like, one about that. And then we did one about how Tim Reagan's arc is, like, abolitionist.
Oh, I gotta go back and listen to these. Yeah. But, yeah, back to My So Called Life. So one of the books that I'm still working my way through is this awesome book by Thea Glassman called Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek. And I think it's about 7 different teen dramas that were, like, groundbreaking, and My So Called Life is obviously one of the chapters.
So I did read her chapter, and I'm gonna quote a couple things from it because she did a bunch of, like, cool behind the scenes interviews and such. One thing that she said that very much reflects what we've been saying so far is that it seems so crazy now, but a show centered entirely on a teen girl's life told in frank, honest terms, was indeed a revolutionary idea. I mean, I've pulled from a couple different things. So there's, like, some articles that came out when it was, like, the 25 year anniversary, and there's some that came out, like, recently for the 30 year anniversary. And, like, one of the things that one of these Guardian pieces said was that the personal was political of Angela, and that her revolution was within herself, a rebellion against her former identity, the one prescribed by her parents.
Despite her attempts at maturity, however, her solipsistic view of the world laid bare her white suburban privilege and her often contradictory views within that. And I think that that brings up a really good point. Like, it really shows a teenage girl trying to figure out, like, where her politics do lie. And, like, you know, having working class friends who would definitely have less privilege than her, like Rayanne, and Ricky, especially, obviously, having, like, also the fact of his queerness and the fact that he's a person of color, just, like, really, like, forces her to, like, start to, like, ask these questions that because she was in such a white suburban, you know, cute little house, like, life prior to meeting Rianne and Ricky, she didn't have to, like, really confront those questions yet in her life. It has inherently left us in that way, I think.
Yeah. And I think that's what really struck me. And I'm sure we'll get into it the specific episodes. It's like, I think the whole thing is like, in the most simplest terms, like, a little bit of a take on the American dream. Right?
Like, it's showing this life, like, suburbia. It's like, that's the ultimate, like, goal. Right? But here's how it actually plays out. And I think one of the interesting things that makes Angela a little more dynamic is, like, they imply, like, her parents had some sort of activist upbringing themselves.
Like, you guys did all these protests and, like, that's, like, when she kinda comes to her own, like, like, kind of autonomy and being, like, I wanna, like, drive this version of it and with the whole substitute episode. But I think it's, like, she comes to that because I think she has, like, that in internal in her. And I think a lot of it comes from, like, the history of, like, what her parents had gone through and how that influenced her and shaped her identity. Another Guardian piece from this year did say, like, exactly what you said was that this was not a show about teenagers played by 35 year olds in California. Which is very funny because it's like, not only is that what Beverly Hills final 2 one zero was, but it is what a lot of teen dramas since then have also been, you know.
My Folk Called Life is a very particular kind of teen drama, and it doesn't doesn't necessarily mean that every show that came after it was like this. But I feel like it gave shows permission to be like this and not to just be like, the rich kids. Aren't aren't they so interesting to, like, see what it would be like to be a rich kid? It's funny that that book you're referencing, I just looked up what are the because I'm, like, interested in it. And I looked up what are the other chapters.
And I'm, like, it's, like, The OC is, like, a good example of exactly I was, like, oh, it's very funny. I think The OC is one of them. And then the other one just came to mind. Shit. I forgot.
But there was, like, another one was like, yeah. They're also, like, beautiful. And then you look up their age, and it's weird that these, like, 30 year olds are playing teenagers. And, like, it really brought Claire Danes to, like, the world because I'm that time, like, she got all these Hollywood roles. I remember all the movies she was in at the time.
She wrote Romeo and Juliet. And she was so young. It is because the show really kinda like, oh my gosh, this young person can actually act. Absolutely. Yeah.
She's so young. It's it's cool. I don't know. It's, like, interesting. We've talked about that a lot on the show.
Like, there are some reasons to have it not be an actual teenager. Like, if you wanna do the Gossip Girl, like, OC vibe, then you don't want teenagers simulating sex scenes. Right? But, like, it really just depends on, like, what vibe you want. Like, for the like, Degrassi, for example, always used age appropriate actors.
And, like, I feel like that worked for the vibe they were going with. But it would be weird if it was, like, a mix. Like, I feel like you have to commit to 1 or commit to the other, you know? Oh, that's for sure. But then it's also like it brings a question that I actually agree with Gen Z on.

(01:04):
It's like, do is it necessarily to do intense sex scenes? Like, implications fine enough. Right? Like, so I just think that that's a very, very important point and that you gotta go one way or the other. Yes.
We also talk a lot in these various articles about how, like, it's very subtle, like, the class differences, but it's there. Like, one article pointed out the fact that Rhiannon is always hungry and always eating at other people's houses because she clearly doesn't get fed properly at home, which is something that, like, might slip you by, you know, if you don't really pay attention to it. But then you're like, oh, shit. Yeah. She does always, like, wanna eat when she's at everyone else's house.
I I I love that. I didn't, like, notice that until, like, that piece pointed it out. And I think the other kind of big one that's kinda like that to the details, like, that they used, like, a closet for each character. So, like, you'll see repeated outfits. And I'm like, yeah, that's real.
Like, all these shows in. Oh, Pretty Little Liars is a great example of a show where I'm like, what is this unlimited closet space? I would watch that show just to be like, what is Aria wearing this week? But this show was like, no. And they didn't like over stylize.
There weren't too many accessories that like no one actually wears when they go to school every day. And I think that's like it added so much realism because recently there was this like Netflix show that like revealed some scene that's I forgot what it's called but it has like, oh, it's like a flashback to like the early 2 1000 or something. And it's like a hallway scene going down and showing all of these like filmed in 2024, but like a take on like the 2000 styles. And I was like, this one, I was in high school. I gotta say that wasn't the vibe.
People compared it to when like, you know, an era when eighties styles came back. It's like that's not actually what eighties was. This feels like it was 1994. And of course it was shot then, but you can see other shows in which it's like, yeah, they're more fancier in how they look, but this gives that, like, authentic quality. It's like, no.
This is how they dressed when they went to school every day in this in this year. Absolutely. Yeah. Them having their own closet is, like, so smart, and it absolutely makes the show feel, like, more lived in and, like, authentic. And then the other thing that I think captures this, and we didn't even realize, and I learned this from Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek, is that, apparently, Ernest Holzman, who is a cinematographer, who I'm pretty sure is related to Winnie Holzman, who's the creator, high School is a hothouse bubbling of intense emotions, deep insecurities, and bodies that are confusingly changing.
And Ernest captured that feeling, apparently, by shooting on 16 millimeter film, which gave the show a grainy textural look, a little like the viewer was watching a memory, which I do think really captures what it looks like. Yeah. And it's funny because I think that's why it just holds it in time too because it gives it, like, the sense of memory. And, like, I feel like I'm watching a memory of 1994. But it's interesting.
It was shot then. Like, that's so fascinating. The creative choices are really, really intentional. And I always feel like it's when we know that, it's important to shout it out because, you know, obviously, all the acting performances are amazing and deserve their praise. But all these behind the scenes choices of the other departments were also really important.
And those are all union members. That about some of these choices, though. So many creative choices, I really I cannot wait to get your understanding of because there is some of it where I'm like and I'll just say this. I froze is the one that I'm very much wondering about, if you know what I mean yet. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Oh, from one of the Ricky episodes? No. No. No. Sorry.
It's the little girl who's dead. What was that? Yeah. Like, the ghost or whatever? What was that?
Like Yeah. We'll definitely talk about that. All of that. Like, the show is not, like, a fantasy show, but then they have these weird things. And then, like, ghosts in the Halloween one.
Like, it's so weird, but it's, like, it's very interesting. Like, they have all this realism, and then they have, like, a child ghost just following people around in and out of town. To teach, like, the privileged kids about their life. It's very like ghost. Yeah.
Exactly. The woke ghost. The ghost of woke. The ghost of woke future. And so then one other quote that we pulled actually from Claire Danes herself, from 2024, one of the retrospectives from this year.
She says, it is really a radical show. She created a genre of television that didn't exist before. She being the writer, Winnie Holzman. Her work is so pleasure inducing, but also very deep and daring in these surprising ways. And so I do agree that I think she created, at the very least, a subgenre, if not a genre of television that didn't exist before.
One of the biggest stars in Hollywood is currently a star of a TV show, Euphoria Yeah. Because of this. Absolutely. Yeah. And, like, has won, like, awards for that depiction, which, I mean, has not been true for a lot of teen dramas for a really long time.
Usually, you know, the CW era of teen dramas were not out here getting Emmy nominations. Because they weren't doing this. Absolutely. No. They didn't deserve it.
Like this kind of that's what's funny about it. Like, they really were, like, let's just, like, do this for, like, vampire love stories or whatever. But this is this is, like, a real, like it had 19 episodes got canceled and lives on forever. I couldn't remember all of the CW shows that aired. Totally.
Obviously, I love the CW shows equally because of what do I think drummers about? I'm like, actually, I literally said that. I was like, wait, I just, like, ran through 8. So they also live on. It's just a different way.
Yeah. The first plotline that we're really gonna get into, I think, is one that when me and Diana watched, we both just gave us a lot of things to think about and talk about, which is 6th episode of the season, The Substitute is introduced, and there is basically a sub for their English class. Tracy Vic. Yes. Yeah.

(01:25):
Let me just say, if you're listening, I recommend pausing. Just go watch this episode. It's on, like, Hulu, Disney plus, whatever. Go watch episode 6. Pause.
Come back. Whatever time stamp we're at. It is so fun to watch today. It really gets into a lot of different, like, questions about, like, censorship and what was the line that you texted me about mister Racine? Oh, so I'm I'm torn.
I've gone back and forth with the Racine. Is he the ultimate leftist grifter or kind of an icon? Because here's here's the thing, I wonder what they were trying to do. Okay. So what I think this is and I looked it up.
Death Poets Society came out like a like 5 years before the show in 89. And so I'm like, I think this is like in this era, there was like this trope of like the inspiring unconventional educator. Right? And so I think that this was kind of like a little bit of a take on that, but in a way where they did a reverse in the twist at the end, like, you know, whatever spoiler alert. At the end, like like, this unconventional teacher comes in and, like, you know, does all these, like, anti establishment, anti authority teachings that, you know, we'll go into it more, but rubs institution of the, school the wrong way.
And then, like, one day he's, like, gone and they're like, your teacher's gone. And they're like, what? You fired him. And then they see him on his way out. And it turns out, like, they didn't fire him for, you know, opening children's mind.
They found out, like, he, like, was, like, a deadbeat husband, deadbeat dad, owed child support. And when they brought it up to him, he's like, alright. I'm out of here. Angela confronts him after that in the scene. And I think it's just mostly, like, disappointment of heroes.
But I think what they might I was like, oh, it turns out he's like a leftist grifter. He comes on, says all the right things, hits all the right points, energizes people, gets them riled up, but really ultimately is like this deadbeat. But what I think they might actually be saying because he says something at the end, it's like, yeah. Well, like, this is like would life is kind of not fair. And I think it's like a thing where, like, okay.
So he had this thing. Right? He's not a perfect man, but he inspired and opened up the minds of these students. And then the establishment was so offended, they found things on him and used it. And ultimately, he knew, well, I should just leave because they're coming after me.
And if they're they're gonna use this, they're gonna use whatever they count against me because it's an attack on these ideas in the establishment. And so it is a question that's kind of like, yeah, like, we have these, like, flawed heroes. Right? Like, oh, well, so and so was this, but, like, he has a record for marijuana or whatever. And it's like, well, no.
Like, I don't know if necessarily he was supposed to be a bad guy, but I think what they were saying is, like, the institution will go after you and they will dig up your things and attack you if you do anything to, like, rock the rock the boat a little bit. I don't know. So I'm torn. Is he just a grifter, or is he just a potential victim of the institution being mad that someone is unconventional anti authority? Maybe I'm overthinking it.
No. Those are totally the kind of questions that I was thinking too. And, like, I don't know. I think part of my read of it also is, like, just because somebody isn't perfect doesn't mean they can't, like, be, you know, somebody who has an influence on your life and, like, teaches you something about the world and a lesson that I think she's never gonna forget and has, like, changed her. She meets this person at a very foundational part of her life when she's still trying to figure out who she is and what she cares about.
I mean, like, I think we say this a lot in the labor movement. We shouldn't, like, have, like, heroes and, like Yeah. Put people on a pedestal and, like, you know we're labor communicators. We do everything in our power to make sure that, like, workers are the ones telling their stories their own stories. Like, so I don't know.
I guess what I'm saying is, like, no no hero is perfect and, like, you could doesn't mean that you can't take the things that you get from, like, the good things that the person has to offer from them. So I think, like, my ultimate takeaway for Angela on this in this episode is, like, the very important lesson. Exactly that. And that, like, ultimately, she is the source of her own power. She never needed big mystery to, like, lead her or inspire her.
Like, she has her own autonomy to decide when it's time to stand up for what's right and, like, against those in power trying to control you. Like, she saw this is she says that into, I think, to her parents where she's like, no. I I saw it. Like, I know you have this. You have this.
But this is it for me. And I thought that was really powerful. And it's funny because I think it's almost like the ultimate labor comms thing. Right? Like, this whole episode to me is about, like, the fact that the students were told write your anonymous expression.
And because they were all anonymous, this was like the ultimate purest form of their expression, their self expression. Like, these teenagers, like, frustrations and all of that. And that's like the biggest problem to the institution. Right? It's like freedom of expression, the ultimate liberation.
Right? So these anonymous expressions, like, obviously, there's the one that was a little more, like, erotic or whatever, but they wanted to censor it. And so this was like it was just something that I felt like was really really powerful. And so I thought that, like, that big takeaway is, like, ultimately, like, it is a act of rebellion to go out and publish what they were trying to to censor in the students. And let me just say this one of all of the things really spoke to me.
I was like the sadness of the then and now. Students speaking up for freedom of expression and freedom of speech and being told they can't by the institution trying to bring them down, I think speaks and hits a little too heavy at home these days when you hear about student protests for Gaza. And ultimately, in the same way where anonymous expression is, like, the purest form of liberation for these teenagers, like, expressing support for Palestine is almost, like, the ultimate expression of, like, an like, anti establishment view in my opinion. So Oh, absolutely. Those parallels hit so hard for me.
I love the students right now because I feel like because they're going so hard, they've come up on, like, every episode of leftist teen drama in the last year. And I'm like, yep. Yep. There's so many comparisons between these shows and what's happening now. But yeah.
So let's, like, walk through this plot line a little more closely. Mister Efeng comes in, and he really does the, like, you know, Dead Poets Society, unconventional teacher who speaks to students in a way that the teachers that they they usually have don't speak to them. The whole thing is that this English class always produces this literary magazine. For some reason, Patty and Graham print it like that. Yeah.
Like, their printing business, for some reason, always prints the lit mag, which is, like, a very interesting way to, like, make Angela's parents have, like, an extra stake in this whole thing. Isn't that really fun? And it was, like, conveniently. Yeah. And so, like, the teacher unconventionally throws everyone's, like, writing out the window.

(01:46):
It's, like, the the first way that he comes on the phone. I mean, he's just, like, are we allowed to swear on this? Can I Oh, yeah? Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. I always just like like, hey, students, fuck you guys. Your work sucks. And it's like, oh my god. He's so it's like, I just love this show because, like, the show, the inspiring, unconventional educator, and this one just comes in.
He's like, yeah, he's really mean to he nags the students, and they're like, here's my best work ever. Oh my god. You're so right. And so when the parents find out that her, like, poem has been thrown out the window, like, Graham specifically says, haven't we always taught you to stand up for your rights? But just the beginning of us learning about this activist history that you mentioned previously, which I guess also makes sense because, like, they would have been in, like, what, the sixties, seventies, like, vibe of of protests.
So It's probably a very common thing for, like, suburban, like like, white people to have, like, parents who are on the right side of it, you know, like like, at people to have, like, parents who are on the right side of it, you know, like like, at this point in the nineties, like, that era, like, that makes sense. And I just gotta say, I don't know if we have time to go into this one specifically, but, like, Brian, the nice guy. I just there's, like, I had some issues with him. So it's very funny. Like, Brian comes and it's like he tells Angela's parents she wrote a poem.
And I mean, they're like, why does it go out the window or whatever. It's like, oh my god, Brian. Why are you snitching about Angela's poetry to her parents, you weirdo? Yeah. Oh my god.
I have to say, I actually watched a movie that that actor is in recently from the you've probably seen it from the nineties, Dick, with Michelle Williams. Oh, yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah.
I finally walked from the room. I mean, like, that's literally how I learned about Deep Throat. Amazing. And Brian is, like, Kirsten Dunst's brother in that movie. But, like, he's, like, the stoner, like, who gets drafted to go to Vietnam.
And I was like, how do I know this person? And I was like, oh my god. It's stoner Brian. Oh, yeah. That must have been just like, what, 5 years?
That's very funny. Yeah. So yeah. Very funny. That's a very fun political movie if you haven't seen it, folks.
I mean, I haven't seen it in, like, 20 years. I remember when it came out. Because who's the other actress in it? It was, like, 2 It's Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams from, like, Dawson's Creek. Yeah.
They were, like, of that era of young Hollywood. Yeah. Kirsten Dunst is, like, the teen drama movie queen of all time. She's like a little leftist in the world. Hasn't she had, like, good politics?
She's been on the right side of things. So her and her partner what's his name? The guy from Friday Night Lights, Jesse Plevins. Oh, got you. Too.
That's her husband? I thought you were gonna say coach Hottie. No. Not coach Hottie. But that would that would be a fun, like, dream cast or something.
God. He's so hot. Yeah. Definitely one of the best TV dads of all time. Like, that's like, he's hot in that role.
Yes. Yes. And so then another, like, kind of subplot line that I think is important to talk about in terms of this teacher being, like, very influential on not just Angela, but just on the class in general, is that he actually notices that Jordan, like, isn't participating for a reason. And he, like, gives him a book and is like, read this, and we'll discuss it tomorrow. Angela ends up, after being told by Graham to stand up for her rights, like staying after class the next day and kinda, like, talking back at the teacher about how he threw out their poems out the window.
And he explains that he he did it to clear the slate, to wake you up. Now guess what? You are wide awake right in front of me. I mean, wasn't that Literally, you are woke. I, like, I even read it out on my notes.
Was this a take on being woke before there was woke? He literally woke them up. It's so perfect. Yeah. As the substitute's, like, wrap around school, starts to, like, get around, like, Ran isn't even in this class.
I love that they're all just, like, there to watch. Yeah. And also, like, I don't know. I actually, like, buy students being able to do that kind of shit then more than now. Like, I don't know.
I just feel like a lot has changed in the way that we, like, conceive of, like, safety in schools. And we'll talk about that more when we get to the gun episode. But, like, it's just very interesting. And I think Mean Girls changed the game when Oh, yeah. When Katie was just literally, like, new in school and tried to go to the bathroom.
And the teacher was like, you need to pass. And she's like, well, can I have the pass? We're like, no. And I was like, wait a second. Teachers, like, actually do that.
It's like true. Like, they say no when you wanna go to the bathroom sometimes. It's like, that cannot happen. So then I'm, like, ever since then, I I wonder if, like, the culture is saying, like, oh, you just really roam. Go for it.

(02:07):
Yeah. Right. Totally. Go and send the class when there's an interesting substitute. Oh, yeah.
It's pretty fucked up when you think about it. Like, you know, kids menstruating for the first time, and you're like, no, you can't go to the bathroom. Like Oh my god. You literally, like, what do you gotta say? Like, explain it in detail?
Anyways, poor Yeah. Critical school. At the institution of school, man. Yeah. You know, everyone's in this class, including people who aren't in the class.
And the sub, like, tells everyone to take out their notebooks, and he's like, I want everyone to start over from the beginning. I don't wanna see domesticated animals or greenery. I want anger. I want honesty. I want nakedness.
He says nakedness. So you know what? He got what he asked me. Got it. It's also very funny that it was, like, you know, Sharon and and Sally, like, good return of this character is very, very funny.
Honestly love Sharon. I think her journey is so fun. Like, I don't know. I always love when, like, the good girl character ends up being the one who's like, actually, I have a healthy sex life, and I wrote this erotic poem. It's like I love it too, because it's like, I love the scene where it's like, wait, you wrote it?
I'm telling people I wrote it. Like, with Rianne because, like, obviously I love Rianne and I'm just like, no. Like, I love that. And I think that too in, like, the nineties 2000, there is a lot of, like, women in scenes together where there was just, like, assumed pettiness or cattiness or competitiveness. Totally.
Like, it took a long time for shows to come back around to have, like, women relationships. And this show was just all about that. Like, it it's really really powerful. Like, these 2, like, oh, it's supposed to be enemies, but then they're like, no. Actually, they bond over this.
It's very fun. Absolutely. And the whole, like, my best friend's new best friend and old best friend dynamic, like Oh. I just feel like that's the kind of, like, intricate teen girl bullshit that, like, people would think as teen girl bullshit and not something to actually be explored. A whole group of friends now.
Right? Yeah. Exactly. Later, they're, like, telling Ricky about how, like, he always wears one white sock and one black sock. So he's, like, you know, quirked up white boy, like, really inspiring these kids.
So I think Ricky eventually comes to the class even though he's not in it. Like, by the end, literally, everyone in school is in this fucking class. And that's that's part of it. Right? What this does is it brings it's multiculturalism.
Right? Yes. And, like, in the form of, like, creativity and creating art, it's like the ultimate, like, collective empowerment happening here. And I've even seen of them all writing in their notebooks like candlelight at one point, which feels like something that would never happen in a present day classroom. And, eventually, since they've all been writing anonymously, he has everyone, like, take different, like, people's writing out of a folder, and, like, they read other people's writing out loud.
And so Brian is the one stuck with the erotic poem, which he refuses to read. Yeah. Honestly, perfect. And later, Angela tries to talk to the teacher about her poem, but he wants to talk to Jordan, who he, again, has assigned this extra book to, which, you know, this is a really interesting way for them to bring up the the fact of Jordan's, you know, learning disorder that just slipped by and nobody noticed, which is quite an inaccurate indictment of the US public school system, I would say. So Angela's dad eventually comes by to tell the sub that he needs the submissions for the Litts, that he can, like, you know, print this.
And, like, the teacher goes on this whole rant. And at one point, one of the rants is about how no one noticed that Jordan never quite learned how to read. Like, he's just like, like, this school is like bullshit. It pisses me off. Rants It's kinda funny because it's like it's like this guy, like, like, the substitute comes in.
It's almost like he breaks down the 4th wall of this show that in which, like, there's the plot this kid doesn't know how to read and is in high school. No one's noticed. And he's like, wait, how has nobody noticed that this kid can't read? Like, he's like coming in and like breaking on them. Like, wait a second.
This doesn't make any sense. So it pisses me off. Why why doesn't anyone know he can't read, man? I noticed on the 1st day. No.
Exactly. So after that interaction, Graham actually tells Patty the substitute is cool. But Patty, at this point, has been shown the sexy poem, and it's like, I'm not printing that. Which, to be fair, I mean, like, Graham says, what about freedom of expression? I agree.
But also, like, I kinda get, like, being a mom and being like, I don't wanna, like, you know, print a poem I know a teenager wrote. That's like a rhyme. But but still This is like it it is very interesting that they do this because I kind of agree, like but it's also like was it I try to understand like they just didn't wanna print this one. Right? And then the students were like, if you print them, you print them all.
Yeah. So it was interesting that they made it about like an erotic content. I do wonder in today's day, like, what would be the content that would be the one that they would wanna censor? Like, truly in a real plot, it would be, like, one about Palestine. Yeah.
I was gonna say But barely Palestine. But, like, in in a show world, like, that would be a very bold show take. So Absolutely. And so then Patty ends up going in herself to talk to mister Raytheon. But one thing I noticed was the chalkboard says question everything, which is just Question everything.
Hilarious. So good. I swear to God, I had a AP lit teacher who one time, like, put on the Where We Walk In and said 2 +2 equal 5. And we're like, woah. Mind blown.

(02:28):
Question everything. Yes. My story scene is very, you know he's just like, Patty, you're afraid that Angela wrote it. Yeah. And she's like, well, this has nothing to do with whoever Angela wrote it.
And he said, oh, so this is just censorship for censorship's sake? And he says that he'll just type them himself and have them Xeroxed. Yeah. Which is like, damn. Yeah.
So basically, having the whole argument about, like, whether it's censorship or, like, giving adolescents guidance, or like Patty puts it. And mister Racine argues that this journal should be about giving kids a voice, not having their thoughts edited. If these kids aren't afraid to put their hearts on the page, why should we be afraid of them? And Patty's like, damn, you should really teach full time. And then Patty actually agrees to print them without censoring anything.
Like, he convinces her. Patty's journey and, like, all these episodes. I remember, like, Patty also was like, oh, I don't know. We don't know him. Like, we know Brian.
And then, like, by the end, it was like, come on in. This is, like, community. I was like, Patty's journey is so incredible. That's why she's one of my faves. Like, she listens, she learns, and she takes away.
It's beautiful. So then since Patty agrees to print it, the lit mags do start getting passed around. Principal Foster is, like, observing people actually reading it, which is like, what? So the staff are actually reading it too in his office. So finally, he gets a copy, and he pretty quickly figures out why everyone is reading it.
And it's the erotic poem, and he wants to see mister Racine after the final bell. So that's when we come to Sharon and Rhianne in the bathroom, having the conversation we had kind of already touched on, which is where Sharon reveals that she's the one who wrote the poem, even though Reehan has been kind of letting everyone believe that she wrote it. Because let's be real, it's very unbrand for Reehan to have written it. And so Angela bursts into the bathroom and finds them talking to each other, and she says, you will not believe this. Foster has the lit, like, every copy, except a few of the people stole or something.
You're refusing to allow us to distribute it because of your haiku thing. And so the first clip we're gonna watch is Angela at her dinner table explaining to her parents the different ways that the students are considering fighting back against the censorship of their poetry. And I do think it's cool that they all, like we said, kind of come together to defend one poem, rather than it being, like, a bunch of their poems needing to be censored because that is, like, some cool collective action that they're all willing to throw down for this one person's, like, freedom of expression. Vic says we have several options. We could file a lawsuit, like, sue the school for denying us their constitutional rights, or we could, you know, like stage a walk out.
You would not believe how many boxes of Thin Mints missus Castillo bought. VIC had the most amazing idea. We could stage a make believe book burning, because you know Nazis burn books. So, I mean is that what Foster is saying that a school should burn books like Nazis? Except that mister Foster hasn't actually burned anything, has he?
Oh, god. I love that. Has he burned anything? Good question. No.
But it amounts to the same thing. Vic says if somebody called, a news station and read the Marpoem, we'd have camera crews instantaneously all over the school. Is there any more Brisket? Do you call your teacher Vic? You call him Vic?
It's his name. And I I know. I've been talking a lot about him. Like a DSA meeting. I just respect him, you know?
He's he's smart. He's like he's an adult I can look up to. Finally. Oh. What?
What? Just punched your parents in the face, like, verbally. Get carried away with this. Okay? I'm gonna count my money again.
There you go. Easy it is to get caught up in these things. It's exciting. Exciting? It's not exciting.
It's important. It's an important issue. What? You think I'm doing this for excitement, for fun? Angela.
The point is we are concerned. We can't help it. We're concerned about your future. Exactly. We don't want you doing anything that could get you into trouble.
I can't believe this. I've read all those boring stories I've had to sit through my whole life about how committed you were in the sixties, about how you believed in things. We did? Oh, right. Only now you're so terrified of causing trouble.
You can't even see what it means to me. That's an interesting, I think, parallel to some of the other things we talked about on the show, which is, like, just the general, like, parent reaction to a kid being activated, like, politically, especially for, like, the first time, which is, like, really what it feels like this is for Angela, where even as people who clearly did the same thing as teenagers, they are, you know oh my god. Sorry. I just saw what you put in the chat. I literally it it's literally just a poem.
I I was, like, wondering. I'm like, should one of us read her poetry? Do you want to? Do you wanna read it? Yes.
It's very funny because I'm, like, well, I guess I won't, like, share the link with my dad, but it's it's very funny. It's really not that it's not that erotic. I'll I'll I'll be Brian here. Okay. He peels off my clothes like a starving man would peel an orange.

(02:49):
His lips taste my juicy sweetness. My legs tangle with his. We become one being, a burning furnace in the cold, dark basement of love. That is not a haiku, is it? No.
Absolutely not. That is not a haiku. They definitely say it is. Haiku. They absolutely do.
Like, it's like the haiku. He peels off my clothes like a starving man would peel an orange. Oh, my god. The cold basement of love. What's the where's the why your basement?
Why is it cold? Because she's a teenager. That's totally the only place that her and her boyfriend were able to, like, find a place to fuck. Like, I don't know. I think it's a very literal basement.
I think it's very well crafted, like, could be teenage, like, teenager It really is. Yeah. Like, I feel I feel like I like, you just learn how, like, the descriptives. Like, you learn all this, like, how to, like, use metaphors and all that in, like, high school creative writing. Absolutely.
And, like, I don't know. I just I totally buy that, like, the couple times she's had sex have been in a basement in the cold. Yeah. She's like, okay. Great.
Like, this goes with my furnace metaphor. So let's face my GC sweeteners. That one is old. That that's a little old. Yeah.
That one I don't wanna be a parent reading that. But yeah. So the parents are really, you know, kind of in a way I don't know, like, not taking seriously Angela's, like, like, I I don't know. Like, like, I I don't know. Like, I even laugh at the end when she goes up the stairs, you know?
I'm just watching it now. I'm like, is there a little bit of, like, a that we created this monster, like, you know? Because she's pointing out, like, your first of all, your boring stories about, like, these parents are literally, like, oh, like, in this moment in history, we were on the right side, like, constantly reverberating. Like, we were on the good side of the civil rights movement, and then it was, like, all these boring ass stories. Like, it's so funny to me.
Yeah. Literally, like, the parents can get Out. I voted for Obama twice. It's very cool that Racine is just like, we could do a walkout. I mean, he's absolutely putting, like, collective action as Yes.
Solution into their mind. Mind. Whole episode to me is a metaphor for organizing, hands down, because I'm like even when they're like, we could take legal action, I'm like, okay. So you're talking about ULPs, and then we could do a walkout. And I was like the one thing I was told, I'm like, is this like union organizing, grassroots organizing?
Or is this like a wildcat strike? Because oh, yeah. Anyways, it's just it's all a metaphor for the collective act of organizing in my opinion. Absolutely. I mean scenes here.
I mean, it does seem like, you know, it could be a status quo violation of the way that the lit is usually, done. Yeah. It's like they right. They definitely So the next day in class, there's no mister Racine, and they're actually all just kinda sitting around waiting to find out what the hell is going on. And mister Foster comes in and asks everyone to take their feeds, and he's like, we found the material to be inappropriate.
And if anyone has copies of the lid, they should submit them to his office because he's, like, taking them off the streets. And Angela raised their hand and she's like, excuse me. How can you say it's unacceptable if nobody's allowed to see it? And then everyone's like, yeah. What's wrong with it?
And he says, that's enough. I must hold school authorized publications to certain standards of decency. Then he says that anyone found distributing the journal will be suspended from school, and a new substitute will be there soon. So the story scene is gone. So let me ask you something.
Do you think it was just the erotic poem? Because my thinking is, like because he never actually says it's that, And I wonder if it's like supposed to be that. It's the concept of these, like, uncensored thoughts from students and young people and, like, just the overall expression because they were anonymous versus like, oh, this one was just a little bit too erratic. I think it's like this concept of the free expression was a little too much. It's like, yeah.
Yeah. You can express yourself but like not like that. Like, I think it's the overall thing. So I think it's I think they made a point to say these were anonymous. So, like, all of these these weren't, like, I almost said workers students who were, like, writing for a class and it was still some sort of, like, you know, self censor hip.
They were able to, like, freely express themselves. So there's a lot more in there. I'm sure there's, like, people mad about Palestine in there too. Right? So I just wonder it's, like, the general idea of, like, real free expression, like, pure expression.
Yeah. I mean, I think that, like, they would be scared of the concept in and of itself. Because, like, what else is gonna come out if we keep letting them do this? Exactly. Yeah.
Yeah. I could see that. So Jordan's actually the one at the window who says to the rest of the class that he sees mister Ray seem, like, outside walking, like, away. Snow, snow, away. Yeah.
I know. I know. He's so hot. And so everyone, like, gets up and runs to the windows, and mister Foster cannot control the situation. And they're all, like, yelling out the window at him, and he turns around and pumps his fist in the air.

(03:10):
Yeah. And Ricky does, like, the fist back and is like, where are you going? Brian being a little, like, asshole about this guy is, like, he didn't need Sky Brian. My god. Yeah.
And Jordan's like, he did teach. He was the best teacher I ever had. And it's like, oh my god. Wait, dude. Like, kill me.
Poor, poor, lucky, Jordan. Yeah. And then he goes, well, he was. Oh my god. Poor Jordan.
He can't read. Yeah. And later, he has to get Brian's help because of that. So, yeah. Brian becomes the teacher of the mystery scene was later.
God. Brutal for the nice guy, Brian. Yep. So then, Angela gets up and runs out of the classroom. She is activated.
Ricky and Marianne and Sharon all run after her, and she's like, Vic, is it true? Were you fired? And he lies, as we know, and says, yeah, you could say that. And she says, I can't believe this. I can't believe you were fired because of one poem.
And he says, why? You think injustice like that doesn't happen? It happens every day. Wake up, and then he walks away. So I'm it's very I don't know if he's lying.
This is where I'm like this is where I get a little bit torn on the lesson. Because I'm thinking he's like, yeah. You could say that. But it's more like, no. They come they're coming after me.
And he kinda like forced out, I would say, more than anything else. Yeah. I think that and that's why he's talking about it as an injustice. Like, he opened their mind and so they're gonna come after him every which way possible. And like, that's the injustice we're talking about.
It's like, it's just maybe a little bit like red Scare? Yeah. Yeah. They're like, we don't want this commie teaching our kids. Yeah.
It's like, what's to, like, find the dirt on that commie and ruin his life if he doesn't just get up and leave on his own. Yeah. And so, like, actually, because mister Racine had such a, you know, influence on Angela, Graham actually goes to speak to mister Foster, assuming that, you know, he is the one who got rid of him. And he says, I don't wanna make trouble, but my daughter, he got her to think, you know, and question, which isn't now what all of this is supposed to do. She believes you fired him, and he says, I didn't, like, I didn't have that particular pleasure.
I was strongly considering it. And then he quit right after I showed him this. It's the copy of a subpoena addressed to him stating that he must appear at New Hampshire Court within 60 days for failure to pay child support with family, and he has deserted. So then Graham's like, I wish I hadn't known. I wish I didn't know that.
And he ends up telling even though they're a little bit like, can Angela handle the truth? And so Angela does, as we mentioned before, like, go and kinda confront him, mister Raytheon. And I heard that you left your family, abandoned them. And he says one truth is I left my family. The other truth is my wife is far better off without me.
Yes, I got out. I escaped. I broke out of a prison of my own making, and many, many people wanna punish me for that, maybe including you. But he calls it a struggle for his freedom. And then the one thing that he does is he tells Angela to get out.
Basically, he tells her to drop out of school, if I'm reading this correctly. He calls her Amanda, and says get out of the mind control warehouse. Yeah. This is, like, the big, like, number. Gets weird.
Or He gets weird. Like, wait. Is he actually, like, just a crazy guy? Yes. He's like, run for your life.
Save your life. Let the walls of your gingerbread house come crashing down. I I think that one thing that's really important is that Angela, even though she's been, like, you know, changed in many ways by this guy's teaching, she's not, like, hero worshiping to the point where she's like, okay, I'll drive out of school. She's just like, I don't think that's the answer. Yeah.
And I think part of it is, like, when he calls her Amanda, she realizes, like, wait. What what is all this? He he he actually don't even know my name. So and I and that's also like I don't know. Did he call her Amanda on purpose So like I don't know.
Like how slick is this guy? Right. Because I am so curious. Like, why did they write in him to say the other truth, my wife is far better off without me. Yes.
I got out. I escaped. I broke out of a prison in my own making. Many people wanna punish me for that. What do you think that is?
Like, I think he could've just like he had a lot of, like, mental health, maybe addiction, maybe problems. He was like a bat and he just like left. Not being able to, like, cover child support, whatever, like like, you just like I'm coming up with excuses for this man because I'm like I think there's, like, there the implication is there's more to the story and maybe there is, like, a little bit of, like, you know, a two sides to his situation and that I don't know. But then he goes into this, like, crazy rant. But then he, like, comes back around.

(03:31):
It's like this weird roller coaster that I think is supposed to be this kind of lesson that it is. Like, this nothing is so set. But I'm so fascinated. Like, this is what's so incredible about this show. And it might be that I'm, like, overthinking it, but I about this from a leftist perspective.
I think it's, like, a really profound, like, up in the air takeaway. Absolutely. And, like, I think that one thing that the left continues to struggle with is dealing with, like, imperfection and people who don't necessarily align with, like, every single one of our values. I mean Yeah. I don't know.
I just thought it's been, talked about a lot throughout, like, the last election cycle and stuff. And just, like, every of the last three election cycles of, like, what level are you, like, gonna compromise and what level of, like, being a bad person with some of the right policies. But, like, you know, like, I just feel like I think I think he might as well just, like, name AOC here. Like, I think we like, it's just so Like, Bernie falling from graves too. I think it's, like, not but, yeah.
I think, like, anyone who's, like, a prominent leftist figure who has managed to hold elected office in this fucked up country. It's like, yeah. Like Yeah. It is very it's like and it's also like we're talking about specifically, especially Palestine. Like, you can be, like, pro union and pro this and and pro this.
But the second you're pro Palestine, it becomes like a big, like, knock off. Like, the progressive accept Palestine. It's like a real thing. And, like, I think that for years, we've, like, kind of, like, settled and compromised. But, like, to me, I'm like, I will take, like, John Ossoff and his imperfections because of how he voted the other day, any day of the week over, like, a Michigan senator who didn't.
We're talking about a vote that just happened with the 18 to 19 senators who voted with Bernie Sanders on his resolution to end sales of weapons to Israel, which is, like, not a lot of senators, but also monumental. And just, like, noting that and, yeah, the progressive politics, except on Palestine, is, like, a a really big example of what we're talking about. Absolutely. Absolutely. So Angela comes home from her little confrontation with mister Racine, and her dad says what it really boils down to is that not every fight is worth fighting.
And they're kind of just like, you can't win every fight, you have to pick your battles, blah blah blah. And so they think that they've, like, fully talked her out of taking any action. But as we will see in this last clip from this episode that we're gonna watch, Angela is inspired still to take action against censorship. I had her as a substitute once. Use this metaphor.
It was cool. Yeah. I was. All involved. An excellent example of creative writing.
Which one of you is Angela Chase? Angela Chase? Too busy doing cool girl shit. That's right. Yeah.
So we see her. Aww. Yes. Exactly. Print them.
She's not gonna get you printed in house. As I was literally not gonna say I just made a flyer this week printed in house by Artemis. There you go. Wow. Liberty vet.
It's free. What? Ryan's gonna get in there. No. Nothing.
I could take some of those and hand them out upstairs. There you go. Because I think you're right. I mean, I also think Vic is a complete degenerate, but this is freedom of speech. You could get suspended.
So Miss Chase Brian, the future Republican. Want a copy of the Liberty Litmus, Dimitri? Maybe later. Right now mister Foster would like to see you in his office. Okay.
She's just passing out something that our English class up with him? Is not a crime. Not a problem. Would you like to join her, Brian? I can go by myself.
No one has to escort her to the principal's office, like, come on. She's got autonomy. Where you're supposed to be, computer? Brian's, like, looking at the teacher like, we're we're we're friends. Oh, I'm not talking to you.
Of course they called us. I can see that they really took what we talked about the other day to heart. I did. Do you know what this means? This will go on your record.
I want it to go on my record. You want it to? Okay. Let's just stay home with the principal's office. I mean, what is the point of school if you can't say what you're thinking?
Do you have to be the personal spokesperson for the entire school? You told me to pick my battles. This is it. Mhmm. It may not be a a war protest or a civil rights demonstration, but it's all I've got.
Oh, the nineties. There are a couple of pictures Stick through it. To decide what to fight for. I decided. I just think it's wrong to censor people, and I'm willing to get suspended for it.
That's such a big line. Mister and missus Chase, Angela. I think that flipped her parents. Like, specifically sorry. What's Racine, what he did walking out on his family.

(03:52):
You know that. Graham. Of course, she knows it. Like, get the fuck in there. Oh, god.
I hate being called to the principal. Angela, I believe I made it clear to you and your classmates that anyone caught distributing this issue of the lid would be suspended. Do you remember hearing that? Yes. And yet not only did you distribute it, you reproduced it using school equipment and supplies.
Isn't that right? Yes. And while you were supposed to be in English class And I also cut bio yesterday. Well, is there anything you'd like to say in your own defense? No.
Because I'm willing to listen. Mister Foster, if I may, you'd check. Because Dad's already on it. There's nothing else I wanna say. I see.
Well, I'm not going to suspend you. I think mister Racine gave you kids very distorted ideas about ride and roll. Angela, this obviously isn't you. I'm willing to forget about this one isolated incident. It's over.
She called us bluff. She's like, I want him to get suspended. Yeah. She's mad. She's visibly upset.
Upset. My parents are like Yeah. Once upon a time, there lived a girl. She slept in a lovely cottage made of gingerbread and candy. Oh, she said gingerbread house.
And she was always asleep. 1 morning, she woke up. She got woke. She woke up. And this is how she became an organizer.
She woke up. Wow. But I feel like it's interesting that, like, I feel like her privilege still saved her from getting the, like, punishment. Like, if it had been somebody else, I probably would've given it to them. 100 manager is Ricky.
Like, 100%. Like, that was that like, this whole show is, like, Angela's privilege and how it she functions around it. It's, like, really powerful. But I will say when she says that line, I decided, like, that is, like, her autonomy. Her parents challenged her and said, look, pick your battles.
Pick the things you believe are worth fighting for. Yeah. And she did. She believes censorship and free expression is worth fighting for. She thinks it's wrong for people in power to control people's expression and decided that was worth taking a stand for to the point she was disappointed.
She didn't get reprimanded for it. That's a big win. She called their bluff. She showed that when you stick it to power, they will relent. Period.
Like, that's what it is. Right? 100%. She should take that as when she showed what they are capable of, what she's capable of. Yes.
Absolutely. So I think that most of the rest of this episode is going to be largely focused on Ricky Vasquez. We couldn't not talk about him at some point on Left 15 Drama because before there was a Jack on Dawson's Creek or Eric Effiong on Sex Education, who we've famously done 3 episodes on, there was Ricky Vasquez of My So Called Life. None of those characters would have existed without Ricky existing first. According to The Guardian in 2024, Wilson Cruz, who played Ricky, became the first out gay actor to play an out gay character on network TV in this show.
Incredible. Pretty fucking incredible. And not only was he the first actor to do that, but he did it, you know, as a person of color as well, which is, you know, always an extra level of representation we don't get to see. And so Wilson Cruz said, reflecting on this in 2020 4, I remember reading it and thinking, oh, wow. This is my life.
This was my life in high school. I felt like somebody had followed me around and took notes or something. Right away, it resonated with me on a cellular level. I honestly thought this is my role. I was born to play this part, and I haven't really had that feeling ever since.
But that was a really powerful Wilson Cruz quote. We'll go into it with the specific scenes, but, like, I do think that there was so much power to the character Ricky and how they really, like, normalized a lot of things, like, just his experience and, like, even, like, like, being unhoused, all all of that was, like it was is so powerful. And, like, to this day, I don't think there's been as many accurate depictions on what it is like to be, like, living so, like, poor. So, like, actually trying to, like, exist in the normal world of a high school teenager, but then also having all of these, like, experiences at your home and all that. Like, it really was powerful and thinking about how it was 30 years ago.
It's very much ahead of its time. Yeah. And I think that it's implied, though maybe not said really directly that, like, the issue he's having do stem from the fact that he's queer. My understanding is he has basically why he's kicked out and why he's beat up by his I think the abuse of home and, like, the house imprecarity, it's like it they don't, like, directly say it and I think it's not totally at the end of the show that it's implied and I think that's kind of why they introduced, like, the teacher who takes him in and Mhmm. I think it oh, god.
Oh, god. I mean, like, that is the ultimate leftist. I love that teacher. I'm excited to talk about him. Me too.
I'm excited to talk about communities and building community and chosen family, all of this. All of it. Absolutely. So they really do touch on a lot of different aspects of, like, what it means to be queer in this society and, like, the different experiences it can create for you of, yeah, like you said, housing precarity and needing to create your own chosen family. And they do all of this without being super explicit, which kind of comes to the point of what Winnie Halsman had said this year in a Vulture article.
She said when she was a teen, she did a lot of theater, and so all of her best friends were gay boys. I can relate to that. My best friend, Dondre, was not out at the time, but Yes. I had a lot of thespian friends in high school who are living their life right now. Yes.

(04:13):
Exactly. And so she said that she knew guys who were a little bit older than her, took her under their wing, showed her how to do makeup, showed her how to dress right, and gave her advice about boys, and she would, like, sleep in the same bed with them. They were, like, brothers to her. And she said there was one boy in high school, like, a year older than me, clearly gay, and he would hang out in the girl's room and talk. He wasn't friends with me.
I was too, like, unimportant. There were girls he was friends with, and he would continue these conversations that started outside and come into the girl's room and keep talking. There's another element to the character, which is, I had recently seen a documentary called Paris is Burning, and it really hit me hard. The young men on that documentary were so beautiful. They had so much life, such life force, and it seems like they worship beauty.
That's what I wanted Ricky to be, somebody who had a strong life force and worship beauty. Either way, I didn't even think of Ricky as, quote, unquote, gay until later in the season. I didn't wanna label him, like have him say, oh, you know I'm gay. It wasn't going to be that simple. I just wanted him to be extremely feminine, which to me is the most subversive thing you can be, whether you're a woman or a man.
When you're feminine, there's something about it that's, like, dangerous. And so I thought that was a really cool insight into, like, how this character was created, and I think it, like, very much explains who he is. And, yeah, the the final episode of the show where we'll end is where we learn that he's, like, where he actually has this big iconic coming out moment. So a lot of it is implied. Yeah.
Watching it again, it's like like, you know Ricky's gay. Like, I don't know how it felt watching it when it originally aired with this. Like, it's funny that it's like an iconic coming out moment in the last episode because it's like and today, like, knowing, like, gay people and, like, probably more gay people who are more out and open in high school. I'm like, yeah. Like, Ricky's character and I think it has everything to do with the actor, nailing it and, like, having such shared related experiences to the character.
Like, yes. That is a queer teenager existing in the world of high school. Like, hands down, that's how he would like experience things. That's how he would relate to other people. It was such a well done character that in, like, today where you, like, it's just a little more open in the world.
I I see Ricky as Gabe from episode 1. And it was like, yeah. And the big moment where he does actually officially acknowledge it, it feels like it's like it's really powerful because it's like, yeah, it's actually like he is just, like, living him as his as his true self throughout the show. Because he's not, like there's no point in the season where he's, like, oh, like, I'm, like, learning how to be gay. Right?
There's no scene where he's, like, putting on eyeliner for the first time and realizing he likes it. Like, it's just, like, part of his character and, like, all aspects of it, like, who he relates to, who his friends are. And so I think that that was what was really powerful about it because the it well, like, him being gay wasn't really, like, part of his plot, but it was part of his identity and his character and how he, like, related to just everyday plots, like, trying to find a place to live, for example. Yeah. I totally agree.
Like, in the first episode, we're just, like, introduced casually to Rianne doing Angela's makeup in the girls' bathroom while Ricky is doing his own in the mirror next to them. And like you said, there's no, like, oh, this is my first time doing this. Like, absolutely not. Like, it's very clear this is just, like, what Rianne and Ricky do. They hang out in the bathroom, and he puts on his makeup, and that's just, you know, the way that it is.
And Rianne and Angela are talking about how Angela is in love with Jordan Catalano. And at first, Angela is, like, oh my god. Like, you can't say this in front of Ricky. And Rianne's, like, we can tell Ricky. And from that moment on, I feel like the 3 of them are confidants with each other.
Yeah. Rianne and Ricky's friendship, I just love Aw. I know. It's so cute. With them.
I wanna enjoy them. I wanna just have fun with them. I wanna, like, walk the mile with them in gym class. Oh my god. So true.
Yeah. And in the first episode, actually, Ricky's sexuality does come up in Angela's home when Ricky's cousin is, like, gonna drive Angela somewhere, and the mom's all like, we haven't met this Ricky. And she says, stop calling him this Ricky. And Patty says, I find Ricky a little confusing. And Angela's like, okay, so maybe he's bi.
Who cares? His cousin can still drive. And Patty's like, what? He says, what? Do you hear these terms she's throwing around?
Bi. Bi security. And then Danielle bi. I love the younger sister Danielle being like, it means bisexual. Talk about woke.
No. The funny thing is in today's kinda plots, like, Ricky's character probably would be bi. It was, like, in the nineties, it was that he was gay today that he would be bi for sure. And then Patty says, how can he be bi and be a child? He's obviously very confused.
And she's like, no, he's not. He's not confused. And then she's like, he wears eyeliner. Patty is, like, has quite a journey with this whole situation throughout the season. But it definitely starts with her being, like, oh, shit.
My kid is friends with someone who isn't straight. And, like, he's a kid who's not straight. And, like, There's definitely a little bit of, like, he's also, like, not white without it being so overt. Like, because, like, I don't know him is kinda, like, the implication. Because then there's later on, she talk it was like you know, we'll get into it because it's like a really powerful thing that is pointed out.
I even, like, wrote the words on between Graham and Patty where it's like, oh, what would you say to say to say it was Brian? And, like, I've known Brian since he was a kid and that matters and it shouldn't be a difference, but it is a difference. So Patty's journey, man. And one of the reflections on the show that that apparently ABC found Ricky's application of eyeliner more unsettling than anything else, like, in terms of, like, studio notes that would have come back. And because Before, the eighties did happen.
So Right. And so, yeah, there's another quote from Hultman where she talks again about how Paris is Burning was a big influence and how she wanted him to be sexually androgynous and not so easily categorized. And actor Wilson Cruz did come out in tandem with his character. Apparently, LGBT Magazine, The Advocate, had dubbed him as the poster boy for gay youth at a certain point. But the irony being, according to The Guardian article, that Ricky was not meant to be a symbol, but simply a part of Angela's life.
So he turned out to be the part that caused the Jaces to face their ambivalence about homosexuality and multiculturalism, not to mention their views on masculinity. Another interesting little tidbit that I pulled from Greek's Lakes and Dawson's Creek is about Ricky's wardrobe. Patrick Norris is the costume designer, and it said that when it came to Ricky, Patrick Norris took inspiration from Prince and Jimmy Hendrix. Come on. They couldn't have made him cooler.

(04:34):
Like, that's so fun. He said he dressed the young actor in bold colors that popped, a pink linen button down shirt with a bright checkered vest, a maroon plaid button down paired with a sunshine yellow tee. He said, I wanted you to look at him and go, wow, this kid is really cool. A 100%. I would say if I saw this kid today, I'd be like, damn, that's a cool kid.
Absolutely. Especially with, yeah, 90 fashion coming all the way back around. That's what's really funny about it. It's like the way this whole, like, it's kinda like timeless vibe. It's like, oh, time has come back to this era.
Absolutely. So that brings us to the 3rd episode, which yes. The 3rd episode has a gun plot line. The third one. Yeah.
They're like, we're still, like, getting people to know these people and know these characters and know these 5. And they're like, let's just throw but the funny thing is it's the b plot of this episode. Like, a gun goes off at the school in 19 and New York and it's like the subplot to the main plot of what is it, Angela trying to get over her crush. Something like that. I think there's a rumor that she and Jordan's stuck together in the movie.
Yeah. It's a rumor episode. Angela dealing with a rumor about her having sex is the a plot to a gun going off at the school. Yeah. Compare that to, like, you know, the Degrassi school shooting episode, the One Tree Hill shooting episode.
Special episodes. What are they called those episodes? Like, there's always, like, a term for these, like, eighties nineties, like, episodes, like, a special episode. Oh, like, like an after school special? Yeah.
What there is a term where it's, like, on the special episode of Full House. Yeah. It's like we're gonna make you cry and miss episodes. Yeah. Because it's like, get ready.
Funeral happens, and everybody bonds or something like that. Yeah. But so, basically, what happens is that Brian is in the hall. He's on his way to the bathroom during class, and he sees Ricky, even though I don't think he necessarily realized that at first that it is Ricky being beat up in the hallway. And in class, they're all watching the Kennedy speech, which is very funny, actually.
It's just like of all the choices made, it's like, okay. And then meanwhile, they're what this is their, you know, you know, it's class of watching the Kennedy speech. Yeah. So As a note gets passed around, and this is the note that if everyone, you know, gossiping about how Angela and Jordan have slept together. But then the whole class hears a gunshot go off.
And so people scream. And in the hallway, Brian sees Ricky and another guy running away. And on the ground, there's a gun. But everyone comes out. Everyone comes out.
Let's go towards the gun. Wild. Let's talk about how any millennial or Gen z person would never do that because we actually had drills from early in our education that told us to stay the fuck put, hide, turn the lights off, lock the door. Like, it's crazy. Like, the idea that they they're all, like, alright.
Let's go see what that's about. The the the crazy thing is they chose to do this. This is pre Columbine. And I think Columbine, it, like, introduced, like, the idea of, like, school shootings. And sorry to say, introduced the idea of school shooting.
Unfortunately, that's where we are in this society. Yeah. It is when it became a kinda, like, cultural, like, concept and often more in thoughts. And I think the Degrassi episode happened after that. It was like the new generation did the the gun one because it's where Drake gets shot.
Wheelchair, Jimmy. Oh my god. That's so anyways. So, yeah. That's like what's interesting.
It's like it was it wasn't a kinda commonly understood idea of, like, kids having guns in schools yet. So it was kind of like, oh, they you know, somebody brings a gun. Like, were guns just more, like, common around? Like, because yeah. Ricky, at the end, talked about, like, yeah, You would want a gun too.
Like, we should all have guns. And it's like, damn. This is, that's like an interesting take on leftism. And so all these 1994 high school kids run toward the gun, and they see that a locker was hit and someone's soda exploded. And the teacher gets through the crowd and sees Brian, and he's like, did you see who it was?
Later in the bathroom, Rhiannon is sort of mocking this whole thing, and she's like, a bottle of soda was shot tragically. And Yeah. She says everybody knows there's, like, 50 guns in school at any given moment. Is that like a thing? Is that like the I'm like, why is that?
The fact that they haven't gone off before shows what a totally safe place this is, which is kinda funny. But Raeanne, the future wife of a Republican. And later, when Raeanne and Angela see Ricky, they see that something happened to his shirt, and he says he caught it on the fence outside. And he says that he was in English and didn't see anything. And Raeanne's like, maybe I should get a gun, and she, like, jokes bam bam and freaks out some of the girls near her.
So, like, she's very much, like, making, you know, fun of this, and, like, when they tease Angela about whether the rumors of her having sex with Jordan are true, Angela's like, just shoot me, and Rhianne is like, I think we could arrange that. What? A gun literally just went off, Rianne. It is too soon. And so then, I think what's really interesting is the gun violence reaction from parents is definitely what it should be, but it's very sad to watch knowing that parents are still fighting this fight, having lost their kids.
Like Yeah. It it's really, really sad. Like, the the fact that, like, now it's changed since this era when, like, school shootings are so commonplace that this vibe is so common. And it's like, oh my god. This was like a gun, a tragically shot soda can.
And, like, it's still just, 30 years later. Absolutely. And, like, Patty goes on this whole rant. She's like, should we, like, pull her from school and put her in private school and sacrifice other things? She says, I don't know why the world's gone so crazy, and I don't know what to do about it.

(04:55):
What about a place they can learn and grow up without having to worry about guns and AIDS and serial murderers? That didn't used to be exotic. It didn't used to be the province of the rich. We all had it. And if that's not bitch.
If that's not just showing a preview of what was to come, I don't know what was. Like, it just got worse. Full show is, like, it is so, like, leftist because it really is about how much, like, social safety nets are needed. And it's like commentary on, like, how there's no, like, like, public support systems for people like Ricky, for for people like Jordan, like, how they get lost in these systems for people like Ryan. Like and it's like such a commentary on that.
And I think this is like a profound moment of that. It's like, yeah, all of these things that are happening, it's like we don't really have any kind of, like, safety nets in the world for protecting and including in, like, education. Now we have to worry about, like, dangers of guns and and not our students just going and learning. We have to expend resources, like, to train people to respond to school shootings. Yeah.
And that and then the other piece is, like, I think there's a little bit of commentary on, like, charity versus, like, having, like, systems set up for people like Ricky. Like, he's gotta be, like, taken in by, like, somebody willing to do it. Basically, the next day, the cops are searching 1 kid's locker. Angela sees Ricky being shoved against the wall by a couple of kids, but Ricky manages to run up the stairs when he sees Angela looking, clearly very embarrassed by this. Brian, meanwhile, who's, like, the witness to the shooting, maintains his story and pretends not to have seen Ricky.
Then a quick scene I wanted us to watch was actually the principal talking to the parents, because I think that it's really interesting to see the way that the parents are reacting at this time, and to compare it to, like, where we're at now, which, you know, it's grim, but it is what it is. And gentlemen, can I have your undivided attention for one moment? Please, can I have your attention? Sir, buddy. Your undivided attention.
Shh. There's Thank you. I just wanted to let you know some of the things we've been working on to ensure a safe environment here at Liberty. We will not tolerate violence in our schools. We will not accept it, and we will not live with it.
But all safety measures in the world won't work unless I have the cooperation of you, all of you. Yeah. Each and every People come to these meetings and people let their kids have guns. But are you getting the guns out of school? Now that's the only question that's important here.
We're going to open we're going to open this up for your comments in just one moment but please My daughter has been in tears for 36 hours. We are not gonna live with this kind of terror in our schools. Strange. One moment, please. We're making nowhere fast if each and every one of us speaks out of terror.
Now as I was saying to your point, madam, miss Whiskey here is going to start providing special counseling for any student who has a problem coping with the incident. Oh, that is good. Caution. Kids in therapy so they can adjust to being shaken. What everybody has to say.
If we could just say it. We didn't know already. Excuse me, mister principal. Could I just ask a question? What would help is if every one of you would say your name and the name of your child.
My name is Amber Valone and I have a daughter, Rianne Griff. Why leave in your capable hands every day? And what I'd like to know is, while you're bringing in counselors and being all upset, should I just send my daughter to school in a bulletproof vest every day? Or are you actually gonna do such a thing? The value comes to the school.
So, I'm so glad that economic opportunity, or the poor home life or the lack of values, but the guns, you know, the things that shoots. Cock sale servers and music stops to us. That's a lot to say. Oh my god. Mom is my I love her because she very much is like, I've seen this union shop store at a casino cocktail server, the most vocal leader on the strike line, Very, very twisted politics.
Very, very loud mouth. Can inspire a room, but also yeah. A lot. So she very much has, like, that kind of vibe. Let's, like, let's give her a bullhorn.
Absolutely. I mean, the line that she says that really reminds me of, like, present day arguments about gun violence is the fact that, like, it's the guns. It's not all this other shit Yeah. For sure. But then, like, what one of the other parents said that really, like, just shook me to my core was we're not going to live with this terror.
And it's like, unfortunately, the gun lobby decided that we were. Like, literally. Like, that's like a line that, like, you could hear a parent of a gun violence victim saying now. Like, Yeah. It's really kinda like a foreshadow.
I don't think they even realize just, like, how profound that line would end up playing out because it's kinda like oh, it's like, this is a new thing in the world. Like, we don't want this to become a problem where schools are regularly having guns, and then good lord. And, like, the kid who apparently has been crying for the last 36 hours, meanwhile, there wasn't even any casualties. And, like, we're talking about now, like, living in a world where, like, yeah, there are, like, mass casualty events every year. So it's yeah.
It's really interesting to watch. And then, of course, we bring it back to Ricky, who later in the episode is again approached by 2 guys who call him the f slur, and say, meet me later. I have something for you. It's that perfume I spell. And Rianne manages to intercept them and goes, like, turd head.
And they're like, yo, Graff, why don't you come driving with us tonight? And she was like, that would be exciting if I was in a coma. And it's like, why would Yay. She wanna hang out with you homophobic fucks who were harassing her best friend? And Rianne is my best friend.
Yeah. Ricky Flynn could have handled that. And she's like, yeah, you were doing great. And then later when people are talking about guns, Ricky says, you don't know what goes on around here. Maybe some people have guns for, like, to protect yourself.
Maybe some people who have guns are, like, victims too. And they're, like, forced to carry. You think kids with guns are, like, gangsters or dealers. And the teacher says, you're saying that if somebody is threatened, it's okay to carry a gun to school? You don't think school authorities can protect them?
Mhmm. Like, clearly not. And, basically, he says, say I was threatened, and I'm not saying that I am, I'd be packing in no time, no time at all. And so then there's also the concern that Brian is going to rat on Ricky. Very, very viable concern.

(05:16):
I would assume the same thing about Brian. Exactly. Whatever he did, he did it because he had to, Rianne says. You haven't cleaned him up after some Neanderthal beats the hell out of him. And so, like, it's clear that, like Rianne knows and Angela's a little bit.
And, like, that's what's interesting about this show is, like, it's like our classic case of, like, unreliable narrator and Angela. Like, things are happening around her and she doesn't yet know. She's like kinda new to the world of, like, different things in her privileged life. So she really it is like another point of Angela's privilege. Just like Rianne, like Ricky go they they obviously are really, really close friends and and and know each other deeply.
And so, like, that's who Ricky goes to, and Angela is not even aware of it. And so Brian is asked to, like, go to the principal's office and, like, tell him what he knows about Ricky Vasquez. Angela confronts Brian, and it's like, you need to, like, you know, protect him. And so one of the Mitch. Yeah.
One of the scenes I really love that I thought we would watch from this episode is when Angela spots Ricky sitting in a car alone while it's raining and comes to be with him, and kind of the first scene where they really are, like, friends without Rianne there, I feel like. Car, man. I know. Look at that that scene. Hey.
Hey. What you doing out here? It's what I always do. I can't make it through a whole day in there. Oh.
Yeah. What do you need to hide from? Your life is perfect. I'm serious. I would give anything to have your life.
My life is so pathetic. You have this great house with parents that are, like, there, and no one bothers you at school. Ricky, I need to talk to you about the gun. Don't. You can't carry a gun, Ricky.
I don't. Because it'd be really bad. Tragically bad. Angela, I don't carry a gun. I wouldn't even know how to shoot 1.
But didn't Brian see you? Isn't that what he's gonna tell them? This is really serious. People are gonna think you're a dangerous person. I know.
That's what I want. So what did happen? My cousin brought it in to sell it, and I got real mad at him for bringing a gun into school. So we got into this big argument, and the next thing I knew, the thing fell out of the box and went off. And he peed in his pants and ran away.
He did not. He did. Big sting. And that's what happened with the gun? That's the whole story of the gun.
And now Brian's gonna say you did it. I'm telling you, I hope he does. No. Don't be stupid. You know what's weird?
I always think of you as Rianne's friend. I mean, like, you just think of me as someone who's just, you know, around. It's weird how something has to happen sometimes to see how you actually feel about someone. It's a really sweet scene. Yeah.
I really love that. You know, Angela is really coming from, like, the place of concern, and, you know, now knowing that, like, Rianne has told her that he has been beat up due to homophobic violence before. I also just really love, yeah, the what's the word? Like, I don't know how to like, just like rubber stamping their friendship almost. Like, you know, it's like 3 episodes in, these are her new friends, and, like yeah.
It's a really beautiful, honest conversation, and, honestly, the rain is such a vibe. I know. And it's very funny. Like, Angela's moral clarity in the show throughout it all, like, without question, she heard something was going on. Like, she just I think it's, like, a really, like, good thing in the show how they just have it be, like, so humanizing.
Like, Angela just sees Ricky as, like, a human and Ricky even, like, didn't think that was the case because so many people look at him and treat him like he's less than it. Not him. Especially at the school and then, like, so he's been like, Angela's fine. She's Rayanne's friend. She's around, like but she don't, like, care about me.
She's, like, privileged suburban girl. And then, like, actually, Angela's like, no. Like, Ricky, you're a real person. You're experiencing some really bad stuff. Like, I'm your friend.
Like Yeah. I think it's just, like, so powerful and, like, having that scene air in 1994 with these 2 people hugging and, like, it's just, like, so powerful. It really was ahead of its time. Or maybe a little too late in the world, you know? Yeah.
Totally. And so everyone watches Brian go into his meeting of the principal, and Rand's like, could you imagine Ricky in a high security prison? What would he do without his makeup? And Angela's like, could you not make everything into a joke? And so Brian actually threatens to get a lawyer and doesn't give Ricky up.
Only Brian. Yeah. He says he saw 2 pairs of legs running away, but couldn't tell who it was. Surprise. Surprise.
He's not gonna narc. And so the next day, Brian and Ricky kinda give each other a nod on the way into school. And then the students arrive at the front door and see the school has decided to install metal detectors, which I don't know if that actually comes up again. But Probably not. Because, like, also, that would have never happened.

(05:37):
There's no world in which, like, one gun being found in the school would do metal detectors. And not, like, even shooting anyone? Like Like, schools have school shootings, and they're still, like, yeah, we're good. We don't need to change anything. Ricky doesn't get in trouble.
In the 4th episode, we kind of get the first signs that Ricky has some sort of violence at home, in addition to the fact that he we know that he has been beat up by, like, people outside of his family. Because when Rianne is mad at Angela for selling her dad's Grateful Dead tickets, Ricky tells his own story about his dad that involves the fact that he has broken his door down before. You know, it eventually comes to the forefront of the plot, but it is, like, sort of sprinkled in earlier that there's, like, violence at home for Ricky. Mhmm. In the 5th episode, we cut to Ricky and Rianne in the girls' bathroom, talking about how people have apparently taken Ricky and being in there the wrong way.
And Rianne says somebody asked if he was getting a sex change, and he says, I don't wanna be a girl. I just wanna hang out with girls. There's a difference, but it's definitely getting out of hand. And then he starts, like, singing, goodbye, leaky faucets, goodbye, soap dispenser that never had soap in it, goodbye, too hot radiator, and then when Angela comes in, he's like, oh, scarecrow, I think I'll miss you most of all. The fact that he takes a break from the girls' bathroom does actually solidify the friendship between Brian and Ricky, because Ricky goes into the boys' bathroom, and Brian is like, what are you doing here?
And later, like, Brian kinda, like, stares at Sharon, her new boyfriend, and is like he's been holding hands for, like, 2 weeks. They never let go. It's like their hands have been surgically implanted, and he's just talking about how, like, he didn't realize people were gonna pair pairing off into couples, and he's like, did we cover this? Was I absent that day? And Ricky's like, you know I was.
And so it's kinda cute how, like, Ricky not having the relationships he wants just because he's gay and it's 1994, and he's a teenager, And Brian not having relationships because he's just kind of a dorky dude who doesn't know how to talk to girls kind of allows them to, like, bond. Yeah. Like, kinda like social misfits all of it. And, like, it's funny because what they're doing is essentially, like, doing the ladies room vibe, but, like, they're just, like, bros bros coming out of the bathroom continuing their little gossip chatter. But it's, like, it's kinda like a a special, like, bonding moment.
Like, again, another groundbreaking moment by having a cis white straight guy bond with a, like, Latino queer person coming out of the bathroom together. Come on now. Little too on the nose, guys. Bathroom politics in 1994. Absolutely.
And, like, Ricky and Brian have this conversation where Ricky tells Brian that ancient Egyptians wore eyeliner to fend off evil spirits. And they believed that if they outlined their eyes, the good spirits would spot them easier. And he says that he read it in a book, so he tried it, like, the eyeliner. I love this. Yeah.
And it's, like, I love that there's, like, lore behind his eyeliner wearing that's, like, very teenage. Like, the fact that the eyeliner is there, period. It's like, you know, really interesting and like a compelling dynamic about Ricky. But then, like, for him to talk about it's like, yeah, I wear eyeliner. It's just reason.
And then I thought it was cool. Like, it's just it's so normalizing something that was like probably a shock in 94 to people. Absolutely. And Brian isn't like, oh, my god. You were islander.
He's just like, you believe in evil spirits? And it's like it's like an organizing question. Right? He responds back to, like, get more out of him. Yeah.
And and hilariously, Ricky is like, oh, no. I'm Catholic. Basically, I just like how it looks. There it is. It does not need to be more than that.
Exactly. And I just love that. It's very very teenage thing to, like, find something in, like, a book about, like, ancient Egyptians. Yeah. Like, oh, I should do that.
That looks really cute. Like I love he thought it was cute and likes it. It's it's perfect. And there's a little moment in the 7th episode where the teacher is running around reminding all the students to stay with the group. And one of them is, like, what's the big deal of staying with the group?
What if Amelia Earhart stayed with the group? And Ricky's, like, or Diana Ross. I love that. We love the diva reference. One of the things that I love is the revelation that Ricky has also had a crush on Jordan for a really long time.
So sweet. So, like, at one point, while Angela's kinda, like, freaking out, she's, like, trying to find where he is, and Ricky's, like, saying that, like, the way that she's acting is the way he would be too if he had a romantic relationship. And then he's, like, look. Jordan usually goes to PE, so if you can be on the north side of the gym, it's 5th period less out. And that's when Angela realizes, like, Ricky, like, you know his schedule.
That's good. That's a good comrade. Crush comrade. And he just says, you don't have to say it. And it's just, like, this quiet acknowledgement that they like the same boy.
It's and I felt one interesting little tidbit from people that Cruise that Wilson Cruz, who played Ricky, talked about, was how he drew inspiration from Thalmannea's portrayal of Plato Crawford in Rebel Without A Cause, the character who's in love with Jim alongside Judy. He said the actor felt a similar dynamic occurred on My So Called Life among Angela, Jordan, and Ricky. He said Rebel Without A Cause was a movie that I had loved growing up on, that I watched a lot, was familiar with, and I identified as the parallel pretty early on. You knew that Sal had a crush on James, but it was never spoken about. You knew that Ricky Vasquez had a crush on Jordan Catalano.
He also honored and was sensitive to the fact that he knew about how Angelus felt about him. So I thought that was a really interesting parallel. Yeah. Later in the 10th episode, Ricky returns to the girls' room. He's fixing his hair and rayon teeth with him like you said you were never going to return to the girls' room.
And he's, like, never say never. So that's when we see him back in the girls' room like it has been previously. In the 11th episode, we find out again that Ricky has a crush on another boy. This guy is named Corey. He's wearing, like, a beret, which is like I was like, what's that supposed to be them telling you that he's gay?
Like, I'm like Literally, I don't like, let's just give him an accessory that's different. Right? And he says cool vest to Ricky before leaving, and Ricky's like, oh my god. Basically, what happens is that Raeanne tries to, like, hook it up so that her, Corey, and Ricky will go to the dance together. So Corey comes by and is like, see you Saturday.
Right? And he's like, what? Rand, so the 3 of us are going to hang out together at the dance. Did I get that wrong? He's like, oh, no.

(05:58):
You're you're totally right, you know. And Angela, like, is trying to come with them, but then they're, like, overthinking it. And he's like, if you come, it might look like we're together and, like, it's a double date. Like, that's not gonna work. So, you know, even though he hasn't, like, explicitly come out as gay at this point, like, these are the conversations that are happening in the show.
Like, clearly, he has a crush on a boy, and he's talking to his girlfriend about it. Imagine watching the show and, like, not knowing Ricky is gay and just being, like Yeah. What what what are they plotting? Like, why are they strategizing this? And, like, Ricky later confronts Rianne about inviting Cora to the dance, and he's, like, you painted your shoes.
And she's, like, want me to ask him to do yours? And he's, like, listen to me. This isn't funny. You've driven me crazy in the past, but I'm willing to forgive it because, truthfully, I wanna go to the dance. But if you say one word to embarrass me while the 3 of us are together, and then she's, like, I won't be there.
And he's, like, what? And she, like, you know, obviously, it's something that we don't really have time to talk about today. That is another like of the show is that Raeanne has, like, you know, a drinking and substance abuse problem. So she thinks that going into the dance Exactly. I just wanna say, like, that it's very funny.
Like, we don't have time. This show is full of so much, like, like, there's there's, like, a whole ass thing with Raeanne that's, like, definitely tied to, like, the struggles and challenges of, like, existing in the world without enough money. Like, that's, like, her life with her single mom. Anyways, yes. Rianne, very, very dynamic.
Yeah. So she's like, I can't, like, I don't think I'd be able to do the dance. I'm not actually hilarious review line. Who cares about your stupid drinking problem? This is my life.
Oh my god. So that's a very thing. That's a very thing to do like that. Yeah. Yeah.
And so Rianne says, I'll call Cory. Crush. Yeah. Yeah. And Rianne says she'll call Cory and explain the whole thing, and it'll be fine.
And so then, Cory and Ricky do end up hanging out at the dance. Cory says that Ricky's really funny. It seems like it's going well. Then he didn't know that Rianne wasn't coming, and, like, Ricky has to kinda tell Cory that. And he's like, you don't have to be sorry.
I wanted to ask her how she liked her sneakers. And Ricky's like, well, Rianne is very, changeable. And then Corey says, it's just weird, you know? And you have a picture of how something's going to be, and it turns out completely different. And Ricky's like, yeah.
It is weird. Because, clearly, Corey really wanted to hang out for Rhianne and not Ricky. I wondered with this. Me too. I feel like Corey's bisexual.
Yeah. Do you think he's just, like, not admitting to himself or whatever? Or do you think it's supposed to be this, like, twist? I don't know. I didn't really understand that.
I don't know if, like, that's the kind of thing where maybe we would have come back. Because, like, Cory does come back later in the season, but, like, in relation to Angela. We'll talk about it later, but it's after Rianne has slept with Jordan. Angela's kinda trying to prove that she can, like, also have sex and, like, trying to, like, hit on Cory, essentially. Yeah.
I I don't really know if I understand where we land with Korey as far as sexuality goes. That there is some missing stuff because of the cancellation. Yeah. I could totally see that. So I thought that we would quickly watch the scene of Angela ending up outside with Ricky after finding out that Rian didn't actually tell Cory that she wasn't gonna be there, and that clearly, you know, Cory was more interested in hanging out for Rian than him, because there's, like, a really iconic line of his in this conversation.
I also just love a Ricky and Angela scene, if you can tell. So Rianne never called Cory. Would you like me to kill her? It's really nice of them, but the truth is that would only solve half the problem. What's the other half?
The other half is like, you know, the tough half. Which is? Which is like just, you know, that I belong nowhere with no one, that I don't fit. Such a good response. Yeah.
Hugs. Like, it doesn't need to be said anything more than that. Like, it's just, like, you do fit, and it's right in my eye. On me. Angela's supposed to be Kimmy too.
She's gonna work. Let's go. We're at a catalog. Let's go, man. Hey, colonel.
Let's go. Alright. We're going to Kathy's first. Right? Yeah.
In a minute. Oh, god. It's so funny. It's okay. Yeah.
Ricky having to watch his friend get to have the experiences he wanted to have that night. Yeah. It's interesting. I think it really is a dynamic that queer men who a lot of queer men are friends of girls when they're growing up. And then you watch your girlfriend literally get to do the thing that you wanna do but that you can't do because you're queer.

(06:19):
And it's 1994. I know. It's it's very sad. That is kinda aspects of the show I would be curious if they ever did do a reboot. I was, like, thinking I'm, like, maybe it wouldn't be, like, Angela life.
I would wanna see, like, suburban dad Ricky, and and what that would be. Yes. I'd be down for that. But I do love the way the best Dance episode ends, which is that Ricky asks Delia, who ends up actually being the person he comes out to later in the season Yeah. To dance.
Because she's the one who, you know, Brian did his nice guy thing with, thinking he could get a date with Angela, and, like, broke things off with Delia, which was just, like, really fucked and such a classic Nice Guy move. But since they're both standing on the side of the floor, Ricky and Delia are partners. Ricky asked her to dance, and he's an amazing dancer, of course. And she ends up giggling as she tries to keep up, and they end up in, like, the middle of the floor, kinda, like, doing this whole routine while everyone watches them and cheers for them at the end. And I love that.
Yeah. This moment. Yeah. So in 12th episode, we're introduced to English teacher, mister Kietimsky. Kietimsky?
Could did I say that right? Kietimsky. Kietimsky. Of, scandal fame later on. Oh, I've never seen fan though, so I didn't recognize that.
But You haven't seen oh my god. No. Yeah. Happened. Yeah.
If you you gotta watch it. Calm's clean. I know. There's so many shows that I've been told I need to watch. I know.
When when this new teacher calls attendance, he uses Ricky's full name, Enrique, And Ricky's mocked a little bit for that. And after class, Ricky imitates the teacher to Rayanne and is called by the teacher. But instead of being upset, the teacher is like, will you join drama club? That was a great impression. I love this so much.
He's like, alright. Come join drama club, Ricky. Enrique, get your ass to drama club. Yeah. What are you doing?
I know what you are. Enrique, get your ass where you you belong. Later, he tells the English teacher not to call him Enrique, and the teacher says his name is close, since it's Richard. It's not quite the same thing. And then they he tries to get him to sign up for drama club again.
He's very persistent. Ricky says he's not the kind of person who joins things. And mister Khatimseh is like, well, I'm so really sorry, but, no, that's not okay. I'm a teacher. How do you expect me to react to that ridiculous statement?
Right? You don't join things? Who are you, Groucho Marx? You never belong to any club that would have you as a member? And he's like, what?
He's like, what's holding you back? That I'm not cool enough? He says not to let the fact that his teacher is a dork hold him back from living up to his potential. Oh, it's a real thing. It's so funny.
Yeah. And Ricky says he doesn't hate his name. And the teacher says, good. Nobody should hate who they are. So Kotimsky.
I know. And Ricky, like, stares after him as he walks away, then ends up signing up for drama club. And he writes his full name on the sheet too. All of the layers to that. I know.
I feel like it's definitely a part of it of, like, the Latino of it all, where, like, people are, like, Enrique is a funny name. That's what it is. Like, 100% then, Marie. Like, that that is so real growing up in Dearborn. All the Arabians who may be a substitute trying to read them off and, like, the Sams and the Mikes.
How many Mohammed's and how many Hussain's do I know that went by Sam and Mike for some reason? It's so funny. Yeah. That reminds me of my Nigerian friend who went by Katie, even though her name is Kende Yeah. For most of childhood.
That's good for her. It's literally it's like one letter off. Poor Kende. Yeah. And so, like, later, Angela has this conversation with Ricky in the bathroom where she talks about this is the point where she's broken up fucking Jordan.
Like, she breaks up with Jordan because she won't sleep with him and he wants her to sleep with him. It's very, very, like, uncool with him. And she's like, I should've just had sex with him. Why not? It would've been so simple.
And then, like, Ricky kinda tries to give her wisdom even though he hasn't had any experience, and he's like, but maybe it shouldn't be so simple. I mean, not that I know what I'm talking about because I've never even experienced what you had. But even if I did meet the perfect person, I just think it should be like a miracle, like seeing a comet or just feeling like you've seen 1, seeing the other person's perfectness or something. And if you do it before you're even ready, how are you going to see all that? Not that I would, like, know or anything.
He just wants to be loved. I know. So then in 15th episode, the arc of Ricky being on a house begins. I think the last, like, run of episodes, we really get to focus on Ricky's arc in a way, like, it comes to the forefront, I think, in a way that it isn't at the beginning of the season. Mhmm.

(06:40):
So we open on this episode of Ricky face down in the snow, blood spilling out of his mouth as he cries. He stands up, and you can see his face is bruised too as he cries and walks into a dark alleyway, and that's when we see a girl playing guitar as she sits on the street corner in the snow playing Silent Night, showing to us that it is Christmas time now. This girl, as we will talk about and have already kinda mentioned, is a fucking ghost. So But why did they get she meets, like, everyone. Like, it's so weird.
It's crazy. And then, like, the thing is, like, you don't know anything about her being a ghost until randomly Patty's, like, how did you die? Yes. Oh my god. And then there's, like, the I mean, like, rather than rejecting their premise of that question, she answers.
Absolutely. I froze. Yeah. What? So Angela and Rianne spot Ricky in class of his face bruise.
And he lies and says he was running for the bus and slipped on a patch of ice. After he walks away, Angela asks if Rayanne thinks that was true, and she explains that Ricky has a tendency to get beat up, and he doesn't always like talking about it. Later, Angela is taking out the trash, and she's startled by Ricky standing in her yard. He reveals himself, feels bad for startling her, and she invites him in. He explains he was at Rayanne's before with Amber and her boyfriend, Rusty, who's unfriendly.
And Danielle, the, you know, little sister always having something to say, is like, isn't it a little late for you to be dropping by? And he's like, no. She's right. I should go. And then he's like, god.
Your house smells, like, amazing. And she's like, are you hungry? And he's like, thanks. I guess I forgot to eat lunch today. And so when her parents get home, they're immediately concerned about what's going on.
Angela says she has a feeling that he doesn't have somewhere to sleep tonight. And when Ricky overhears the parents saying it's not our place, which is, like, fuck you, just to Angela ask me if he can stay for one night, might I add. He, like, flees. He's, like, out the door, and Angela yells Ricky into the night. Jordan actually sees Ricky looking cold outside the store, and he asks if he needs a ride, which Ricky immediately accepts.
And Jordan tells him if he needs somewhere to crash, he knows the place, and he says my old man used to knock me around too. So there's an understanding between them of that shared experience. And Jordan says he hasn't done it in a couple years, probably because he was too scared because last time Jordan threw a chair at him. And Ricky says, I'm gonna light a candle for you on Christmas Eve, bringing back that he is Catholic, because it comes up, I feel like, throughout the plot line. And he's like, oh, yeah, you think that changes anything?
And he's like, uh-huh. But he still has, like, faith despite all of the things that are happening to him. And later, Patty and Graham defend their decision to themselves, saying, they don't know Ricky's family. How are they supposed to know what the situation is? And this is a conversation, I think, you had mentioned, where Graham is like, I think he does make you kind of uncomfortable.
And she says, what do you mean because he wears makeup? And he just says, I'm just saying, what if it was Brian Krakow that proves face? And she says, you can't compare them because she's known Brian since he was 5 years old. And he's like, should that make a difference? And she said, well, maybe not, but it does.
And then he goes, I know. And, like, it's just like it's like the conversation that, like, 2 privileged white people will have, like, with each other where they'll, like, admit, like, yeah. I I know. It it it makes a difference. But, like, to the credit of these in character form, obviously, they change their tone.
And I think that that's, like, part of what this show is. It's like there there nobody is and and, like, today, the show would be done, but, like, everyone would be, like, a bad unlikable character. But, like and this was, like, everyone is, like, a good person on this show. And, like, it's, like, how they learn and grow from, like, exposure and meeting new people. Like, this is, like, multiculturalism and meeting a gay person.
Like, this is how it changes you. Like, that's, like, such an example of this. Yeah. Absolutely. I mean, it's like a real profound kind of, like, criticism of neoliberalism in a lot of ways.
Like, it's, like, very funny because it's, like, 1994 or coming off, like, Reagan. It's, like, it's kind of, like, an interesting era to be making these kinds of things. It's, like, I would say it's another thing that was probably ahead of its time. And it's like the way the show really, like, goes through how people, like, learn about Ricky's, like, housing precarity is like, oh, wait. This normal person that I know could be possibly living in this situation and you, like, learn deeper that he's, like, rejected by his family for being gay.
And, like, this is like a common, like, I mean, I think it's, like, disproportionately, like, LGBTQ youth are are, like, you know, disproportionately, like, of the unhoused demographics of this age range. And so I think, like, this idea of, like, you know, blaming the individual. No. We learn deeply, like, being unhoused is not Ricky's fault. And, like, it's actually, like, a pretty bold criticism of, like, a lack of, like, support structures in place for people like Ricky who get rejected by their biological families for things like being gay.
Absolutely. And I think the whole plot line of mister Kotemski and his attempts to get Ricky help really underscore that too. Yeah. And it's really interesting, like, watching through it knowing that he eventually takes him in, but you see mister Kotiminski really trying not to get to that point because he's like, it would be weird. And, like like, a lot of times a show like this would just, like, automatically make that leap.
But mister Kietinski does not intentionally want to take Ricky in. He's like, he's the gay teacher. He knows what's that gonna look like if he's, like, bringing in young boys from the school home to, like, outsiders. But at the end, he does it because, like, obviously, it really is like the metaphor for, like, the chosen family. Like, after Ricky is rejected by his biological family, he finds it in his friends and his community.
And so I think that's a takeaway. But, like, mister Kotinsky is, like, very hesitant about doing it, and you see that throughout the episode. Absolutely. So the next day, Ricky isn't in school, Angela worries while Rae Ann makes excuses, and she says stop acting so guilty. He probably went to his cousins.
He stays there sometimes. Angela, you can't be responsible for, like, the whole world. That's when Angela, later in the episode, happens upon the same girl we saw playing guitar, who says she used to go to this school. There are different details that make it clear she's unhoused, and she has, like, you know, shitty shoes, and she used to have a decent pair when somebody slides them while she was sleeping. And then she says, you're Angela.
Right? Are you a friend of Ricky's? And she's like, you know Ricky? And she basically says, like, I've been looking out for him. And later, Angela runs into Jordan, who is able to tell her where he brought Ricky to crash, the old warehouse on Tennessee.
And so Jordan brings Angela there, and is full of runaway and unhouse teens standing over garbage fires. Angela, looking for Ricky, finds the same girl playing her guitar and singing again, and the girl shows Angela Burke. Ricky is sleeping, and she ends up confronting Ricky. And she says, why can't you go back home? By the way, impacts the plot.

(07:01):
Like, that's the other thing that's crazy. The plot moves because of interactions with this person who's actually a dead ghost. Like, not like, it could have been, like, oh, it's revealed later, but there were signs the whole time. Like, no. This person was existing like a person to be revealed as a ghost.
It's very true. Exactly. It's like literally like Ricky's guardian angel who can also see all of his other loved ones. And, basically, she's like, you can stay at my house, and he says, Angela, your parents don't want me around. She's like, you can't be here.
Tomorrow's Christmas. And he's like, you think I stay here for Christmas? I'm going to my cousins tomorrow. You better go home. They're gonna wonder where you are.
I mean, face it. You don't belong here. And she insists that you don't belong here either. And he says, I can't talk about this, not with you. If you wanna help me, then leave me alone.
And Angela ends up leaving her shoes for the girl with the guitar with the worn out shoes, which is, like, again, she leaves her real shoes. What happens to the shoes? I think they do come up again, if my notes are correct. But back at the Chase House, Brian asks about Ricky, and Angela explains to Bend and Warehouse where a bunch of kids live. And she's, like, kind of ranting.
She's, like, kids, Brian. There are kids who have, like, nowhere to live. What? You go to one abandoned warehouse, and suddenly you're an expert on homeless people? And she's, like, it's just that they're, like, normal.
They're like us. There's this one girl, and when you're talking to her, it's like you forget that you know there's any difference between us. And Graham and Patty, like, will hear all of this from the kitchen, and Graham is, like, trying to keep Patty from panicking. Mhmm. And, unfortunately, they call the cops.
Oh. Yeah. Which is the most white person for a privileged thing to do. Like But I think it's, like, seen as, like, a bad move. Like, it's not, like, the right move.
They're, like, criticized for it. It's, like, what did you do? That was not the right thing. These kids are not gonna be protected by the police. Like, I feel like that was kind of the vibe of this choice.
Like, it's very interesting. Graham says, are we doing the right thing? And I think that Patty is the one who says, these are the people who supposedly handle these situations. And I'm like, that's what a line. What a line.
Because that is exactly supposed to do. Yeah. Yeah. Like, they supposedly handle these situations, but then you try to get them to and they don't. So, like, it's just interesting, like, every time people interact with the police for a reason they're supposedly supposed to help us with, you end up, like, less trusting with the police a lot of the time.
Yeah. I mean, it's so easy. Like, Patty's in this obvious position of privilege, like, oh, I can just turn to the police. But it's like you're not kinda stepping outside of your comfort zone with that one, Patty. Yep.
And Angela, like, then, sets the table, and Patty sees that there's too many spots. And Angela explains that she wants to have Ricky and that girl over for Christmas Eve dinner. And she says conceived for the angel. I know. She says, this girl, she could be me.
And Patty is like, how could you say that? And I'm like, woah. That is some, like, deep, like, I see myself as, like, upper middle class and, like, how could anyone suggest that my kid could ever be, like, working class to the point that they're, like, unhouse? Like, I don't know. It's very interesting how emotional a reaction is to that.
Angela disobeys and goes back to the warehouse looking for Ricky and the girl, it's been cleared out by the cops, and the cop grabs her. And Patty is like, what have I done back at the house? Patty. And she goes off in the night to find Angela. Meanwhile, Angela actually calls her dad from the basement of a church where the cops brought all the kids from the warehouse.
Meanwhile, while Patty is out looking for Angela, that's when we find the girl with the guitar wearing Angela's shoes. And so Patty recognizes the shoes. That's right. Yes. And she's like, another toss of the dice, I could be in her shoes.
She could be in mine, the girl says. Literally. They say no. So literal. Yeah.
Yeah. In my notes, it literally says the girl is a ghost, question mark, question mark. Because then Patty is like, how did you die? I froze. You froze.
You didn't have a house. Patty does go into the church and finds Ricky lighting prayer candles. And there's this really beautiful moment where Ricky sees Patty, and he just cries and ends up collapsing into her arms. Angela comes into the church, and she runs and hugs Ricky when she sees him in a pew with Patty. And the interesting thing is that Graham comes to church, and there was a whole thing earlier in the episode where he didn't wanna go to church for Christmas.
That's right. They're like he's, like, weird about it. It's very fun. Very, very funny. So it's kind of interesting that it ends with everyone at the church with him faced too.
Yeah. They all kinda walk home while the unhouse girl slash ghost watches over them. Though I have to say, Wilson Cruz had a really interesting insight on this. He said, when he was on his own coming out journey then, So Called Angels, which is the name of this episode, was an incredibly special story to tell. It allowed me to relive that experience, use it to serve other people who had the same experience, and leave it there on that stage floor and not feel like it was hanging over me anymore.

(07:22):
Mhmm. Yeah. Because it's like it really it humanizes, like, the idea of, like, someone who has to live in a world where they don't have, like, secure housing. Like like who is that person? But it's like it's someone like Ricky.
He's like a fully realized complex person. And it's like he has hopes. He has dreams. He has fears. And it's like he has dignity and, like, deserves it.
But it's also like, yeah, people oftentimes like Patty, like, walk around, like, you know, oh, I don't got change. Leave me alone. Yeah. But, like, that's why I think it's really powerful that they have, like, Angela kind of as a counter to Patty's hesitation. Because like Angela is almost like growing up having these like multicultural friends, like, you know, different kinds of backgrounds, different types of like privilege and like like she may like makes these friends and I think it's introducing her to her own reflection and recognition of her privilege.
And I think she takes that, has privilege. And I think she takes that, has this, like, natural, like, response, like, immediately to, like, help, Ricky. Like, what can I do? I have privilege. I have connections.
I have a house. And, like, meanwhile, Patty is like, I don't wanna disrupt my privilege and comfort. This is like, I don't know this person. And it's like, disrupt my privilege and comfort. This is like, I don't know this person.
And it's like, it shows that like, you know, to be truly and the the Christmas aspect of it is kinda perfect because it's like Christmas. Everyone's about charity. Right? But not like this, You know? So I just think it's a really, really powerful way to have that kind of contradiction of Angela being the counterpoint to Patty's hesitation.
And ultimately, it is about, like, Angela's point. It's like, no. We have access. Access. We have this.
Let's bring them together because there's this warehouse. Right? There's no point where, like, Ricky tries to go to a shelter or Ricky tries to get help from something that there's nothing there. And I think the show is trying to make that criticism. Like, if it wasn't for the individual charitable help of, like, Angela and then later mister Kotemsky, like, Ricky would just be on the streets.
Yeah. I was gonna say the only the, like, the idea of there even being a shelter doesn't come into play until mister Kotemsky, like, gets involved. Like Yeah. That's so true. So in the next episode, it's New Year's Eve, and we learn all the characters' resolutions.
Ricky says he wants to find some place where he really belongs, which is so the 1st school day of the new year, Graham compliments Ricky on the pancakes he made, and that's how we learned he's still staying with the chases. The parents talk about how Ricky's been incredible. After the kids leave for school, he reorganized the linen closet. He always washes the dishes after himself. And they also talk about how they haven't been able to get in touch with Ricky's aunt and uncle, whenever they should try to contact his family.
Ricky leaves his book behind, and when he comes back to grab it, he overhears this part of the conversation, which makes him think that they don't want him to be there anymore. Later, Ricky comes down with his bags and says he's going home. And he said, I talked to Angela and Tino, who is an an unseen character, who we Gav mentioned all the time. He's gonna pick him up. And he says, are you sure this is what you want?
And he says, yeah. I talked to them. My aunt and uncle really talked to them, straighten things out, and I think things are really gonna work out. But, look, I really thank you guys, but they're like my family. And Patty and Gram are like, well, I think we should talk to your aunt and uncle.
And Ricky's like, I know, and she's been meaning to call, but she's, like, a little embarrassed. So thank you for everything, and, bye. And so Ricky is woken up by mister Kotemsky in English class the next day. He doesn't have his essay. It's an excuse about Angela's sister as if he's still staying there, and he just keeps telling everyone that everything's okay.
But later, Ricky is outside drama club on the pay phone asking someone for a forwarding number, and he says Oh. I yeah. I know. Payphone mentioned, they couldn't move without telling me, he says. That would be crazy.
That would be impossible, because people don't just do that, do they? And mister Kotemsky comes out and finds him upset and walking away. He tries calling after him, but Ricky doesn't turn around. So we're gonna go now to the scene where Ricky actually comes in early to ask mister Kotemsky to talk to him and ends up actually, like, confiding in mister Kotemsky, which starts the whole plotline of mister Kotemsky actually intervening. Enrique.
I love that he calls him Enrique. It's so cute. She wish you're here early. Could could I speak to you before class, about the Odyssey? Of course.
If you wanna take that, donut off my hands, by the way, be my guest. I gave up coffee for New Year's, and it's kinda taken the point out of donuts. What's up? Okay. Well, you know that essay that I never handed in, about what Odysseus wants?
Can can I get an extension on that? Can you? Because because I read it. It's it's about this lonely guy that that wanders the world for, like, many years. Right?
Right. And and and the way that that it starts, like, in the middle, I what's that called again? I I know you told us. In medius res. Right.
It's in the middle of things. Right. Because see, right now, it's it's sort of like, it's it's sort of like I don't have a place to live. Oh god. But but when when what what happened?
But, I mean, it's okay. It's it's actually it's gonna be fine. I was staying at my friend Angela's house for a while, and they're really nice. They're this really great family. But in a way, that made me feel lonelier.

(07:43):
And I know that sounds ungrateful. No. No. No. I understand.
And see, my uncle, was living with my aunt and uncle because well, it's it's sort of a long story. And you're certain that your aunt and uncle have, relocated? I'm certain. So, Kathy, obviously, you can't. I mean, it's there has to be some solution here.
Well, actually, I'm I'm thinking of a place for, is it Enrique? It it's Ricky. But, actually, I was thinking that I could get, like, a job or maybe even an apartment. Ricky, I gotta say, I'm not sure that's realistic. The place I'm thinking of for you is called Pride House.
And and is that, what kind of a place is that? Well, a friend of a friend of mine runs it, and it's got a really warm atmosphere. It's a super dedicated staff, and it's it's it's great. It's almost like a family. Well, then that sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
Yeah. I guess. Look. Let me make a few calls, you know, and I'll pull in a few favors, and we'll see what we can do. Go to your next class.
You know? I'll I'll let you know when we know something. Well, good. This sounds oh my goodness. I've got a class myself.
Sounds you you okay? Do you you need another donut? No. I'm fine. Thanks.
Richard, I'm on hold here. Listen. A place like Pride House has a waiting list. You know? I mean, assuming he's qualified, even if I pull every string known to man, it's gonna take a few weeks to get him in.
No. But, Kathy, that's what is he supposed to do tonight? Well, it's not a perfect system. Yeah. On hold.
No. It isn't. Yeah. It certainly isn't. And it's like I think that's, like, still an exam.
I was like, it's a charity. It's a friend of a friend, and it's still like yeah. Like, there isn't like the it's not the school helping or doing anything like that. There's no structures that are actually there. It's like people have having to know someone who runs this non profit.
Right? And Right. It doesn't even turns out not to be ideal and yeah. Yeah. Because probably there is way more need for it and there is room in it.
I'm sure. It's called and it's funny. Not not so settled today, but it's called Pride House. Yeah. I I laughed, and I was like, oh, Pride House.
I wonder what kind of youth go to Pride House. So that feels very accurate. The person who's supposed to be the one who, like, would protect that kid, like, the guidance counselor, is kinda like, this is the best I got. Like Not a perfect system, she said. Yeah.
Exactly. So later in the episode, Ricky is pulled out of class and asked mister Kotimski what's going on. He's like, did you reach them, like my family? And he says, no. And Ricky says, I just wanna thank you for taking the time out because that pride place that miss, whatever her name is, sounded good.
And he's like, wait, Ricky. And Ricky's like, wait, you called me Ricky. And he's like, they don't well, you're on the waiting list, which is great, which is very good. Apparently, he's been temporarily placed in a different facility in the meantime, and he's like, what do you mean? And mister Gutimsky says, it's not forever.
She wants you to see her in her office. She has to fill out some forms. So he tries to assure Ricky this is going to work out. But that night, when Ricky is in the facility, one of the other guys seems to be threatening him, and so he sneaks out. And the next morning, mister Koutimsky shows him at the Chase House looking for Ricky, but he isn't there.
He explains to the parents that he was brought to a shelter last night, but he got a call from one of the counselors saying he left. And mister Kotinski kinda breaks down at the the chases, and he's like, how could you just let him go? Why would you believe him about life and uncle actually taking him back in? And Patty starts crying. He's not not wrong.
He's not wrong. And, like, he is a former gay teen who is like, how could you do that? Like and it feels very personal to him, clearly. But they do eventually let him in, and I'll talk longer. We're gonna go now to mister Gutinski really, like, being the fucking best, man.
Like, this is just what Mhmm. This is what queer elders do for your the next generation. Right? Like, it's just really beautiful that Ricky ends up calling mister Gutimsky in the rain, and we see mister Gutimsky having the conversation. We kinda touched on already about, like, what do I do as a gay teacher in the nineties when a gay student needs somewhere to stay, and there's all the stigma about that.
So we're gonna watch him wrestle with that. And it it is revealed that mister Gutinski is gay in this scene when we see he has a partner. More dream drama. I know. It is always a vibe.

(08:04):
They're not wrong. They're setting a tone. Wait. Where does it take place again? Oh, no.
You need to look that up. Hi from the future. We did look up where My So Called Life takes place but then forgot to actually say it on the recording. It takes place in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mister Kucinski, it it's me, Enrique.
I I'm sorry to bother you, but Enrique, you're not don't be silly. Are you where are you? I'm fine. I'm really fine. How are you?
Enrique, listen to me. Do you need a place to stay? Because I was at the Chase's today, and they care about you. You could go back there. You were at the Chase's?
Why? Because I was worried about you. I am worried about you. But but it's okay. I'm fine.
I'm really fine. You don't have to worry. And actually, I I I found this place to stay. What place? Where?
Just a place. I can't stay at that shelter. I know. I'm right, Kaye. Listen.
Uh-huh. Never mind. We can talk about it tomorrow. You you you have a safe place to spend the night. Yeah.
Okay. Take care. He knows he's lying. Oh, Ricky. Poor baby.
Could you please stop doing that? No. No. Yeah. He's turning the lights on and off.
It's such a funny way to reveal that he's gay. Yeah. What's What's gonna happen? Who is this man? Kid.
He'll be just fine if he lives through the night. The guidance counselor promised me that she'd pull some strings to get him in some group home or other. It should only take 5 or 6 weeks. It'd be fine. It was a question, not a criticism.
You're thinking why didn't I tell him that he could stay here tonight? You're thinking No. I'm not. Well, I am. We don't know what could happen if if we did take him in, if he got out.
You realize what people could make of it? I'd lose my job, be crucified. I didn't say anything. What am I supposed to do? Just decide like that that I'm the solution to some kid's life?
How egotistical is that? Hate myself, but I can't. Don't hate yourself. Aw. Sweet, loving partner.
Yeah. So we can pause there to talk, and then we'll watch them actually take him in. First of all, it's really beautiful that they did choose to depict this, like, adult gay man in 1994 being in a loving partnership where they are, like Really, really, really powerful. Yeah. Like, they just, like, have a nice home and, you know, he's just, like, nagging him about turning the lights on and off, his weird little quirk.
It's like how you Yeah. It's funny. It's like, all of a sudden, this guy comes out and is like, what are you doing? It's like, oh. And then, like, the fact that he's, like, all sorts of torn up about this and then the partner is just like, don't hate yourself.
Like, that's just like it's just showing that, like, partner doesn't need to say anything. Other partner is being challenged anyways. It's like it's just like a here's a healthy dynamic, a healthy relationship, and they happen to be gay. Yep. And, like, this is honestly exactly what Ricky needs to see.
So Ricky does end up showing up at his house, and we're gonna watch that real quick while they're eating dinner. Look toward the end of the week. Half rain is here to stay for a while. That low pressure is at the end of the month of the week. So we can expect more to save for our entire Metro area as we bring out the city Your address was in the phone button.
I'm sorry. It just got so hard to be alone. Aww. All these heels just find them on the phone book, man. Different time.
Phone book docses you. A different time. He's a partner in the background. He's just, like, come in. Yeah.

(08:25):
Aw. They show him putting his arms up. I love that. So, yeah. I think that it's just, like, really beautiful that ends up being the solution.
And it really just shows how important, like, high school teachers are. Like, good high school teachers who, like, really care about their students and the entirety of their lives. And it truly is, like, an example of, like, found community and found, like, family like this. It's, like, it's such a beautiful thing. And, like, you know, the Modern Family before Modern Family was its own show.
Yeah. Absolutely. And one quote that came from Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek that really is powerful is that the episode premiered a year after Wilson Cruz, who plays Ricky, have been thrown out of his own house. About 10 minutes after it finished airing, Cruz got a call from his dad. He had watched the episode and thought they should talk.
It was through his watching of the series that he was able to understand what my life was really like, Cruz later told People. And so you look at this man who was incredibly conservative. Growing up, I never thought he would ever accept my sexuality, but because of a TV show, he was able to change his mind. Maybe Republicans need to see the show again today. Yeah.
I think they need a little reminder. But, yeah, I think it's just, like, you know, obviously, I wouldn't be making this podcast if I didn't think that TV could, like, really, like, have an pod like an a political impact. But it's really cool to see, like, really exact instances where that happened with, like, these kinds of portrayals. So in Ricky's storyline, we're getting toward the end here with only 3 episodes left of the show. You know, Ricky's living with mister Kotinsky and his partner.
And we move on to, like, the drama club, Kana being toward the center of the plot. And there's, like, a whole joke where Rianne calls Ricky mister drama club just because they're crashing with the teacher. And then there's the whole this is where the whole Cory thing comes in, where Angela Mhmm. Has a dream about Cory, and she says, I'm not so sweet and innocent. And Ricky says, join the club about having an erotic dream about Cory.
So we know that he still has a crush on him. And then Corey comes over to them and is like, we're painting the oak tree after school for the school play. We could use a few more people. Ricky and Angela were both like, sounds great, you know, like, because they're both crushing on him again. And later, Angela finds out that Rhea and Jordan slept together, and she tries to hook up with Cory to prove something.
And at scenery painting after she's done this, Ricky says about Rhea, I'm glad she got the part. She wanted that part. And Angela's like, what? Whose side are you on? And he's like, I'm on your side.
It's, like, impossible to be on Rayyan's side, even though I partly understand it. And she's like, what do you mean? And he says, I mean, face it. She's always partly wanted to be you. In a way, I think this was her screwed up way for one night kind of pretending she was you.
I mean, I'm on your side. No question. But can I ask you something? Why are you making this big play for Corey Helfrich when you know how I feel about him? And she's like, but because because I thought you once told me you were over him.
And then he's like, but guess how I felt when you started going after him. And she's like, I don't have to guess. So I like that they had that moment where he called her out, and he was like Yeah. You knew I had a crush, and you are just like, I know that he'll be more likely to with me. So I'm gonna use him for this, like, thing point I'm trying to make.
At the end of the dance where he's like, you know, seeing her go off with Jordan doing the things that you mentioned, like, that he's not able to experience. And now, she's just like, okay. Well, they had that little moment and it meant nothing because she's gonna just, like, use Cory almost, like, yeah, despite Ricky's feelings about him just to get back at Rianne for doing something that is exactly the same thing. It's just like it's also very funny because, like, it does call back to when Rianne's mom says that to Angela's mom about Rianne wanting to be Angela. Like Yeah.
Like, the the the platonic love relationship. Absolutely. I mean, platonic relationships between teenage girls can be so intense. So this brings us to our last episode of the show, which is one of the most iconic episodes of the show as it turns out. So Delia tells Sharon at the top of the episode that she had a dream about Ricky Vasquez, and she asked how much Sharon knows about him.
And she's like, nothing. That's when she's kinda, like, comes to grips with the fact that she's actually friends with these people now, Sharon, because they're like, aren't you friends with Brianne Graff? Like, when you know? And so Delia comes up to Ricky and Brian and says she'd like to get involved in the play. And they're like, okay.
Well, we need more people to sell tickets, and she's like, okay. Sign me up. And after she walks away, Brian tells Ricky that Delia clearly has a crush on him. And Sharon later talks to Angela about this and says, is he ever, you know, with Girls? Because he does.
She's a real sweetie. So Delia comes by again later and reminds Ricky to put her down to sell tickets, and Brian's like, boy, she really likes you. And Ricky says, I can't even believe it. I mean, it's such like an unfamiliar experience. I mean, do you realize how much easier my life would be if I could just like her back?
Hey, Brian. This could be my chance to be straight. And so he kinda, like, mulls that over a bit. And later, everyone's at Mr. Katimfee's house to help selling the tickets, and that is where Delia and Ricky have the iconic conversation, which is, I think, the first time a teenage character comes out on TV to anyone, if I'm remembering my historical facts correctly.
Toya, maybe we should, go somewhere sometime. Okay. You know, like, to a a movie or something. I'd like that. Because, I I really think we'd be good together.
Okay. But, you're gay. Right? Well, I you know, I Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't It's it's okay.
Nick, you're not so rude. No. See, I I try not to, no. I I I don't like, Yeah. I'm gay.
I just don't usually say it like that. How do you usually say it? I don't usually say it. I mean, I've actually never said it out loud. Wow.

(08:46):
I feel kind of honored. I have to be honest. I have the biggest crush on you. Another first. See, I pretty much figured it out.
It's partly because I think you're the most fantastic person. Plus, you're an awesome dancer. He sure is. Brian Krakow really hurt me. I mean, I'm sorry.
I know he's, like, a friend of yours and all, but he is the most self centered low down dog of all time. I feel so bad in the world. Tosses him aside. Wrong tree, girl. I'm so sorry.
Sort of in the mood to have a crush on somebody. Oh, no. Wrong tree. Too much. No.
It does Give my guess. Hurt so bad. It's like Delia's life lesson right here. Delia, if I were attracted to girls, I'd be attracted to you. Oh.
So cute. So, Vicki Delia, that's not like a comic. That's him saying he's not attracted to you. No. I know.
But Delia, girl, don't let us be giving you the beginning of you, like, falling for gay men at every turn. Don't let this happen to you. Delia no. Delia's gonna go on love is blind and, like, just get with the wrong guy. But, yeah, that scene is so beautiful.
I'm very sorry. It's obviously, like, a very low key coming out scene. But, like, one would expect that for, you know, like, the first one. And I love that it's, you know, not necessarily one of his, like, best friends, but it's, like, somebody who really sees him, you know. Yeah.
And one more Wilson Cruz quote from a People article this year said, it's not lost on me how much Ricky means to people, especially queer people of color. Because in many ways, he gave us permission to just own our own fabulousness. The actor recalls a moment during production when he received a letter from a young man in a Midwestern state. It meant so much to him to see Ricky Vasquez and to relate to him in that way because he was in the closet and he can't imagine ever telling his family, Cruz recalls. On the page, you could see where his teardrops fell and smeared the ink on the page.
Oh, my gosh. I remember that like it was yesterday because it came straight to the studio. I'd received some hate mail too, but not as much as the love mail. And so, yeah, that was like the end of our Ricky coverage. Just an absolutely beautiful depiction that if anything, I just wish we'd gotten to have more of.
I know. But it's almost kinda like it's perfect that it did run for short of the time that it did because it kinda like kept us like a bottle in time. And, like, it really was able to, like, have its impactful moments because of how, like, subtle it was and how it was able to, like, breathe and and things like that. Like, too much too many seasons can, like, cut down from those things, you know? And So, yeah.
I mean, there were a couple of other miscellaneous political moments I was, like, very briefly, like, mentioned, which is, like, there's a time when the teacher needs to talk to her during her lunch break because of the cutbacks. So, like, there's discussion of there being, you know, shitty working conditions for teachers. Unfortunately, there's a Hillary Clinton mention where Angela's mom defends her. Boo. Today versus then is due.
Oh, I know. And there was also this line where she says adults like to tell you where they were when Kennedy was shot. It almost makes me jealous. Like, I should have something important enough to know where I was when it happened. And it's like, girl, just you wait.
No. No. Because my high school experience of that was literally 911, and you don't need that. You need to know where you were on 911. You'll know where you were during some events soon enough, honey.
Like, just Well, was it 94? I'm like, uh-oh. Uh-oh. Yeah. Exactly.
There's also a time when they're watching a Malcolm x speech where he's like, who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Like, it's like a very powerful speech that they watch. And there's a time which I think is very nineties era feminism where Danielle is at home doing a cheer over and over again, and Angela is like, you've done the same sexist cheer, like, 50 times. Where, like, I feel like it was just like cheerleaders are Yeah. Not feminist was, like, the take for, like, 15 years there, at least.
And then, of course, there's Jordan being failed by the school system, which we already touched on, and, like, figuring out he has dyslexia and such. And there was one moment in the 12th episode where a voice over says, all over school, there are these certain places that are, like, reserved for certain people. They're not supposed to cross certain lines. And at one point, when they're, like, showing you the different cliques, they show, like, a bunch of black students all hanging out together. So I thought it was interesting that even though they seem to be making a commentary on, like, the coolness factor of, like, where you're hanging out, that, like, there's also socioeconomic factors in the school that don't necessarily get touched on, but are, like, in the background.
Mhmm. And so, yeah. To close out this episode, I thought we would just, you know, talk about the legacy of My So Called Life and the influence it's had on teen dramas in general. As we've said, the ending is obviously quite abrupt if it was just canceled. It wasn't like a situation where I knew they were writing the last episode when they wrote it, is my understanding.
It says that despite praise from critics, low ratings caused ABC to cancel it after 19 episodes. One thing that I thought was really cool was learning that My So Called Life fans, like, established the first ever online campaign to save a show. Isn't that funny? In 94, I saw that too, and I was like, oh, that's really funny, because it's such a thing now. Yeah.
And especially, like, one season shows. Like, this is exactly the show that somebody would be making a especially, like, one season shows. Like, this is exactly a show that somebody would be making a campaign about now. Even harder then. So people who did it, like, wow.
That was really hardcore. OG fans. They're all, like, petitioning at schools in their own schools. Like, This there isn't, like, a change dot org or whatever petition that you saw signed. They apparently appointed themselves lifers and took over ABC boards.

(09:07):
And though they failed to save their series, it did land another run on MTV, which is apparently where you watched it. That's definitely how I was exposed to it. Yeah. I, like, didn't even realize it didn't originally air on MTV. Right.
Totally. An interviewer said, more than anything else, I appreciate how all of the characters came unfinished, if that makes sense. And Winnie Holzman, this is in a interview from 2024, says, yes, It does make sense because every character was in a state of flux. Everyone was trying to figure out who they were. Everyone was trying to figure out their identity, the adults and the children and the kids.
One of my biggest things was remembering that when I was 15, I thought I was so old and knew so much. But I was also trying to experiment to be more interesting, to be sexy, and thinking, what could that be like? I was trying to capture that feeling where you think you're grown up, but at the same time, you're trying to figure out, how do I be a grown up? I feel like at 40, people are also doing that. You know?
What united the parents and the young people, so they were all on this quest to find out if they're a real me, all the characters seemed unfinished because they weren't finished. They were all experimenting trying to figure it out. And And I and just on that note, I think that is, like, the true and, like, non trans like, that is the leftist theme. It's, like, this like Angela. Right?
Her constant set of not fitting in. It's like, sure, teenage alienation, but it's also like kind of a critique of, like, capitalist structures suppressing individuality. It's like her constant questioning of norms and authenticity and all that. It's like there is like an ongoing search for that under capitalist structures. Like, there's so many, like, fascinating things about that with the characters.
Like, I feel like we haven't even talked about, for example, like, Graham's, like, career crisis. Oh, yeah. Like, that's like a whole thing about, like, I think costs struggle and try to do upward mobility and how it's even hard for someone like Graham to do it. Obviously, you talked about, like, those schools' lack of resources and how it's like a criticism of neglecting public education. And, yeah, there's all sorts of ways.
Like, these characters all represent deep deep, like, dives on, like, really what's wrong with capitalism. The thing that it reminded me one thing I wanna keep saying is, like, it's like death of a salesman, but for, like, teenage angst in which, like, the ultimate thing is like the American dream is this, like, flawed thing to, like, strive for. And ultimately, there's like all sorts of, like, different ways. Like, there's not this, like, core nuclear family that Right. Like, 2 cars and dog.
No. That's not really how things are for people in, like, reality. And so it's like really, really, like, powerful for me. And, like, my big question thing is, like, it's very funny because I was wondering, like, if it aired today, how would it lean more into it's kinda like progressive politics and, like, what we talked a little bit. It's like the critique of neoliberalism, which I think is very prominent and would only be ample.
Like, all the things that touched on were ahead of its time and today are gonna be, like, truer than ever before. So I'll just imagine this show. Like, imagine how teenage shows are. Like, they did the babysitter's club and they, like, did strikes in there. Right?
So it's just a very fascinating, very, very 30 years now, man. That's a crazy, crazy amount of time for this show to still hold up. Absolutely. And, yes, we did do an episode about that babysitter's club arc, if you're interested, listeners. Yeah.
And then yeah. The final thing that I think we already mentioned it, but that I have on my notes is that Sam Levinson, even though he's kind of a piece of shit, did describe that My So Called Life was, in fact, an inspiration for Euphoria. So we do have a direct connection between, like, this iconic teen drama and one of the most shocking. One of the most seminal Gen Z teen dramas, for better or for worse. Whose internal monologues are based off this?
What? Right. So, yeah. I think that this is just such a cool show. I'm so glad that I finally had a chance to watch it all the way through and for us to talk about it because I I totally agree with, you know, all of the people involved in making it that all of the shows that we have talked about on the show wouldn't have existed if it weren't for My So Called Life.
So we had to pay proper tribute to this brilliant show. So, yeah, I'm surprised it took you this long on this podcast to do the show because I believe just through this watching experience is, like, this is the OG leftist teen drama. It is like unapologetically leftist in a lot of ways. Like, the way it's just kind of like it's not really, like, trying to be anything. It's not.
It's like real. It's like it's like very it's like radical realism and like that's part of it. It's like taking on difficult issues, normalizing teenage angst, all of that. It's like the low ratings, the cancelization, I think, it says a lot about an industry unwilling to take risks. It's a shame lasted 19 episodes, but it's also, like, kinda it didn't need more.
Thank you so much for coming on. This was an amazing episode. I can't wait to end it. Promise we won't go a 1000000 hours whenever I'm on, like, but you put 2 times people together, we will talk. Yeah.
Exactly. Thanks for listening to Leptis Teen Drama. Follow us on social media for updates. Links to our Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and TikTok are in the show notes along with links to suggested additional reading on the topics discussed. And don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Solidarity forever, free Palestine, and abolish the PIC. Fining off, Maria.

All Episodes

#31 - Angela Chase and Rickie Vasquez, 30 Years Later: The Politics of ‘My So-Called Life’

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

The Breakfast Club

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}#31 - Angela Chase and Rickie Vasquez, 30 Years Later: The Politics of ‘My So-Called Life’