Feb 07 2009
Popcultured Classic Episode: Other People’s Mothers
I’ve said many times that My So Called Life was one of the most underrated television shows of all time. I caught it when it gained a cult following on MTV, after being canceled by ABC after only one season. The 19 first season episodes replayed for years on MTV and The N network. “Other People’s Mothers” was one of the series’ finest episodes.
Like most 15 year olds, Angela Chase (Clare Danes) doesn’t always appreciate her mother, Patty (Bess Armstrong). When her mother gets stressed out trying to plan an anniversary party for Angela’s grandparents, Angela says she’d rather go to her friend Rayanne’s house. Of course Rayanne’s mom, Amber, is much “cooler” than Angela’s stuffy parents– she reads tarot cards and drinks margaritas in the middle of the day. Amber even lets Rayanne drink beer.
After an argument with her mom, Angela goes to Rayanne’s party, skipping her grandparent’s anniversary party.
Rayanne’s party turns out to be a nightmare. When Rayanne overdoses on a mixture of alcohol and pills, Angela calls her own mother in the midst of the grandparent’s shindig. Angela sees another side of her both her mother and Rayanne’s mother and realizes that she may actually be lucky.
I loved My So Called Life! It was such a shame that they only had one season. I remember this episode too. This series had such good writing and so many good lessons, without being preachy about it.