Teenage dramas get a bad rap. People think they're overly dramatic with self-deprecating young people who bitch and moan if they don't get what they want.
But...they're so much more than that. Really!
Television shows are always coming and going, with so many of those targeted toward adolescents. It really says something about the ones that have actually stuck around. I'm 23 years old and nothing can come between me and my shows. Three specifically. Beverly Hills 90210 (the original...duh), Dawson's Creek, and One Tree Hill. I have the DVD series of these shows and very often rotate which ones I watch. (Sometimes I'm in a Dawson's Creek mood, while other times, I need some Lucas Scott in my life.) My friends and family know about my passion for these three shows and while they laugh and poke fun, they know I mean business when it comes to them. I was 12 years old when I discovered 90210; 14 when I started watching Dawson's Creek; and 16 when One Tree Hill aired. They've gotten me through the good times and most importantly, the worst. What did I do when the boys I liked didn't like me back in junior high? Watch 90210 and pray for the day someone like Brandon Walsh came along. What about those times in high school when my very best guy friend developed feelings for me? Dawson's Creek, obviously. And then there were those 2 solid times my heart was ripped open in the beginning of college...helllloooo One Tree Hill marathons in my dorm room. There are still Friday nights when I politely decline social invitations because "I'm tired" or "run down from the long week," when really, I just want to lay in bed, watch my shows and eat ice cream.
Top 5 reasons 90210 is awesome:
-One group of friends, ten years: It's still appealing to me that this group of people have stuck with each other through heartbreak, betrayal, death, addiction, abuse, and anything else that happened to Kelly Taylor.
-Brandon Walsh vs. Dylan McKay: When I first became addicted, I was a total Brandon Walsh kinda gal...he's so dependable! And emotionally available! Swoon. I've found that as I get older, the Dylan McKay-types are more up my alley. (Which is maybe why I'm still single.)
-Fashion: What. The. Hell. The outfits. The hair. The makeup (brown lipstick and lipliner, anyone?) I literally tried to dress like them when I was 12 and 13...the year 2000...
-Kelly and Donna's friendship: I love this relationship to pieces. They are so cute and funny together. Even though they may not have disclosed every little thing to each other, it was always understood that the two were besties.
-Power couples: Brenda and Dylan. Kelly and Dylan. Kelly and Brandon. David and Donna. Need I say more?
Why Dawson's Creek is so great:
-Pacey Witter: Okay. I don't think I could ever truly express my love for this character. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I would love for someone to buy me a wall (even though I don't paint), take dance lessons with me, "wait for me" when I lose interest, and/or profess his love to me over an intercom at the airport. (If you don't know what I"m talking about, look it up. You'll quickly understand). He is, and forever will be, the most romantic character...EVER.
-The love triangle: Ohhhhhh, the infamous love triangle. Dawson, Joey, and Pacey. When my dramatic woes in high school got the best of me, I was always comforted knowing there were other people having serious problems too! Can't get more serious than Joey Potter having to decide who to go to junior prom with...(she went with Dawson...rookie mistake.)
-Jack and Jen: I love these two. They always brought the funny. Their Will & Grace-like relationship got better and better as the seasons went on, and gave a whole new meaning to the word "soulmate"...didn't have to be a romantic relationship, but could always be your gay best friend.
-The language: Okay, okay. I get it, people. You think it's ridiculous how they all talk using some serious SAT vocab words...I got really good ideas for break-up speeches, professing love speeches, and insulting the boy you like speeches from this kind of dialogue.
-The creek: Why yes, I would like to row my little boat to my boyfriend's house in the middle of the night.
How One Tree Hill sucked up my soul from the very beginning:
-Music: While all teen shows strive to provide good music, One Tree Hill has done it the best (in my opinion). My music taste blossomed because of what was shown on OTH. Their ability to put music to scenes is amazing...i.e. the coda for their high school graduation episode.
-Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer=Best Friends Forever (seriously.): Much like Kelly and Donna, these two gal pals stick together no matter what. Except for the time Peyton tried to steal Lucas (twice). The way their relationship was crafted, always makes me think of my real-life bestie, and how true to form the girls' relationship is to ours. Isn't that the point of art, after all? To help people feel that who they are matters, that their relationships are real and valid?
-Naley: GOOGLE IT.
-The 5 year jump forward: The show's writer, Mark Schwahn, was once quoted saying something about how shows' lowest ratings are when the cast graduates high school and moves through college. OTH did the best and most logical thing to avoid this--move the cast forward 5 years. This left tons of room for great stories, as well as the introduction of new characters. The reinvention proved to work--OTH is entering it's ninth and final season!
-Mark Schwahn, Mark Schwahn, Mark Schwahn: All of the above was made possible because of this man. In my eyes, he is a true genius. I met him once, at a Macy's in Columbus, Ohio. I waited in line for about 4 hours to meet him and another cast member (Michaela McManus-Lindsay) for a contest the show was having. I was about the 12th person in line, and thought I'd be cool as a cucumber when I got my turn. So, so wrong. I cried my 20 year-old eyes out and shoved my home-made glitter OTH poster in his face, hoping he would see that I really am the show's biggest fan! He was so nice, signed my poster, and told me to keep writing (I also annoyingly expressed my dream to be just like him). His writing and ideas for this show has produced some of the best television I have ever seen (i.e. the school shooting story arc). And I watch a lot of TV (obvs).
So, as you can see, these shows are more to me than just TV. They are a part of my everyday life, inspiration and hope when I feel I have none.
I hope this has persuaded a few of those naysayers into wanting to give teenage soap operas a fair shot!
i was laughing out loud reading this. i feel like this is everything you've ever wanted to say to me but never could because i had no idea what the hell you were talking about. but now i actually get what you mean! i never fully understood the power of your 'shows' before. my favorite parts were definitely the dawson's creek section and you describing how you met mark schwahn with your glitter poster (so crafty). first of all, we both want a pacey witter and yes that is why we are single bc im not sure pacey's exist. and if they did we would probably find them annoying. we can be each other's paceys. ANYWAY. second of all, when we do get married and start families (which will probably inevitably and unfortunately happen) we will definitely live across the lake from each other so that we can get in our little boats at any old time of night and drink and play cards (in order for this to happen we have to learn to play cards and you have to learn how to stay up past 10 pm).
ReplyDeletei hate cards. but i do love me a nice stiff drink.
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