racheltumblesnow:

Not a bad Monday morning. Not at all.

First and foremost, I should note that this blog is founded on shame.  Knowing my love for the nineties, I was chastised by a friend when she learned I’d never seen Buffy, nor had I ever devoted any time to weekly television shows when I was in high school and middle school.  To be honest, I am kind of amazed at this.  What was I doing those weeknights?  

To make matters worse, I truly can not remember having once seen ANY episode of ANY of these shows.  How did I turn out alright?  Hell, am I alright?  I’ve seemingly been deprived of some of the most formative characters, situations, and experiences for all of my 24 years thus far.  This being said, something must be done.

I am now humbly asking the cosmos to open up and bestow upon me all the wisdom these founts of knowledge known as teen-dramas possess, and invite you to come along with me.  I’m not entirely sure how this is going to go down just yet.  I can’t decide if I want to blog after every episode, or every disc.  Perhaps I could post after every disc, and then write extra posts for when important things happen?  This is most likely what will happen.  Also, this will most likely not fully start until summer is here; being a grad student doesn’t lend itself to fun things all that often.  I suppose there is now only one thing left to determine:

What show do I begin with?  Here are all of the shows I know of thus far.  I would love your help and opinion as to which one I should watch first!

My first choice, and the one I will most likely go with, is Dawson’s Creek (1998).  Agree with me, or tell me a better place to start!

Felicity (1998)

Gilmore Girls (2000)

My So Called Life (1994) - I’ve heard this is a must.

Party of Five (1994)

One Tree Hill (2003)

Beverly Hills 90210 (1990) - Which is, apparently, the grandfather of all teen dramas.

I’m sure someone will notice the omission of any supernatural teen dramas.  This is on purpose.  Firstly, while I’m not meaning to belittle Charmed (1998), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), or Smallville (2001), I don’t feel like they need to be included in this experience.  In truth, I already feel connected to this genre through a (not so) secret love for Sci-Fi and Fantasy everything.  Secondly, I believe that I will watch these even without the impetus of a blog spurring me on (In truth, I’m already on season two with Buffy - SO GOOD).

As I wrap up this first post, I’m wondering if this blog is “about” anything.  Sure this could simply be fun and entertaining, but I think its something a bit more.  Many times I feel like I missed so much growing up.  I’m a very different person today than when these shows were on television, and I wonder if the themes presented in these series would have even spoken to me at that time in my life.  The atmosphere in which I spent my teenage years was conservative, Baptist, Southern, privileged, sexually repressed, and somewhat close-minded.  I love those years dearly, but most importantly because of where they have led me.  That being said, this little adventure will be a chronicle of my dealing with issues too mature for me at the time.  Since then I’ve grown up a bit, and I imagine I will continue to do so as the summer unfolds.

Bill.