Dramatica Users Group Movie Analysis:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
and "My So Called Life"

Forget academics. When it comes to high school, the rule is to be cool. For main characters Angela in the My So Called Life episode "Self-Esteem" written by Winnie Holzman and directed by Michael Engler, and Xander, in Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "The Zeppo" written by Dan Vebber and directed by James Whitmore Jr., image is of utmost concern. Both episodes of the critically acclaimed television dramas are Dramatica grand argument stories. Each emphasizes the thematic conflict of worth vs. value.

In My So Called Life, feelings of self-worth are explored in the overall story domain of fixed attitudes (mind)-and are directly related to the problem of expectations-high and low. For example, Renee Lerner, the high school math teacher calls out in the hallway:

MS. LERNER

Angela Chase! Why weren't you in geometry review? Angela, you need this. . . . How do you expect (os problem) to pass your midterm? [To other teacher] It breaks my heart, some of these girls. They are just so smart and yet . . .

MS. CHAVATAL

It's called low self-esteem.

The thematic issue of worth is carried on when Rayanne and Sharon express disapproval of Angela and Jordan's (impact character) relationship-one that is confined to kissing in the boiler room:

SHARON

Why is he keeping you two a secret?

ANGELA

How do you know he's keeping us a secret?

SHARON

Rayanne told me.

RAYANNE

Look . . . we care about you. When I was drinking and drugging, you wanted me to stop (mc growth), as my friend.

ANGELA

Wait. You're comparing me making out with Jordan Catalano to you getting your stomach pumped?

RAYANNE

You don't see the connection?

SHARON

The connection is self-respect. . . . You deserve, like, so much better.

ANGELA
(petulantly)

Just because he's not Kyle and he doesn't parade with me down the halls holding hands.

In an effort to save face, Angela brazenly lies to her friends, telling them Jordan has asked her to meet him at a music club. Rayanne and Sharon force the issue by accompanying Angela to "Pike Street." Angela is humiliated when Jordan blatantly ignores her-compelling Rayanne to confront the beautiful, brooding boyfriend:

RAYANNE

You know you like her. Would it kill you to admit it? Maybe treat her halfway decent? Because, you know, she deserves it. And she's not going to wait around for you forever (main vs. impact direction-unending).

Two objective character subplots offer thematic parallels. In one, Angela's father, Graham, is undergoing a career crisis. Determined (os solution) to do what he loves and excels in, instead of what is expected (os problem) of him, is behavior Graham's father-in-law, Chuck Wood, finds indulgent:

CHUCK

Where's Mr. Fixit tonight?

PATTY

He's taking a [cooking] class.

CHUCK

. . . He ought to be pulling his weight. . . . [You should] get one of those . . . headhunter[s]. That's what you need. Somebody to get him a job . . . [so he can] stop sponging off his wife.

PATTY

Dad, this is between me and Graham. Okay, please? You don't know all the particulars.

CHUCK

I'm your father. That's the particulars. And you deserve better.

Graham's renowned culinary teacher turns out to be drunken disappointment, prompting a classmate to comment: "We deserve better. I mean, don't we?" Much to his Patty's surprise (os problem-expectations), Graham later informs her: "They want me to teach the class."

In another subplot, the new English teacher attempts to convince a student to sign up for the drama club:

RICKIE

Why are you doing this? This is not something I am gonna do. I'm not the sort of person who joins things, okay?

KATIMSKY

I'm really sorry, but no, that's not okay. . . . Well, I mean, come on, I'm a teacher. How do you expect (os problem) me to react to a ridiculous statement like that-you don't join things? Who are you, Groucho Marx-you'd never belong to any club that would have you as a member? . . . Look, what is holding you back here? That I'm not cool enough? Don't let the fact that your English teacher is a dork stop you from fulfilling your potential. Just pretend-that I'm a track coach. I happen to notice that you can run fast. I need you on my team (os problem-expectation)! It's as simple as that, Enrique.

RICKIE

Stop calling me that! Why are you calling me that?

KATIMSKY

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting. It's just, it's just-gee whiz, it's such a great name. When I was in high school, I hated my name. I hated it.

RICKIE

I don't-hate my name, I-I just . . .

KATIMSKY

Oh, oh good. I'm really glad. No-nobody should-hate who they are.

Katimsky leaves, and Rickie scrawls "Enrique Vasquez" on the signup sheet.

After "being made a fool of by the only person I'll ever love" (main vs. impact thematic issue-fantasy), Angela surreptitiously meets Jordan one last time:

ANGELA

The truly frightening thing, is that even after everything that happened, Jordan Catalano left a note in my locker to meet him in the boiler room. The nauseating part is that I went.

She demands he admit: "That all of this happened (main vs. impact thematic counterpoint-fact). That you have emotions. That you can't, like, treat me one way in front of your friends then the next minute leave me some note."

Success (outcome) is illustrated when Jordan, in front of everyone, asks Angela "can we, like, go somewhere?" (ic resolve-change) and her immediate response (story goal-preconscious) is "Sure." With all eyes upon them-they parade down the hall, holding hands (mc judgment-good).

For Xander in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the real horror show in high school is not necessarily Sunnydale's proximity to the Hellmouth (overall story domain-universe) and the always impending end (os focus) of the world, but combating the role (mc concern-being) of the "boy who has no cool."

CORDELIA

It must be really hard when all your friends have, like, superpowers (impact character thematic conflict-experience vs. skill). Slayer, werewolf, witches, vampires, and you're like this little nothing (mc thematic counterpoint-ability).

XANDER

. . . I happen to be an integral part of that group (impact character). I happen to have a lot to offer (main vs. impact thematic conflict-worth vs. value).

CORDELIA

. . . Oh, please.

Xander obsesses (mc domain-psychology) over his "lack (mc growth-start) of cool," and sets out to discover what will make him unique (mc thematic issue-desire).

In the midst of apocalyptic evil (os thematic counterpoint-fact), Xander is only allowed to run inconsequential errands-leaving idle time that allows for running with the wrong crowd-like becoming (mc journey 2) the wheel man for zombies.

At story's end, Xander comes to realization (mc resolve-change) that cool is not about show and tell-but quiet grace (mc judgment-good) under unexpected (main vs. impact-solution) pressure.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer story engine settings.

My So Called Life story engine settings.