Are We Back in the Early 2000’s Or Is it Just Fall?
There is something in the air. Could it be the crackle nail polish? Perhaps the ballet flats? Maybe it’s the recession?
Regardless, it has left us with a yearning for nostalgia. The idea of “adult money” used to feel so invigorating and now it feels like stress, anxiety, and wrinkles. “It’s the end of the world as we know it” as R.E.M. would say. I know the song was released in 1987, but unfortunately it remains true. My question is, do we feel fine?
To combat my need for nostalgia and healing my inner child, I choose to binge watch the same shows I did as a teen with an attitude problem. During my annual discovery, I realized that there are no comparable teen dramas to those produced a decade ago. Considerably, they just don’t allow or make intro songs like, “California” by: Phantom Planet or “I Don’t Wanna Be” by: Gavin Degraw anymore.
Last year, my show of choice was The O.C. I wanted to kick start my autumn Adam Brody obsession before I dove into Gilmore Girls for the shwenty-th time. Little did I know, it would only rehash my love for good guys that mask as bad boys. With each episode, I transported to my childhood room with my pink zebra bed set watching drama unfold on my television that had a DVD player built in. The writers knew how to build suspense between Ryan’s potential, Marissa’s addiction to chaos, Seth’s need for popularity and Jimmy’s impending short comings for business.
This year, I booked myself a one-way flight to Tree Hill, North Carolina to bask in a drama-filled vacation. A story of resentment, regret and repercussions through generations. To go after your dreams and face harsh realities as an adolescent when the world “made sense.” Of course, their so-called “real world” includes stalker nannies turned nurses, stalker fake brothers, and stalker ex-con grandfathers. I think I’m sensing a pattern here. However, it also shows the hard realities of teen pregnancy, dysfunctional families, starting your own business, sexual preferences, and mass school shootings which was quite progressive for the time.
As I gear up for my shwenty first rewatch of Gilmore Girls, I am at a loss for a great American teen drama like those mentioned in The OC, One Tree Hill, Laguna Beach, The Hills, etc. Where has the teen drama gone? I partake in several Bravo reality shows, and rich people problems just are not the same as a Californian teen. Who can I call to get this going (after the strikes end, of course).
The other side of my mind is questioning if this is the rewatch that I am finally fully Team Logan. Ah, who am I kidding? I’m Team Jess forever. As mentioned earlier, I love the good guy masking as a bad boy. Will I watch it from Richard’s point of view this time? How about Luke’s? Perhaps Miss Patty’s? Nevertheless, I am sure I will find another lesson that I haven’t found previously.
While rewatching teen dramas is fun and a way to escape the adult problems we face in our current day, I would have to admit that I am not nearly strong or powerful enough to face the abominations those characters go through.
I encourage you to grab your coziest blanket, your binge-worthy show of choice, and a glass of wine if age appropriate to escape from the crumbling world around us. Forget about the issues at work, in your home or whatever your family is presenting you with currently. After all, it could be worse; they could be a stalker nanny, or your dad could lose millions of dollars through gambling. If you have experienced either, I send my condolences.
References
IMDb. (2023, September 18). Gilmore Girls. Retrieved from IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/find/?q=gilmore%20girls&ref_=nv_sr_sm
IMDb. (2023, September 18). One Tree Hill. Retrieved from IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368530/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_one%2520tree%2520hill
IMDb. (2023, September 18). The O.C. Retrieved from IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362359/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
R.E.M. (2023, September 18). R.E.M. - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine). Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY