Review of Quarterlife

quarterlife Part 1


Since the internet is slowly becoming more and more my place
of choice for entertainment. Movies, blah! Television, so 1950s.
Today premiered the web show Quarterlife on MySpace. It's from
the creators of 'My So-Called Life,' which I've mentioned on this blog
before. I thought I would take a break from talking about politics and
review the new web show.

As I've grown older I've realized how exceptional writing makes
or breaks a show. This is definitely well-written. A little too
well-written. If you look at the people posting their spontaneous
ramblings on Youtube they usually don't have the depth the main
character (Dylan), who is a writer and blogger, of this show has.
So it just doesn't come off realistic.

Ok, now on to the plot. As a twenty-something I like the plot of
recent college graduates trying to find careers, love, and lasting
friendships. They are all struggling with something. However,
you can already see the underpinnings of a complicated love triangle.
I'm getting exhausted of these triangles. It reminds me of the tired
plot of the teen drama 'Dawson Creek.' Dawson loves Joey but they're
just friends. Dawson and Joey finally get together after much chatter.
Then Joey dumps Dawson because she just loves him too much. She
then dates his best friend, Pacey. Well, in the second episode of Quarterlife
we can already see an inevitable love triangle between Jed, Debra, and
Danny. I wouldn't be surprised if they dragged that plot line to the very
conclusion of the show. I hate being dragged. Also, do writers really think
that every young person secretly has feelings for their best friend's love
interest? I don't think most people in real life are as conniving as that, even
young people.

And what would a drama be without someone with a serious issue.
That is where Lisa comes in. She's an alcoholic. How do I know that?
Because in the first episode we are blatantly told by the main character,
"She drinks too much." Studies have shown that alcoholism is a serious
problem facing college aged people. It will be interesting to see how they
deal with this plot line. I don't have much hopes though. How much depth
can you give to such a complicated and hard societal ailment in a short
web show when most of the time is going to be spent on a love triangle?

I know I've been pretty negative so far but I did enjoy the show and will
probably watch it again. I just hope the writers don't continue to go for
the plot lines we often see on television. This is the web, baby. You can get
as creative as you want! Think outside the box and not inside television box.