Slice-of-life series are a true staple. No matter what you are writing, or what medium you are working with life, well- life happens. Life and art are always intimated one another. Sometimes the best stories that can be told are ones that are lived day in and day out. From family on-goings to just simply growing-up there is a lot to work with.
There are massive amounts of series that play off life, as one can assume. Some let life be the main conflict, and other times it acts as the back-up. Yet one series that always tends to find its way stuck in my mind when I think about growing-up and all the craziness is that of Lizzie McGuire.
With the tag-line that is forever echoed inside my self-conscious, Lizzie McGuire was the girl that fans got to go insider her head- mind you this was, in fact before Inside Out. The series focused on Lizzie McGuire, a typical and normal teenage girl trying to navigate her way through school, life and friends. Good hearted, shy and generally well-meaning Lizzie was awkward and sometimes struggled to admit her own true feelings. Or at least physically. Even though she might have said or acted one way her animated counter-part often popped up and offered her true, and sometimes un-filtered response.
Lizzie was simply an ordinary girl that everyone, myself included found easy to relate to.
However it was not just Lizzie herself that was strong, diverse and otherwise well-defined. Her friends, family and even Lizzie’s friend turned enemy where developed and though-out as the series progressed. Considering how much the stories ranging from dealing with criticism to getting too addicted to a particular thing, having that strong backing added heart and emotional impact.
Even though sometimes the stories could be corny and echo messages and themes that everyone knows well, it offered a good delivery with comedy. Even fourteen-years after the fact the series is still counted fondly by fans new and old.
The answer of why after a decade the series is still loved and iconic will differ based on who you ask. Yet I myself like to believe it was just purely for how good it was and how greatly it mirrored what growing-up and trying to find your way through life is like during the middle school years.
Lizzie McGuire was, and still is, brilliant. And it seems that some of that brilliants wrapped in comedy and life is returning to Disney Channel. Terri Minsky, creator of Lizzie McGuire, is returning once more to the house of mouse with a new series. It basically came out of nowhere.
Even though there are no working titles listed, nor any hints of what the series might be called press releases have offered the following summary:
The story introduces Andi Marcus (Lee) as she’s about to celebrate her 13th birthday. She’s eager to have a little teenage fun and adventure — just a little — but that might never happen because her strict mother is doing everything in her power to keep Andi from turning out like her older sister, Bex. As a teenager, Bex dropped out of school, left home and now, in her late 20s, still doesn’t know what she wants out of life. But when Bex returns home and swears she is ready to get her life together, Andi’s life is turned upside down and she’s left questioning everything she’s ever known.
Even though we know little and actual work on the series is not starting until next year I already like what I am seeing. And a lot is running through my mind. Minsky is a smart writer; she knows what works and how to give a good delivery. The relationships between the characters, and the fact one is a twenty-year old who has messed up, excites me as I can already image some of the implications. So much can be done with this as it opens up a lot of narrative doors. Not all characters need or even should be good- sometimes the damaged ones are the greatest. And the ones we can learn from the most.
Above all the fact this is so very real strikes a chord with me most of all. There are cases just like this when you have someone in a person’s life that is a good bad example and it leading to others almost sheltering others to prevent them from following the same path. It is for that reason alone that I know this will resonate greatly and leave with an impact to viewers.
Join the conversation: what are you first thoughts on this new series? Where do you want it to lead?