Mad Men is my favorite show probably ever. I see it as one of the most richly detailed, rewarding, novelistic shows of the era. And although Don and many characters could be labeled anti-heroes I guess, to me thats not quite the point. The point is to showcase the depths of these characters; with all of their flaws. Because that’s more accurate for people in general. People aren’t simply good or bad, there’s so much nuance and contradictions within everyone. This show shows that deeply, and then pushed you to feel some sense of sympathy for anyone. Peggy is your likeliest source of an actual hero, but even she contains layers of flaws. And for as bad as Don can be to people, there’s something weirdly sympathetic about his backstory and how he handles it - which I guess is an unpopular opinion. And well maybe it’s not entirely sympathy, but there’s some element that draws me into his psyche that I find so fascinating. I think other shows being discussed here do the same thing. But for me Mad Men has always been the one on top.
I think Breaking Bad is great, but yeah it’s clear to me how much I don’t like Walt when watching it again. But that’s not really the point? The point is more the decline of him as a person. And for as much heartbreak and sympathy I and many feel towards Jesse, he’s still a really fucked up character to root for. But there’s at least an element of him wanting out, or wanting to change, almost the reverse of Walt. That’s in interesting dynamic to watch unfold.
I’m still slowly making my way through The Sopranos so I can’t fully comment on anything yet. But from the get-go it is clear to me that this show is doing what the others did, but it came first. And it’s more obvious that Tony is a piece of a shit, but it’s almost slowly drawing you in to make you feel something for him...and then bam he does something inexcusably bad again. It’s a lot of fun to feel that as you watch it.
On a completely different level, the show Girls always got criticism for having unlikable characters. But that’s the draw! It’s showing incredibly narcissistic, flawed hipsters and pushing you to get involved in their self-absorbed lives. It’s also a comedy, so once you get into its groove, it becomes easier and easier to just laugh at everybody for how bad they are. Again, not everyone’s cup of tea, but I find a lot to like in it.
I guess the more I see it, these shows are flipping your expectations and asking you to watch “bad” people on purpose, to give you something new. Protagonists are often the heroes, but they don’t necessarily have to be. You don’t have to root for someone or relate to something for it to be impactful, interesting, and brilliant.
