Analyze how Better Call Saul's characters portray problems that people in real-life may deal with everyday. For instance, the talented lawyer who will not be hired by anyone due to lack of good references (or jealousy from those you least expect).
Not only is Better Call Saul a television series that hooks you instantly with drama, it is a series that makes the viewer see everything is not black and white, sometimes there are grays in between.
I definitely agree with the fact that BCS' characters do portray problems! One thing I'd like to suggest is that you narrow down two or three characters as opposed to staying general. Perhaps even write about one character and how they portray issues/problems. – stefanjovanovic6 years ago
With new tv shows coming out every season, what triggered the return of old tv shows? Why are they becoming a trend? and what's coming next?
People are running out of ideas. I also feel as if this generation has an abject fascination with what we consider "retro" or "vintage". MeTv airs these shows twenty-four seven, but one can easily see why they might not be as popular. Most are in black and white, or the special effects are cringe-worthy. Perhaps we love the ideas and story-lines of the older ideas, and with the vast arsenal of special effects and technology in general, feel we can reboot the old shows better than they were before. – Morgan Le Fay6 years ago
When I look at Disney Channel now, nothing catches my attention unless it's something like Raven's Home or Girl Meets World; this too only because the titles are recognizable to shows of the past. This generation knows what they want to watch- the originals played on these channels (I mean I would die to see Smart Guy on Television again) or perhaps brought back in a modern fashion. This is experimental though. It can work to a degree how Girl Meets World did, or it can flop to a great extent and not even our beloved veteran characters can save the reboots. They are popular as they draw off the nostalgia of this generation while presenting something the younger generation can relate to. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. – Kiranpreet Sandhu6 years ago
People are tired of current tv trends and want more substance. The long for shows that have benefit and leave you feeling good at the end of an episode. Families are starving for clean programming that they can refer to a friend, which is few and far between these days. – charisewilson6 years ago
Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, Community, the Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Farscape, Person of Interest, and many other science fiction/fantasy shows have had episodes inspired by the movie Groundhog Day. A character relives a series of events multiple times, occasionally making changes to see what the effects are. There have also been movies revolving around the same idea, including Happy Death Day and When I First Met Her. Explore the reasons why the idea presented in this movie (or possibly originating earlier, if you can find past examples) is such a crowd favorite. Are there deeper meanings to be found here, or is it just a comedy bit that other writers reuse because it's well-liked?
I think it has something to do with our fascination of wondering what we could do differently if we could go through the same day again. After a hard decision, who hasn't thought: "what if I did this instead?" I suppose it's a fun and easy thing to explore for an episode or two in a TV show. A fascinating look at these time loop stories is 2016's "Re:Zero" a fascinating anime about a boy in a fantasy world who after dying discovers that he comes back to life several hours before his death. The disturbing nature of facing unavoidable fates and dying repeatedly to save the people he loves is the emotional core of the show, and showcases the true horror of endless time loops. It's a dark and interesting look on the genre/cliche. – Dimitri6 years ago
An intriguing topic suggestion and one that deserves a broader and deeper investigation. I'd suggest breaking away from the limitations of 'Groundhog Day' to consider how other cultures have addressed the same, or similar theme. Off the top of my head I'd recommend the very clever and fiendishly evasive Korean time-loop tale 'A Day' (2016. Directed by Jo Seon-ho) in which not one, but three disparate characters experience the same day, each from his own perspective. No spoilers as to the outcome, but it is unexpected. – Amyus6 years ago
Excellent feedback. I wouldn't have thought of those examples because I know very little about anime, Korean drama, etc. Considering how other cultures see the concept of quantum do-overs would be a great addition to this article. – noahspud6 years ago
In a large amount of tv aimed at teenagers, realism is thrown out the window. Disney sitcoms and CW dramas seem to exclusively deal in stereotypical characters and not with how teenagers actually act. For me, American Vandal and the Inbetweeners are the best recent examples of accurate portrayals, but I'm sure there's more.
What makes a good portrayal of a teenage character? Which shows do it well? Why do shows aimed at teenagers ditch realism in a way that other shows do not?
I think that a lot of shows ignore how teenagers would typically act because it wouldn't provide enough entertainment or drama. Most teen-based shows are filled with drama and different love triangles, and there may be a glimpse of realistic teenage feelings, but the reactions are only determined in order to create wreak havoc in everyone else's lives. – Lex5i6 years ago
Not enough shows actually show teenagers being kids and having fun. Drinking, partying, sex, and drugs are a huge part of the modern depiction of teenagers and while it has told some interesting important stories - I think it has also glamorized a certain aspect/view of teenagehood that can ultimately be misleading and not accurate. I would love to see more shows about teenagers doing more chill things, and goofing around. This isn't to morally grandstand, I don't think we should avoid tough or controversial topics, but let's not forget how young teenagers can be. I think a great example is the anime "My Hero Academia." The way that the central Class 1A unit function in the show, hanging out and boarding together and dealing with tough classes and societal pressures around their role as "elite students" feels much more real than the way Skins makes you think every kid off the street is a heroin addict. There is a balance. – Dimitri6 years ago
You can also look at shows like 6teen. It's a bit older now but I think it's still relevant to this discussion. One of the main things that tv shows gets wrong about teens is how they talk, often assuming that they are constantly using (outdated) slang. Speech patterns are often quite different in teenagers than adults, but that doesn't come across in shows. – banne6 years ago
As seen in the beginning of Westworld season 2, some of the synths in Westworld have broken free of their programming and have obtained some version of human agency. What are the moral ramifications of this? Can they still be considered malfunctioning property with faulty software? Or are they due the same freedom of choice gifted to humans? I think an analysis of this would be interesting under the scope of certain philosophical ideas
great topic! since you're suggesting that whoever chooses this topic consider what it means to be human through a specifically philosophical lens, here are some theorists to consider for approaching this topic: Rene Descartes, Plato, Hannah Arendt, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone De Beauvoir (anyone who is an Existentialist, really). – ees6 years ago
can plastic fruit be considered fruit? – wateronthemoon6 years ago
Discuss the show 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'. Rebecca Bunch is not your typical heroine or female role model protagonist in a series. The title of the show literally refers to her as ‘crazy’ and the show starts off with her moving across the country to stalk her ex-boyfriend to play tricks and games in hopes to make him fall in love with her. Yeah sure, she behaves crazy and insane and is completely delusional but is there something profoundly powerful in her character as well? Is she a positive and strong female character for viewers? In this past season she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and the last few episodes dealt with her trying to understand and work through her new diagnosis. Often women have been labelled as ‘crazy’ by ex-boyfriends or men in general to excuse their own behaviour or to diminish the validity of women’s claims. What is this show tackling in using the word ‘crazy’ and what is the importance of Rebecca Bunch’s role on television?
Has the over sexualization of teenage characters in tv shows gone to far? The argument of whether it's glamorizing unacceptable behaviour and provocative themes for the young fans? Or trying to show the reality of what the lives could be for children at such a young age?
As the tag you have used Riverdale, which is an interesting choice, as it is not necessarily on the top of the list I would consider for sexualisation of teenagers. I would have perhaps put something like Gossip Girl, Skins, or The OC, etc.
I think, however, that this is an interesting topic and would require a good discussion of what is sexualisation and what is sexual-representation of teenage behaviour. I think a good part of this discussion is in the look at the relevant viewer ages of such shows, the target demographic, etc. But also then a necessary part of the conversation needs to be that now with internet streaming and Netflixs, why does it matter if teenagers are presented in a sexualised manner when it seems most teens are actually watching shows such as Game of Thrones? – SaraiMW6 years ago
It might be a completely different ball-park at this point, but you should check out some of the controversy surrounding the currently airing anime: "My Hero Academia" and it's representing of it's central teenage characters. Here is a good brief write-up of one person's frustrations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke1YKF3tNCE I know Japan is an entirely different culture and it may not be exactly what you're looking for, but considering how often the 15-year-olds on the show end up being top-less or in swimsuits it is troubling and could serve as an interesting alternate example for you to present. It's definitely an interesting topic though, as Riverdale does have some troubling tendencies as a series. I can't wait to see whatever you come up with! – BioLizard6 years ago
The reality television show, Rupaul's Drag Race, has unquestionably brought the art of drag into mainstream culture. The show has particularly been praised for its inclusion of gay and transgender voices, yet feminists seem to disagree about what the popularisation of drag means for women. Do Rupaul and the drag queens on his show represent femininity and womanhood in a positive light, or encourage feminine stereotypes and rigid beauty standards? By dressing up "as women", are the queens showing an appreciation of femininity and reclaiming stereotypes of gay men? Or are they simply reinforcing harmful ideas about how women should look and behave? Would love to read people's views on this topic!
A discussion of Trans rights (Rupaul has come under fire from the Trans community many a time) as well as the ambiguity and contestation of gender/"womanhood" as such would be prudent to explore here, too. – ees6 years ago
I have binge watch Rupaul's show all week and although it is highly entertaining I have also been trouble by some of the dated definitions of gender on the show. I like the fact that clearly biological males are referred to repeatedly as women/girls because it does disturb our visual concepts of what is defined as 'womanhood'. But I am often troubled with the fact that 'womanhood' is then further described as pink, 'glittery', feminine, etc. etc... also, the beauty standards are definitely set at glamour and that further isolates not just the expectation of women but also men. – imaenad6 years ago
These queens are encouraging feminism an womanhood. Their goal is to look and act like confident women. RuPaul refers to the anatomically correct males and women, girls and queens. By doing this he is throwing out the typical genre roles and treating these people the way they fee and want to be treated. Feminism is making women equal to men and if these men feel like women then they should be treated equally. They encourage men who feel like queens to stand up and own themselves, they encourage women be true to their femininity while breaking the classic view of women having to be proper, pink and perfect. RuPaul's show portrays real life and real people. Nothing harmful towards women come from that show. – princessmia6 years ago
I am a fan of the show too and agree that it is positive in many ways. It definitely encourages tolerance which is fantastic. I also agree that lots of the queens subvert feminine stereotypes by being crude and “unladylike” and I think that this should be included in the discussion. But if I were to give an example of something harmful towards women which has come from the show, I would direct you to the championing of Violet Chachki’s thinness in season 7. She even did a runway where she happily joked about being dangerously thin by wearing a fake life support machine and an extremely tight corset. I definitely think this is harmful to women’s body image, and insensitive to eating disorder survivors (who are mostly women). – Indigo6 years ago
It would be interesting to explore the problematic nature of Rupaul's comments at various times throughout the running of Rupaul's Drag Race. It seems that every once in a while, Rupaul says something terrible about trans people, or her comments seem to imply a disrespect for trans individuals. So incorporation of that into something like this topic would be interesting! – nathanl6 years ago
