If we're dividing the world into two black and white camps, I'd generally say I belong in that "good" person camp. Which is why it's is sort of concerning that as of late, I find myself liking a lot of TV series with heroes who are villains or anti-heroes. This makes me question myself, how is it, that I, a generally good person could want these "bad" people to windows much?
It started with Breadking Bad. But, of course, with BB, Walt didn't start out a bad guy. He was a good guy in a tough situation and made choices that led him to a bad place. So yes, I wanted him to succeed at first in his meth cooking and selling endeavors, so he could receive his treatment, but by the end of the series I really didn't like Walt. So BB is a more mild example because I cheered on a man doing bad things for a very good reason. It was his way to right an injustice.
A similar example to BB is Dexter. Who wouldn't love Dexter? He seems like such a great guy, well besides the serial killer part, which is the part of Dexter I am actually most attracted too. But he's like the Robin Hood of serial killers, he only kills the killers, and those which our legal/justice system have let slide through he cracks. But even though the 5th commandment is clear, Thou shalt not kill, I can't help but want Dexter to remain free. It's kind of disgusting if you think about it. I would hope that in a real life situation I wouldn't feel that way about a serial killer. That I wouldn't want some murder to be free despite of who he's killing. But again while Dexter is committing evil, at least he's killing the bad guys and making the world a little safer.
How to Get Away with Murder is another one of these shows. Annalise is a horrible person, I mean really. She takes the cake of scumbag criminal defense attorneys, not that by any means I think all attorneys are scumbags, but some are, and she's the leader of the pack of them. She has no redeeming qualities. But, with HTGAWM, I am not seeking for her to be successful, but rather the law students who under her leadership end up in a really bad situation. The only reason I want Annalise not to get caught is for the sake of those kids.
The show that really makes me question whether or not I am a good person though is House of Cards. The Underwoods don't have one redeeming quality between the two of them. Frank and Clare are both absolutely horrible people. And I cannot help hoping they will be successful in whatever undertaking they approach. At least with the other 3 shows, the characters had some good quality that could justify liking them and wishing them well despite the horrible things they did. The Underwoods, not so much, but even when Frank murdered a character I kind of liked, I still wanted him to get away with it. How can I possible want this murdering, cheating, scamming, liar to do well and be successful? What is wrong with me, that I consider myself a good person, but I want these bad people to succeed?
I really can't figure it out, and I find it disturbing that as a good person I want these villains to prosper.
(Sorry if this is full of typos, I wrote it on my iPad.)
