What makes a good TV show in my opinion is its type of characters. I tend to like characters that I can relate to because I see them as an extension of me and I can therefore see myself in their position or see myself become them, at least for the run of the episode. This is hard for me to explain and might end up being misinterpreted or confusing, because it is a feeling more than anything else. I think this is the same case for most people because these characters showcase, in one way or another, the things we all really go through rather than what we display in front of others.
In the Case of Seinfeld, the greatest sitcom in the universe, the characters represented everything we all wanted to do and be, but couldn’t because of social courtesy, I would say. Jerry’s indifference and lifestyle, George’s superficial ways and Kramer’s quirkiness allow me to lose myself in each episode and effectively live vicariously through them. In the case of House, M.D., Gregory House represents the way we all are when no one is around, as opposed to how we are in public. He however, displays this all day long. Robert Goren from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and another of my favorite characters, bears great similarities to House because he too is misunderstood and has a lot to be troubled by, but all caused by pitfalls in his life rather than having an overall cavalier outlook, which is what House conveys. Characters like these coupled with great, intelligent writing set the stage for great memorable TV that allows us to, for a brief moment, live outside the gates of society.
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