My TV turn-offs (or, a few notes on 'bad boys') A few weeks ago, I realized that Project Runway's Christian, who was at first my least-favorite designer this season, had abruptly fierce-ed his way into my heart. I was trying to pin down exactly why I had such a sudden shift in my opinion of him, before realizing a fundamental aspect of his character -- he's not actively mean to other people. He bitches and moans and is catty in interviews about some of the other designs, but he gives other designers advice and seems to be fairly friendly and supportive with all of them.
This was eye-opening on a whole other level, as over the past few years I've been trying to figure out why I always end up on the 'good' side of the 'good guy vs. bad boy' TV love interest dichotomy. You know what I mean. Angel vs. Spike on Buffy/Angel. Jack vs. Sawyer on Lost. Even, very occasionally, Duncan/Piz vs. Logan on Veronica Mars.
Since I've always considered myself a bit of a bad boy aficionado (especially if said bad boy has some type of space ship or crime-fighting ability), I didn't quite understand what my friends were seeing in these characters that so repulsed me. I mean, Spike was evil*! Sawyer was annoying! Logan was... Okay, Logan was dreamy. But hey kids, remember those bum fights?
Anyways, for me there is a world of difference between being a whiny con-man and being Batman. For one thing, you are awesome when you are Batman. (Even if you are much less frequently shirtless.) But I couldn't figure out exactly why these alleged bad boys failed to really spark with me -- that is, until my big exciting Project Runway revelation: being mean to other people is my one turn-off. Doesn't matter how much your abs might ripple or how tortured your back story might be. If you constantly degrade people with cruel nicknames**, or willingly betray them, or attempt to rape your love interest***, I'm not going to want to jump you. It's all right to be a rebel. But hurting folks that don't deserve it just doesn't sit right by me. So just ask yourself, at every opportunity -- is this what Batman would do?
Men, make a note. And, Christian, carry on.
*Yeah, yeah. Let's not kid ourselves. He was a jerk with or without a soul.
**There is a major exception to this rule. And that is the House exception. Don't ask me to explain it. Sometimes, love doesn't make sense.
***Though, in all fairness, you do earn some credit by not annoying me with ambiguous rape. Ambiguous rape is a whole other rant, though.Labels: teacher mother secret lover
posted by Liz # 8:24 PM
Comments:
Hmm. I like(d) Spike, but only because I came in at the beginning of S6, and I thought Angel was boring until I watched his show (where he's actually fairly dark at times). I hated both Jack *and* Sawyer, the latter because he was hoarding all the supplies, but Sawyer grew on me and now he's one of my favorites (esp. with Kate). In fact, many characters bugged me but Jack is the only one I still hate. Logan is the exception out of those three -- I am always mentally screaming "BUM FIGHTS" and disliked him right up to the end, with a brief caveat for the "epic" line. And both S3 Jeffrey and Christian grew on me.
But... if you asked me I would say I'm not into bad boys! Huh. At the very least I'm not really into bad *girls*, but that's more of a personal identification thing. I guess I'm into bad guys who change (but not unrecognizably) and don't do something that's a dealbreaker up front.
PS: Piz all the way.
# posted bySophia : January 23, 2008 10:08:00 PM PST
Yeah, I definitely understand how people feel differently on this issue, since after all, who gets us hot is a pretty individual thing.
I guess I'm into bad guys who change (but not unrecognizably) and don't do something that's a dealbreaker up front. That's a good way of putting it.
Also TEAM PIZ. We are the loneliest team. :)
# posted by
But! But! Hurley called Sawyer on the nicknames thing and he's trying to cut it out. And Sawyer was the only character who was still pissed about Walt's kidnapping and confronted the Others about it (okay, he shot the guy). He's not actively mean, just terribly, terribly selfish.
Excellent point overall, though.
# posted bytimesink : January 24, 2008 5:19:00 AM PST
Wow, my head is finally clearing up and I can start forming some cohesive thought about this matter.
As you know, I fall on the bad boys side of this debate. Personally, I like a bad boy cause I'm a bad girl. I like the bad boys cause I relate to them. Maybe not right now, but at some point in my life, I was a Sawyer, a Logan and a House. I conned my way into things, I organized bum fights, I am selfish and arrogant and hurt the people I love. I'm human and I'm fallable.
The flip side is there are moments when (and this will be all House related, cause I've been watching it) I'm Cameron and all I want to do is help other people, I'm Chase and I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm Wilson and I'm the loyal best friend.
But presently, I'm House. I guess I always will be. Even further down the road, I'll always get the bad boy. I'll hope for his redemption, but I'll enjoy the ride.
# posted by
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