Have you seen the Misery Bear series? If you haven't, you should -
Misery Bear World Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qXqRy89zbs
Misery Bear Goes to Work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTHlTu_DC8&feature=related
Hopefully without revealing too much, Misery Bear is an unfortunate bear who can never be fully happy, and the main premise of the series is that shit/life happens. We, the audience, learn to love him and understand his sins, and we root for him, all the while knowing that he will be crushed, and dreading the inevitable heartbreak we will suffer alongside. We love him because we identify a little bit of ourselves in him, and recognize some of the pain he feels when he can't have something he really wants, or when he despairs.
If you have also seen The Office (BBC), Mr. Bean, and, to a lesser extent, Peepshow, you may agree with me when I say I think the Brits have an obsession with misery. First, please note that, generally, the British television I watch reach me only after extensive vetting by trusted friends who then vehemently recommend them, so this probably only refers to particularly good British shows. Even so, if you compare them with the particularly good shows in the US (Community, Arrested Development, 30 Rock), the ratio of beatings-of-the-human-soul to shiny-fuzzy-resolution is much, much higher in the former. It seems the British prefer commiserating with characters who are likely worse off than they are, in more "realistic" conditions, to characters who overcome the obstacles of life, and find success in conditions that are more fantasy. (SPOILERS) David Brent was completely broken before they allowed him a little redemption at the Christmas special. Mark Corrigan, who does everything right, gets sacked. The (initial) girl of his dreams turns out to be a nightmare after he gets her. And Mr. Bean is, well, Mr. Bean. There's stuff like that in American shows too of course (Liz Lemon inexplicably breaks up with Matt Damon), but it's just no where near the same extent. I could put on a psychoanalyst paper hat and speculate on what historical experiences the two nations have had that brought about this difference in affinity, but I don't want to sound like an idiot. I just wanted to point out that it's something I noticed.
As for me, I enjoy all the shows I've listed. Every now and then, I do wish American shows could be a little braver and embrace the depressing piece of shit that life sometimes is in a comedic, fraternal way. But right now, thanks to Hulu, Netflix, 4oD and iPlayer, I get just the right amount of Community et al. and Misery Bear and co.
Misery Bear World Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qXqRy89zbs
Misery Bear Goes to Work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTHlTu_DC8&feature=related
Hopefully without revealing too much, Misery Bear is an unfortunate bear who can never be fully happy, and the main premise of the series is that shit/life happens. We, the audience, learn to love him and understand his sins, and we root for him, all the while knowing that he will be crushed, and dreading the inevitable heartbreak we will suffer alongside. We love him because we identify a little bit of ourselves in him, and recognize some of the pain he feels when he can't have something he really wants, or when he despairs.
If you have also seen The Office (BBC), Mr. Bean, and, to a lesser extent, Peepshow, you may agree with me when I say I think the Brits have an obsession with misery. First, please note that, generally, the British television I watch reach me only after extensive vetting by trusted friends who then vehemently recommend them, so this probably only refers to particularly good British shows. Even so, if you compare them with the particularly good shows in the US (Community, Arrested Development, 30 Rock), the ratio of beatings-of-the-human-soul to shiny-fuzzy-resolution is much, much higher in the former. It seems the British prefer commiserating with characters who are likely worse off than they are, in more "realistic" conditions, to characters who overcome the obstacles of life, and find success in conditions that are more fantasy. (SPOILERS) David Brent was completely broken before they allowed him a little redemption at the Christmas special. Mark Corrigan, who does everything right, gets sacked. The (initial) girl of his dreams turns out to be a nightmare after he gets her. And Mr. Bean is, well, Mr. Bean. There's stuff like that in American shows too of course (Liz Lemon inexplicably breaks up with Matt Damon), but it's just no where near the same extent. I could put on a psychoanalyst paper hat and speculate on what historical experiences the two nations have had that brought about this difference in affinity, but I don't want to sound like an idiot. I just wanted to point out that it's something I noticed.
As for me, I enjoy all the shows I've listed. Every now and then, I do wish American shows could be a little braver and embrace the depressing piece of shit that life sometimes is in a comedic, fraternal way. But right now, thanks to Hulu, Netflix, 4oD and iPlayer, I get just the right amount of Community et al. and Misery Bear and co.
