The Brother Conspiracy
Ok, Heroes completely and utterly owns me lately.
But looking at the last three American TV shows I have watched, I can't help but notice that all of them have a set of dysfunctional brothers with father issues who are more or less primal to the show. Supernatural is more extreme in that aspect than Prison Break or Heroes because it solely focuses on Sam and Dean whereas in the latter there are many other characters with independent story lines as well.
But the similarities are pretty obvious. All three pairs of brothers grew up with some major father issues that probably resulted in their kind of codependent (dysfunctional), intense relationships. The big brothers are the badass, protective ones whereas the younger ones appear to be more sensitive emo and angsty. This is probably just the usual stereotype but it's interesting that none of them are portrayed as competing enemies. These three set of brothers can't really function without their siblings and would take a bullet for each other.
For a spot on and hilarious comparison between the Petrelli brothers from Heroes and Sam and Dean have a look at this fan art (you have to scroll down a bit). The affinity for hoodies cracks me up because it's so true! Even Michael from Prison Break is a hoodie lover.
Now, I'm really wondering if this can be a coincidence. Is there a (strategical) purpose that all those three major shows center more or less on a pair of brothers? What kind of audience do they want to appeal to? Brothers? Men? Men with brother/father issues? Women? Are there any shows that center on a pair of sisters? Would those shows work if they were friends instead of brothers?
What do you think? What is their appeal?
Peter and Nathan Petrelli from Heroes
Sam and Dean Winchester
Lincoln and Michael from Prison Break
Looks like the "knee pose" is a recurrent theme as well... ;)
But looking at the last three American TV shows I have watched, I can't help but notice that all of them have a set of dysfunctional brothers with father issues who are more or less primal to the show. Supernatural is more extreme in that aspect than Prison Break or Heroes because it solely focuses on Sam and Dean whereas in the latter there are many other characters with independent story lines as well.
But the similarities are pretty obvious. All three pairs of brothers grew up with some major father issues that probably resulted in their kind of codependent (dysfunctional), intense relationships. The big brothers are the badass, protective ones whereas the younger ones appear to be more sensitive emo and angsty. This is probably just the usual stereotype but it's interesting that none of them are portrayed as competing enemies. These three set of brothers can't really function without their siblings and would take a bullet for each other.
For a spot on and hilarious comparison between the Petrelli brothers from Heroes and Sam and Dean have a look at this fan art (you have to scroll down a bit). The affinity for hoodies cracks me up because it's so true! Even Michael from Prison Break is a hoodie lover.
Now, I'm really wondering if this can be a coincidence. Is there a (strategical) purpose that all those three major shows center more or less on a pair of brothers? What kind of audience do they want to appeal to? Brothers? Men? Men with brother/father issues? Women? Are there any shows that center on a pair of sisters? Would those shows work if they were friends instead of brothers?
What do you think? What is their appeal?
Peter and Nathan Petrelli from Heroes
Sam and Dean Winchester
Lincoln and Michael from Prison Break
Looks like the "knee pose" is a recurrent theme as well... ;)