I don't follow this show, but yay for subtle racism :/
Fuck giving them chance after chance until they finally get it right, while people of color get demonized. (I love reading your reaction posts, BTW. It's interesting to see things from new percpectives.)
That's a really interesting point, and it made me wonder: are there any shows like that with a female protagonist in a similar vein?
I haven't seen Scandal - is that a show where the main character (female POC) has any of those qualities? Just from the trailers it looks like her job is to cover up for other people's mistakes but also that she keeps making some and keeps getting second chances? No idea since I haven't seen the show. I'm just not into gritty political thrillers these days since real life is kind of melding into that.
The whole 'character makes Terrible Decision(s), gets second chances' thing can really move into uncomfortable territory for me personally, as in real life I see people give all sorts of people second chances who have NOT earned them, who have not tried to ameliorate the offending behaviors in any permanent way, etc. etc. But in terms of narrative comparisons, the idea of putting another actor in their place and thinking about whether that's been done on TV, seems like an interesting thought exercise.
It's an interesting question. I haven't seen Scandal either, so I can't offer real commentary. Of course I know we excuse far more in white men than we do in anyone else, but I don't know that it's impossible for a WOC (or white woman or man of color) to slot into that kind of role. Screwing up and being forgiven are part of being a protagonist, especially these days, but there may or may not be differences in how it plays out.
And, yeah, a huge part of why I'm reacting so badly to this (almost certainly far more intensely than is truly rational) is because I'm super uncomfortable with the idea of endless second chances in this context. The idea that if you're just patience and have faith, toxic people will become not toxic through the power of your belief. Assholes aren't assholes because you haven't believed in them enough. They're assholes because they're assholes. (Of course people have reasons for bad behavior other than "just because," but the point is it isn't their victims' job to change them.)
Yeah, White Collar simply wouldn't have been conceived with a POC lead. Partly because, as you say, we make different allowances for white men, partly it's the American glamorization of white crime, and partly it's the fact Neal could not possibly get away with everything he does without the benefits of his race and gender. Remember in "Vital Signs," when Neal is breaking into the car, and a police officer catches him? Neal is able to spin so the cops actually help him break in. It's great moment, but imagine what would have happened if Jones had been there instead of Neal. Yeah, he would have been shot.
My viewing of this season is like swiss cheese, so I saw this week's but not last week's, so I missed the Big Evil Whatever, and only saw the aftermath. So it wasn't painful for me to watch this week as it seems to have been for you (except inasmuch as him being in pain was sucky).
Also I am just going to go ahead and assume that he isn't gone, because dude he survived the first time. Seems like the narratively appropriate thing would be for him to resurface and Save The Day with Carter somehow.
Juuuuuust saying. :)
But then again, like I said, I haven't been watching every ep so I could be way off base.
It's most likely that Wilkes isn't truly dead. As you say, narratively it wouldn't make much sense. But, you know, I would have sworn that they wouldn't have made him turn on Peggy, and I thought that I was seeing Thompson the way the writers intended me to, so clearly I know nothing.
Comments 9
Fuck giving them chance after chance until they finally get it right, while people of color get demonized.
(I love reading your reaction posts, BTW. It's interesting to see things from new percpectives.)
Reply
I haven't seen Scandal - is that a show where the main character (female POC) has any of those qualities? Just from the trailers it looks like her job is to cover up for other people's mistakes but also that she keeps making some and keeps getting second chances? No idea since I haven't seen the show. I'm just not into gritty political thrillers these days since real life is kind of melding into that.
The whole 'character makes Terrible Decision(s), gets second chances' thing can really move into uncomfortable territory for me personally, as in real life I see people give all sorts of people second chances who have NOT earned them, who have not tried to ameliorate the offending behaviors in any permanent way, etc. etc. But in terms of narrative comparisons, the idea of putting another actor in their place and thinking about whether that's been done on TV, seems like an interesting thought exercise.
Reply
And, yeah, a huge part of why I'm reacting so badly to this (almost certainly far more intensely than is truly rational) is because I'm super uncomfortable with the idea of endless second chances in this context. The idea that if you're just patience and have faith, toxic people will become not toxic through the power of your belief. Assholes aren't assholes because you haven't believed in them enough. They're assholes because they're assholes. (Of course people have reasons for bad behavior other than "just because," but the point is it isn't their victims' job to change them.)
Reply
(Thanks!)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Also I am just going to go ahead and assume that he isn't gone, because dude he survived the first time. Seems like the narratively appropriate thing would be for him to resurface and Save The Day with Carter somehow.
Juuuuuust saying. :)
But then again, like I said, I haven't been watching every ep so I could be way off base.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment