Unreality Tv

5/13/2012

Crime Fighters II - Dexter

This show was recommended to me so many times that I felt compelled to watch it. Now I have to be honest. I don't think I even reached the middle of the second season and it was such a disappointment to me. So, if you are a huge fan of Dexter, you might reconsider reading this post. Otherwise, enjoy!

As always, here are some basics about the show itself. It debuted on 1, October, 2006 on CBS and as of now, it was renewed for a seventh season. It is an adaptation of a book series written by Jeff Lindsay which first piece was titled as The Darkly Dreaming Dexter. While for me the storyline itself was alluring enough to watch, it left me with conflicting feelings.

During the day, Dexter Morgan is a jovial employee in the Miami Metropolitan Police Department's crime lab, but his meticulously crafted life masks his true nature. In reality Dexter is a disciplined and murderous psychopath (a self-admitted "monster"), and he slakes his blood lust at night by carefully killing the serial killers he tracks down during the day. Based on the novels (Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter and Dexter in the Dark) by Jeff Lindsay. imdb.com

Thus, we have a serial killer/crime fighter in one person. While the thought is not that original, the realization of it certainly is. Dexter is the antihero, he is doing a "good thing" to prevent himself from committing "bad things" - he feels compelled to kill and instead of killing in a random manner, his, let's say attention, is solely focused on criminals.

However, he can be kind. He is gentle with children, protective and loyal to his sister and his partner, and he has friends. On the other hand, he is a self-diagnosed sociopath, which, in his case means that he "suffers from" (a paradoxical term in Dexter's case as he enjoys the disorder that his mind is) antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy. Self-diagnose, because while some people suspected that something was wrong with him, he still managed to deceive everyone, including the Miami Police Department he works for as a bloodstain pattern analyst, and he had never been hospitalized because of his... little problems. Or put behind bars, whichever one would prefer.

That was as far as I got with the show. When I learned that he got married and reproduced, I decided against ever continuing to follow the series. A person, who is incapable of feelings such as love, empathy, and kindness turns into a family man while happily keeps on committing brutal murders at night. A police department that has no idea that their wanted serial killer is right under their nose. A sister, who is also a cop, unable to see what her brother really is. A cop father that accepts a psychopathic son and teaches him how to commit the so far impossible perfect crime. Unreal much? I do not even want to go into more details.

Thus, for one who is as interested in psychology as I am, this show is an insult. While I admit it is somewhat entertaining, the message and the portrayal are nothing but nonsense. However, for those who do not care for any of these facts in the face of a blood-promising forty minutes, good bye common sense, welcome Dexter.

5/06/2012

Crime Fighters I - Criminal Minds

Oh, my. Before I do anything, I have to state that this show is one of my all time favorites. I do believe that it brought something new and unique into the genre with its focus on giving insight into the minds of serial killers instead of concentrating on the crimes themselves.

An elite squad of FBI profilers analyzes the country's most-twisted criminal minds, anticipating the perpetrators' next moves before they can strike again. Each member of the "mind hunter" team brings his or her expertise to the table to pinpoint predators' motivations and identify emotional triggers in order to stop them. Tv.MSN.com

Criminal Minds is a police procedural television program which is produce by the Mark Gordon Company, an associate of CBS Television Studios and ABC Studios. The show had first aired on September 21, 2005 on CBS and due to its popularity and huge fan base, they even created a spin-off from it, titled as Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. Though the spin-off was canceled only after thirteen episodes as it failed to live up to expectations, the original series is still very much on air and has been renewed for an eighth season.

The profilers in Criminal Minds are based on real profilers, as the creators of the show often consult with the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit. Their purpose is to create an accurate profile which helps the local law enforcement in catching serial offenders after dissecting the crimes and the crime scenes, looking through the victimology, and analyzing the criminal's MO (modus operandi) .

Every person has his/her own fingerprint; similarly every serial killer has its distinct signature, which, for these trained agents, is as important as the fingerprint itself - they can even distinguish between serial offenders and their copycats.

So far, we can establish the Criminal Minds was based on real facts. However, after I finished this first part of my research, I started to wonder about the characters themselves: are they realistic enough to represent real FBI agents. My question was: could these seven people realistically represent profilers?

While I am not a psychologist and I have never taken any course on behavior analysis during my university years, I like to think that I can pinpoint whether a certain character from a book could be placed in real life. For example, even though I loved the Harry Potter series, I think J.K. Rowling failed to see that if a child goes through neglect and abuse from birth then constantly experiences one trauma after another, he would not become a hero just to live his happily ever after. He would turn into an outsider, a recluse, or worse, a psychopath, and more than possibly, a criminal.

However, I truly think that the characters in Criminal Minds are realistic and lifelike. While they remain highly proficient and professional, it is clear that they are humans above all else; therefore, they make mistakes and experience intense emotions associated both with their work and their personal lives. I cannot, but declare that the writers were spot on. It is no wonder I love this show so much.

Finally, I have to mention the one thing I found really unrealistic. And it is of course the horrifyingly high rates of crimes in the US. I thought that the situation must not be as bad as it is depicted in the show - as in if a serial killer set his/her eyes upon you, you are dead no matter what, of course, except if the BAU has your back. However, I am aware, just like anybody else, that the government, the FBI and other departments of the US law enforcement sweep many of the crimes under the rug each year to avoid mass panic and paranoia. Therefore, I conducted my own research and I found this article among the many that speculates on serial killers and the number of possible murders.

Serial killers may be responsible for up to 10 times as many U.S. deaths as previously estimated, according to an analysis by a criminologist at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Kenna Quinet, associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI, makes the case for the higher death figures in an article titled, "The Missing Missing: Toward a Quantification of Serial Murder Victimization in the United States." It was published recently in the journal Homicide Studies. newswise.com

She also estimates, that as there is no reliable data on those who live on the peripheries of society, such as prostitutes, run-aways, and the homeless, there is no real way to know the actual number on how many of them had fallen victims to serial killers. That said, she made an estimate. And the estimate is bad.

Recent academic estimates of the average number of serial killer victims each year range from 67 to 180. Quinet's analysis, based on conservative extrapolations from existing data, would add at least 182 and possibly as many 1,832 victims.

Where I expected to find unrealistic portrayal, I found disconcerting data on uncertain numbers. This post started out as a great fun to me and now I feel that the results of my own research left me breathless with possibilities. Criminal Minds is turning out to be far too real at this point. To me, only one question remains unanswered: how many?

4/11/2012

Still More to Come...

The next couple of posts are going to shed light on Crime Fighters - real and unreal ones.The three shows I've chosen are the following.

Criminal Minds - a truly thrilling and frightening series that makes ones hair stand on end

Bones - a once quite original show which turned into something of a boring and languid love story

Dexter - and last but not least a series that started out as unique but turned into ridiculous

Through these series, I'll try to show the difference between US law enforcement and the unrealistic portrayal we see in the TV. Until then, check out these three, you might find them to your liking.

3/28/2012

New York, New York III - Sex and the City (1998-2004)

And last, but not least in the New York, New York posts... As I write these lines, the opening tune of the epic series, Sex and the City, is echoing in my ears. Who doesn't remember the infamous quartet? Four women in their thirties, sometimes going single, sometimes attached to someone, while again, sometimes, their relationship status rather undecided. If they had Facebook profiles back then, theirs would scream: it's complicated.

The series was created by Darren Star in 1998. The show, adapted from a book by the same name (written by Candace Bushnell) had a very successful 6 year run on HBO. The intricate story-line was narrated by the main protagonist, journalist Carrie Bradshaw, and it explored her and her friends love- and sex-lives- or their lack thereof.

A sensuous and ironic sitcom about four young, desirable, virtually inseparable New York bachelorettes who lead and confide in each-other their ever changing and confusing sex lives, as different as their natures. Carrie Bradshaw is a charming petite columnist, and often the narrator of the story, either writing her copy or off screen, constantly tossing up and rejecting different views on just about anything that does or might impact modern women's sex lives; she tries almost everything, is constantly disappointed, but always seems to return to a certain Mr. Big. Miranda Hobbes is a red-hair lawyer determined to score professionally and to be tough in love to, yet her only faithful lover is an insecure nerd. Charlotte York is a gallery-managing wasp from a prestigious, super-rich family, with high old-fashioned moral standards for her lovable but insecure self but unfortunately almost impossible to live up to for any lover... imdb.com

Surprisingly, the show is not only (more or less) accurate about the relationship between men and women, single life, and dating, but on American, more specifically, on New Yorkian culture as well. The show starts off in the 90s with its horrendous dresses and hairstyles, and it gradually leads the audience into the21th century.

The diversity of New York's culture is beautifully depicted in the series. From museums, through restaurants, till nightclubs, the portrayal of New York is on the spot. It also doesn't fail to criticize the craziness of the traffic and the hectic lives of the people living there and it also disillusions the non-New-Yorkers about the city's, shall we say, darker aspects, such as the dirt, the summer heat, and the muggers. And men in various age groups, of course. While in the series the Big Apple is every bit as glamorous as its supposed to be, no one and nothing can be perfect. The series is clear about it, although, it is clearly pro-New York. And anyway, why wouldn't it be?

The only culturally shady part is how someone like Carrie Bradshaw can afford all those highly expensive shoes and dresses. Well, nothing can be perfect. This mistake can be forgiven, if I say so myself., if for nothing else, but for our aesthetic sentiments.

To those, who are interested in seeing the sights our four heroins had frequented, here is a little help. While the show has been finished for nearly a decade - although, it still airs frequently on many channels in and outside of the US - one can still enjoy the fun Sex and the City has to offer.

3/13/2012

New York, New York, II - How I Met Your Mother

"Have you met Ted?" Well, If you are an avid HIMYM fan, then you certainly cracked a smile on this typical Barney Stinson phrase. However, for those, who are not such experts on the show, here is a plot summary which might entice you to follow the lives and adventures of the five friends:

How I Met Your Mother is a comedy about Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he fell in love. It all starts when Ted's best friend, Marshall (Jason Segel), drops the bombshell that he's going to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Lily (Alyson Hannigan), a kindergarten teacher. At that moment, Ted realizes that he had better get a move on if he too hopes to find true love. Helping him in his quest is Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), a friend with endless, sometimes outrageous opinions, a penchant for suits and a foolproof way to meet women. When Ted meets Robin (Cobie Smulders), he's sure it's love at first sight, but destiny may have something else in store. The series is narrated through flashbacks from the future, voiced by Bob Saget. (tv.com)

The series was created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS and out of the 154 episodes, 144 was directed by Pamela Fryman. Fryman, who is praised to the skies by the whole cast and crew, seems to know the receipt for success. And where else should she bring forth this useful bit of knowledge, than from her past experience with directing Friends?

Ingredients for making a popular sitcom:

Who's missing?

Which only leaves Phoebe, but she already had her doppelgänger in Friends, who was none other then her own twin sister, Ursula.

Success? Check. Fans? Check. Another season? Most probably check - though, god help those two poor kids, listening to their father's rambling for seven years straight. Reality check? It seems that the not so original (however entertaining it is) plot brought the same problems into the scenes of HIMYM then into the Friends'.

Our five pals do not seem to know the meaning of the word schedule - just as in Friends, these guys have an endless amount of free-time, which they mostly spend in a pub called McLaren's, while occasionally they venture into strip-bars and clubs. Out of the five mates, three of them (Marshall, Robin, and Ted) had been unemployed for a time, and while the show hints about money problems here and there, the matter of regular income (or lack thereof) never plays an important role in the lives of our heroes.

What struck me, though - and here I can mention Friends again as these two shows seems to be estranged twins with nearly a decade of an age gap between them - is the strange social etiquette so readily accepted on the screen. The idea of living a mostly carefree life - as the biggest problem there is to find the one - while having several best buddies and sharing a common close bond is indeed alluring. Who wouldn't love to share such hilarious adventures? OK, maybe not with the kids... But the idea - the ideal - is the dream of many. Yet, who wouldn't want some privacy? I cannot imagine that any friend of mine would barge into my apartment without so much as a by your leave. Nor can the Americans; knock, call, shout - it doesn't matter, one must communicate one's intention to enter someone else's room, no matter how close a friend he or she might be. Furthermore, being best friends are one thing, but in real life, five thirty-something guys would drive each other crazy if they constantly hung out with each other. Privacy, pals, privacy!

To sum up, How I Met Your Mother and Friends are much similar in many aspects. They share not only the same success (and don't forget about director Fryman) but the same flaws as well. While they may not be very educational to non-natives about the American reality and the New Yorkian lifestyle, they will continue to occupy a part of our hearts with their ability to brighten up the dull weekdays. Until the next post, forget about the boring facts and enjoy the fiction!

2/28/2012

To Get You in the Mood

While the in-debt analyses of How I Met Your Mother won't be up till the end of the week, here is a little something to get you in the mood. This is my favorite episode of the whole series because its hilarious description of how people who are close to each are immune to the others' irritating habits until someone points them out. After, there is no cure, no vaccine - something once seen cannot be unseen. You just have to live with it.

Spoiler Alert

Marshall awaits his bar exam results; Ted introduces his latest girlfriend to the gang, who all see the flaw that Ted has missed. (tv.com)

2/26/2012

New York, New York, I - Friends (1994-2004)

There are only a few series which could be called epic as in a generation shaping way, but Friends is definitely on the list! The sitcom was created by David Crane and Martha Kauffman and it was aired on NBC between 1994 and 2004. For someone who was born in the 90s, it is hard to imagine that anyone could not know about this hilarious show; still, I will do the right thing and provide a link to the best summary I could find.

Friends - Opening Season 1

During its ten running years, Friends attracted 14,88-24,5 million viewers each season, making it the fourth most popular series in the history of American television. Fans all over the world tried to imitate the trend and style of the six friends while longing to have the same close ties and hilarious adventures. I myself dreamed of leading such a leisurely life as an adult; sitting in a coffee house like Central Perk (even though at that time I could not bear the thought of drinking that ‘vile drink’) during the day, laughing with my friends about our unbelievable shenanigans (I had one friend at the time and the most interesting happenings occurred in my daydreams) and eating all the junk food there was without feeling guilty, as the possibility of getting fat was zero (I was a chubby kid).

All in all, life portrayed in Friends seemed easy enough even with the complications the characters created for and by themselves and most people would have happily swapped places with them. The rays of reality only entered through when the laughter of people harshly intruded into ones sensitive fantasies or when the names of the cast and crew appeared at the end. Still, many thought that if life was like that in Manhattan, it is the place to go. I know, because I thought so, too. However, the laughter has long quieted and the harshness of the cruel world (American studies in ELTE) polarized my dreams. Here are some basic facts which will cast a completely new light on life in New York.

The 6 friends lived next to Central Park. Around 2000, the monthly income of the average Joe/Jane was approximately $2,666 a month ($32,000 a year) while the average apartment rent in the fancy Upper West Side of New York was around $2100. It is easy to conclude that living off of $600 a month is more than a bit problematic in such an expensive city. Considering that Joey was a struggling actor often without a job, he would have never been able to make a living in New York even with the constant loans from Chandler. The same goes for both Rachel (waitress) and Phoebe (masseuse). Furthermore, even the others, the luckier trio, Monica, Chandler, and Ross experienced bouts of hardships during their carriers. Though, most of the time they did appear to make a decent living, it was not very credibly portrayed since Ross was a university professor (said job comes with an average income) and Monica a chef. In 2011, New York was named the 32th most expensive city; one has to toughen up to live there!

Another small thing. Non-natives often think that Americans are lazy and have so much more free time than, for instance, Europeans. Wrooong! This misconception is also fed bed Friends in which the six characters’ lives are revolve around Central Perk, dating, and sitting at home. In reality, they would have been able to keep their jobs for a day only with this kind of attitude. Americans in comparison with Europeans take far less leave and do not even have a law for setting the maximum length of the work week. They often complain that they are the most overworked nation of the world.

In the light of these new facts, Friends can finally become what it really is – a fiction. Next week, I am going to take another popular sitcom under my scrutiny. The second post in New York, New York will explore behind the scenes of How I Met Your Mother.

Friends - Opening Season 10