Are TV shows becoming too politically correct? (expect SPOILERS)

Forums › Off topic › Are TV shows becoming too politically correct? (expect SPOILERS)

1 | 2 | 3

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#2614766 2-Dec-2020 13:42

ShinyChrome:

To be honest, I'd actually be more interested to hear from people that were previously marginalized about how they feel about representation; do these characters actually resound with them, or are they still just mostly lazy card-board cut-outs of tired clichés and stereotypes?

Those are opinions I'd like to hear as well. I would have thought there's a good chance a lot of it is white male writers trying to be more diverse and failing at it, but I'm not someone who can judge that.

SpartanVXL

1307 posts

Uber Geek

#2614772 2-Dec-2020 13:59

As probably outlined already, there is a middle ground for all of this that should be followed to not tip the balance into unsubtle territory.

As examples go:

Miles Morales in the more recent Spiderman media, great character. Has his own story, fits in to the universe in his own way and has interactions with Peter Parker without ‘replacing’ him.

On the other side which gets into controversial side, the actress for Triss Merigold in The Witcher netflix series didn’t really fit the bill. Nothing against acting ability at all (which is a seperate discussion) but when multiple books and more recently the game series paint her (and other characters in the universe) as being european-based background it really does make it feel out of place. Game of Thrones would have had a similar issue but managed to avoid it to an extent and still be widely popular.

You can understand that underrepresentation is an issue, but also that shoehorning it in to content doesn’t really solve it. It just ends up annoying a decent amount of fans from both sides while possibly only appealing to a minority of those who only care about the issue rather than the content it’s affecting.

openmedia

3325 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2614773 2-Dec-2020 14:07

richms:

The only one I can think of ruined by that recently is doctor who, but I dont really watch too much TV anyway because its all padded out BS and takes time away from gaming.

And yet my Daughter who was already a Dr Who fan really loves the current direction and feels it is a lot more inclusive.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

openmedia

3325 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2614774 2-Dec-2020 14:09

Try watching "I May Destroy You" which is one of the most stunning dramas of 2020. If it doesn't resonate with you then perhaps consider how diverse your own life experiences have been.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

nzbsgfan

146 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2614781 2-Dec-2020 14:23

openmedia:

richms:

The only one I can think of ruined by that recently is doctor who, but I dont really watch too much TV anyway because its all padded out BS and takes time away from gaming.

And yet my Daughter who was already a Dr Who fan really loves the current direction and feels it is a lot more inclusive.

Just an opinion as an individual.

I suspect one persons inclusivity is another persons indoctrination.

As long as a character is well written people will accept it without comment. The issue with Doctor Who (of late) is that their characters are manipulated into situations which are more about pushing an agenda than a storyline.

Doctor Who's fanbase has taken a huge hit with fans as a result - the writers only have themselves (and their virtue signaling) to blame. Its a real shame - as I was looking forward to the new doctors character arc.

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#2614804 2-Dec-2020 15:09

nzbsgfan:

The issue with Doctor Who (of late) is that their characters are manipulated into situations which are more about pushing an agenda than a storyline.

Doctor Who's fanbase has taken a huge hit with fans as a result - the writers only have themselves (and their virtue signaling) to blame. Its a real shame - as I was looking forward to the new doctors character arc.

I was a lifelong Doctor Who fan, but couldn't get through season 11. Is season 12 just as bad?

openmedia

3325 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2614849 2-Dec-2020 16:17

nzbsgfan:

Just an opinion as an individual.

I suspect one persons inclusivity is another persons indoctrination.

As long as a character is well written people will accept it without comment. The issue with Doctor Who (of late) is that their characters are manipulated into situations which are more about pushing an agenda than a storyline.

Doctor Who's fanbase has taken a huge hit with fans as a result - the writers only have themselves (and their virtue signaling) to blame. Its a real shame - as I was looking forward to the new doctors character arc.

My friends in the UK who are hardcore Dr Who fans won't watch any of the modern Dr Who. Personally I've loved all of the modern series, and Jodie is really starting to hit her stride in the role.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

rugrat

3107 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2614869 2-Dec-2020 16:32

I didn’t like the character Bradley Walsh played in Doctor Who. Watched a few episodes before gave up on it.

I watch something for enjoyment, if not enjoying will stop watching. If they’re writing story to preach something, like plastic is bad for the environment, I’m not watching for that reason, watching to be entertained.

Fine if fits the story, but if the story is written for the purpose of preaching it’s not going to be as immersive.

nzbsgfan

146 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2614873 2-Dec-2020 16:41

Paul1977:
nzbsgfan:

The issue with Doctor Who (of late) is that their characters are manipulated into situations which are more about pushing an agenda than a storyline.

Doctor Who's fanbase has taken a huge hit with fans as a result - the writers only have themselves (and their virtue signaling) to blame. Its a real shame - as I was looking forward to the new doctors character arc.

I was a lifelong Doctor Who fan, but couldn't get through season 11. Is season 12 just as bad?

Worse in my opinion.

WARNING SPOILERS BELOW ——

They completely undid the lore of the Time Lords but saying that they gained their regeneration power from killing a young girl (the doctor) over and over to discover how the regeneration occurred.

By doing this Hartnel was no longer the 1st Doctor etc.

It’s a mess now. I will no longer watch it until the current writers are retired.

Just terrible

Basil12

110 posts

Master Geek

#2614889 2-Dec-2020 17:24

openmedia:

richms:

The only one I can think of ruined by that recently is doctor who, but I dont really watch too much TV anyway because its all padded out BS and takes time away from gaming.

And yet my Daughter who was already a Dr Who fan really loves the current direction and feels it is a lot more inclusive.

I have two teenage daughters who are the opposite. They watch it for pleasure rather than measuring inclusiveness and stopped shortly after doctor number 12 moved on. They dislike the doctor being a woman, the stories, the new music and the new Tardis so they live in the land of doctors nine through to twelve.

Older daughter also remarked how one of the characters in the Percy Jackson films shouldn't be black (as he wasn't in the books).

chewster

127 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#2614896 2-Dec-2020 17:41

I feel like older movies like Alien or Terminator actually did a better job at being inclusive with female leads. They wrote a script to stand on it's own two legs without an agenda, the casting selection criteria I imagine was different and the end result it just better and more real.

If my post helped you, consider my referrals (: Sharesies $5 referral code, Skinny 4GB buddy code, Contact Energy $100 promo code

alasta

6704 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2614915 2-Dec-2020 19:23

I am a right wing conservative redneck middle aged white man, and I have to say that I haven't really noticed any political correctness on TV.

Handle9

11390 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2615116 2-Dec-2020 21:21

Fred99:

Paul1977:

No doubt, and I think that's a good thing. But, as I said in the initial post, I feel like it's swung too far in the other direction.

I don't like that expression. It's so often used to criticise policies and actions that are intended to end abuse of human rights and freedom from discrimination.

PC gone mad is the other one. It's usually used as an excuse for behaving like an A-hole.

Lias

5589 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2615459 3-Dec-2020 11:08

I'm someone who's unashamedly politically incorrect and at least a bit redneck and honestly it doesn't really worry me. The representation does feel a bit forced sometimes (e.g. it's very convenient that so many small groups of <cops/firefighters/soldiers/lawyers/adventurers/whatever> always have 1 strong black person, 1 LBGTI+ person, etc), but I get the reason for it and I like to hope that eventually TV portrayals of the various groups will be normalized enough that groups of characters can just organically 'be' without ticking boxes.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

Zigg

387 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2615481 3-Dec-2020 11:47

Yep... It's goofy as, but I love the S.W.A.T reboot TV series.

It's got a diversity checklist for sure! Asian guy - check, African-American boss - check, Crusty old white dude - check, female - check, who happened to get in a relationship with a M/F couple at the same time.

1 | 2 | 3