Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

AnotherHiggins t1_jdy0jjs wrote

When I look back on enjoying 24 back in the day I feel guilty. All that, "but I've gotta torture this guy, y'all. I. Just. GOTTA." felt silly and over-the-top at first. But then it came out that the US was actually torturing people. And grown-ass politicians pointed to the scripted drama as an excuse for why we just HAD to do it. It would feel icky to go back and watch 24 now.

But a 24-like show that didn't take itself too seriously? That might provide enough distance to be able to enjoy it. I'll check it out.

Thanks, OP.

35

pragmatick t1_jdzf3o8 wrote

You are allowed to enjoy a show and even like a character without condoning his actions.

51

JohnTDouche t1_jdzj6yx wrote

Yeah but when the actions are justified by the show, condoned by the show and shown to be correct by the show. Feeling "icky" about it, isn't such a bad feeling to be having.

Then you start thinking about the real world and how people condoned and encouraged these type of actions to real people, often innocent people. How this show was intentionally or not, part of a propaganda campaign. People don't say the words "Guantanamo Bay" much any more but it's still there as far as I know and "icky" doesn't cover the half of it.

0

AnotherHiggins t1_je08n0q wrote

And don't forget Abu Ghraib. We were all complicit. And a concerning number of our fellow citizens were gleefully willing to be complicit.

(As for the term "icky," I'm prone to understatements.)

11

[deleted] t1_jdzhiu5 wrote

24 really didn't take itself too seriously. That's big part of why it was so enjoyable. It went batshit bonkers.

17

SuspendedInKarmaMama t1_jdzw0v5 wrote

Do you feel 'icky' reading Catcher in the Rye because of the death of John Lennon?

−5

AnotherHiggins t1_je09ruo wrote

No? Because that wasn't a central theme of the book that was, time and again, proven in the story to be justified and correct.

3