Netflix's recent obsession with terrible people

[JMick]

Does anyone feel like netflix has had some sort of weird recent obsession with shows about awful people?

I tried to watch Girlboss. Main character is an awful person

I watched all of Friends from College. Once again, they were all terrible people.

Now I finished half an episode of Gypsy and stopped because once again, the lead was an awful person.

None of the characters are anything but bad people. It's not like they're Walter White where they are bad people with a reason to be bad. They're not trying to save anybody and they're not martyrs. They're all just repulsive selfish people with no backstory and no cause. I'm usually a fan of Netflix original content but this has been a brutal stretch.

 

[superjohn]

Does anyone feel like netflix has had some sort of weird recent obsession with shows about awful people?

I tried to watch Girlboss. Main character is an awful person

I watched all of Friends from College. Once again, they were all terrible people.

Now I finished half an episode of Gypsy and stopped because once again, the lead was an awful person.

None of the characters are anything but bad people. It's not like they're Walter White where they are bad people with a reason to be bad. They're not trying to save anybody and they're not martyrs. They're all just repulsive selfish people with no backstory and no cause. I'm usually a fan of Netflix original content but this has been a brutal stretch.

Ozark is pretty good so far.

 

[JMick]

Ozark is pretty good so far.

I watched the first episode and am getting the same feeling unfortunately. It's been received well so I'll probably give it a full chance but my hopes aren't too high.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

You can tell just by looking at the image and reading the title "Friends from College" exactly what that is going to be. They want you to think it's funny but it's going to be boring and awkward and stupid.

 

[CTMike]

I'd argue it's not just Netflix... terrible people make for great TV (Sopranos, Breaking Bad). But obviously it's not easy to do it "right".

 

[intlzncster]

Does anyone feel like netflix has had some sort of weird recent obsession with shows about awful people?

I tried to watch Girlboss. Main character is an awful person

I watched all of Friends from College. Once again, they were all terrible people.

Now I finished half an episode of Gypsy and stopped because once again, the lead was an awful person.

None of the characters are anything but bad people. It's not like they're Walter White where they are bad people with a reason to be bad. They're not trying to save anybody and they're not martyrs. They're all just repulsive selfish people with no backstory and no cause. I'm usually a fan of Netflix original content but this has been a brutal stretch.

Because people like watching terrible people. Ostensibly because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Why do you think people watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Shahs of Sunset, whatever Housewives or any other of that ilk? I've got housemates who love these shows. I try to avoid religiously, but can't escape to far corners of the house fast enough.

 

[intlzncster]

Alternatively, some of the best shows are a collection of terrible people. Bloodlines comes to mind.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

How has no one talked about Always Sunny!?

 

[JMick]

Alternatively, some of the best shows are a collection of terrible people. Bloodlines comes to mind.

It's more about the motivation. Their recent shows are terrible people for the sake of being terrible. There is no compelling story of why they're bad people or how they became bad people. And they're not embracing being bad. It's just some miserable person trying to make everyone else miserable too.

 

[JMick]

How has no one talked about Always Sunny!?

Always sunny embraces it, which is why it is so good. There are no qualms about them being awful people.

The shows I mentioned want you to root for the bad guy without giving you a reason to do so

 

[superjohn]

It's more about the motivation. Their recent shows are terrible people for the sake of being terrible. There is no compelling story of why they're bad people or how they became bad people. And they're not embracing being bad. It's just some miserable person trying to make everyone else miserable too.

You hang out on the cesspool all the time, the entire place is crawling with horrible human beings.

 

[JMick]

You hang out on the cesspool all the time, the entire place is crawling with horrible human beings.

The characters, storylines and creativity on the cesspool blow these shows away.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Always sunny embraces it, which is why it is so good. There are no qualms about them being awful people.

The shows I mentioned want you to root for the bad guy without giving you a reason to do so

Ah I see what you're saying

 

[intlzncster]

Always sunny embraces it, which is why it is so good. There are no qualms about them being awful people.

The shows I mentioned want you to root for the bad guy without giving you a reason to do so

The anti-hero concept. Executed poorly. You are essentially decrying bad writing and directing then.

 

[JMick]

The anti-hero concept. Executed poorly. You are essentially decrying bad writing and directing then.

Yes, with three shows almost back-to-back-to-back