I’ve read a few scathing articles about Two and a Half Men and I disagree with the authors’ takes and have an alternative point-of-view to offer.
The obvious and common critique is that the show is glorified sexism. I don’t see it that way.
I began watching the show in re-runs a few years ago. Maybe once or twice a week I’ll tune in while eating dinner. It makes me laugh. It isn’t my favorite show, but it has its moments. The humor is dark and often comes from an uncomfortable place.
I grew up in Los Angeles and was an actress for about a decade. I had the good fortune of appearing on a national television show for seven years. I went to the Hollywood parties and am very familiar with “the scene.”
I’ve met the sleazy Hollywood types who only care about superficial beauty. I know the sexist men who collect young “beauties” just as they would collect awards for their creative endeavors. Men like Charlie [Sheen].
Charlie’s character is a sexist, male chauvinist pig who drinks too much, objectifies and has slept with many, many women. So, it’s easy to point a finger at him and the show and scream MISOGYNY!!!
Before I go on – I’m not advocating the show. I am not suggesting that you should like it or that you should watch it. I’m not saying feminists should embrace it. I understand if you hate it. I think Charlie Sheen is talented. I wish he didn’t take drugs and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’s a real-life sexist. But I digress…
The entire theme of Two and a Half Men is sexism. And more importantly, how pathetic Charlie Sheen’s character is. That is pointed out in almost every episode (that I have seen). Sure, he might get laid, but he didn’t win. Ever. He has money but his money doesn’t save him from his dysfunctional mother. It didn’t win him a healthy relationship or a positive self-image – in fact, one woman he really loved and wanted to marry left him. He isn’t a happy person. He’s selfish, insecure and scared and he drowns his probelms in alcohol. He has “mommy” issues, and for good reason. His mother is portrayed as an incredibly vain and selfish person. Both of her sons fight insecurity because of her poor parenting.
The whole point is that Charlie, the rich, sexist pig, didn’t win. He lost. In the series finale – which I have not seen – ******spoiler alert****** we learn that Charlie didn’t die. He was kidnapped by a woman and held captive in a pit in her basement. He breaks out and seeks revenge on anyone who went on with their lives without him. That isn’t “winning.” It’s creepy and really sad. But again, dark, humor.
I mentioned my Los Angeles experience because I can say that Charlie and his crazy family are not that exaggerated. People in L.A. can be incredibly materialistic, surface and detached from what small-town people experience. #NotAll. But many. And that was the focus of the show – a dig at those kinds of people.
I find it interesting that critiques of the series miss that point – in my estimation. The easy and lazy critique is that the show glorified sexism. It isn’t. It shows us all how pathetic a drunken sexist’s life can be – even when the drunken sexist is wealthy and can attract beautiful women.
Yes, some of the women featured on the show were not very bright and many were scantily clad, but the women Charlie fell for were smart and/or accomplished. He didn’t end up with any of them. He wound up a prisoner in a pit in a basement.
There was all kinds of drama behind the scenes, but that was a different show, and not at all uncommon for a successful series.
And the reason I write this piece is because I think the message of the show is more postitive than it is often given credit for – whether it was intended or not – that being a sexist pig isn’t a “winning” way to be.
For what it’s worth….
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