Posts tagged bromance

Why are so many mainstream shows where the main relationship involves two men they have to have misogynistic undertones in an effort to prove the main characters don’t have romantic feelings for each other?

Formula for typical mainstream show with ‘bromance’:

-Men have pretty healthy relationship but of course there has to be the jokes.
-One of both men happen to be in unsatisfying relationships with women or the woman pines endlessly after the man and he might still be sleeping with her/flirting with her but he rarely looks happy around her.
-Women have little to no screen time.
-The women that are liked or popular with fans or those whose main purpose is to endorse the main male relationship or happen to be interested in someone else.-
-Then when this get’s old which is around season three or four, some shows start this up in season two; the two male leads characters get little to no screen time with each other and the relationship grows stagnant.

I would like more male and female relationships without sexual attraction; women who actually have significant relationships with women; more female equivalent of the ‘bromance’, less bromances that last a season for ratings, less het couples resigned to UST hell forever, stop killing/destroying happy couples or any of relationships becaause don’t you know, HAPPINESS IS BORING. Meh….

I happen to watch quite a few shows who do all the above and all I can say is that I would enjoy them more and stick around longer than one season if writers just budged more on their rigid heteronormativity and gender roles. That isn’t too say that the story or characterization can’t justify what I was complaining about I would just like to see it treated properly and not some side-effect of baiting fans for ratings. I think a lot of it stems from lazy writing too.

Who so far is doing a lot right IMO:

Lewis

Haven

Person of Interest

Nikita

Fringe

Downton Abbey

Game of Thrones

**it physically hurts me that I had to remove NCIS LA from my list of shows that treat women awesome until they fix the potential mess that lies in Sam’s family life and Jada. The pattern of women in Sam’s life who are either dependents/people he feels responsible for and lies to, etc… is becoming uncomfortable and the show better fix this shit in season 4 because Sam up until 3x09 was so far removed from fixed gender roles it made my heart soar. Until now:(.**

**I know some people are taking breaks from Sherlock fandom and for the record I still love Sherlock but yeah their women are awesome but the men treat them like after thought and I hate it. Still love a lot about the show though.**

**I know I am missing a lot of shows that are doing a lot right but I have so much on my plate I haven’t had time for them.**