#dean and johnny have a lot of good moments of emotional vulnerability but unfortunately they're always forced to regress

[keen-eye]

something something great premise, bad writing…failure to adapt with the times…writers (white men) projecting their biases and fantasies and showing clear favoritism between 2 main characters…fans following suit…*

narrative not holding aggro “manly” man accountable for his actions…shut up, i’m right, screw you, get punched…but he had a shitty childhood…self-destructive, makes it everyone else’s problem…badass all american guy with a cool car, bitches, burgers, beer, and rock ‘n’ roll, baby…makes sexist and racist remarks, but he’s just a goofy guy…unbridled violence and refusal to mature are excused because he's an Action Hero…stuck in the 80s toxic masculinity mentality…apologizes, maybe means it, doesn’t change…alcoholism is hilarious…don’t let him around children…

less masculine man treated as a scapegoat...why is he whiny and annoying…giving but called entitled and selfish…stuck-up stick in the mud…polite, eats healthy food, likes a clean space, and knows how the internet works, ugh…samantha, danielle…don’t be a bitch/pussy about it…get emasculated, nerd…abused as well but learns to forgive…internalizes his rage and tries to be gentle…compassionate and sees the good in people…emotional intelligence, let’s talk this through…given female character treatment...held to a higher standard, judged more harshly...comfortable in his sexuality…vilified for holding justifiable resentment towards macho man…hate for character carries over to actor

oh and the homoerotic subtext (they break up every other episode)

*i recognize that this is exaggerated and doesn’t delve into the nuances of the characters. none of them are perfect