The Age of the Antihero in Contemporary American TV Dramas

Abstract

Over the past two decades, we have seen a surge of antiheroes in American TV dramas. Ranging from Tony Soprano to Dexter Morgan, from Piper Chapman to Claire Underwood, the antiheroes are morally, ethically, and often legally problematic figures to say the least. Despite their controversies, it seems they replaced the imaginary position of the more traditional heroes in TV with the allure of the dark side. Why do people love the antiheroes, the people with flaws and mixed morals? What do they represent as a whole? This paper analyzes the rise of the antihero in contemporary American TV dramas from multiple perspectives. It argues that the antiheroes are not only a result of the rapidly changing society but also of the advent of the post-network era. The antiheroes in popular TV shows, such as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Wire, Dexter, to name a few, basically represent the contemporary societal changes and politico-economic crises which challenge and even deconstruct the existing values systems. In doing so, they often embody highly critical views on the contemporary world. However, they are also an essential part of the radically transformed American TV industry, in which complicated characters as well as complex narratives could flourish so successfully. Simply put, the rise of the antihero was necessary for the evolution and global expansion of the American TV industry. In conclusion, this paper argues that, to understand the rise of the antihero and the impact it could have, these two sides behind the rise of the antihero have to receive due consideration.