Recently, when I gushed about Castle (which I’m still loving – I haven’t been this obsessed with a show in a long while), I noted that while I prefer strong protagonists in books, I love ensemble casts in TV shows. Ever since then, I’ve been wondering why – and eventually I came up with two reasons.
One has to do with the nature of both media. Books, by definition, are a solitary experience. I know books grew out of a long tradition of oral history (and I grew up listening to my parents read aloud), but when I read now, I’m usually curled up on the couch or standing on the T, or I’ve retreated to a cafe or a park bench, seeking a little solitude in the midst of the madding crowd. My favorite protagonists’ voices (I prefer first person or third-person limited) pull you into their heads, their hearts, their worlds. I like to feel like it’s just me and them.
But TV shows – especially my favorite ones – are meant to be watched together. Television is a communal medium for a communal world – we’re all about connecting, or at least we claim we are, and we do love to huddle around the TV set and laugh or cry or gasp in amazement together. When I watch TV it’s nearly always with someone else – usually my husband – and the company enhances the experience. And lines from my favorite shows become part of my vernacular with my friends who love them too. (We have a growing list of favorite Castle lines at our house, and it’s actually embarrassing how often my husband and I quote Friends.)
The second reason is this: I sort of envision my life as a TV show with an ensemble cast – with co-stars, sitcom moments and even a soundtrack. (Please tell me you do this too. I can’t be the only geek here.) As much as I love the solitary, immersive experiences of my favorite books, my life doesn’t always look like that. I am the leading lady in my own story, of course, but I share the stage with an ensemble cast: my husband, my dear friends, my co-workers, my family – and a whole lot of extras.
In some ways, ironically, my Boston life can feel more solitary than communal: our friends here are scattered across the city, and our other dear ones live much farther away. My social circles are much smaller, and I no longer have an equivalent of Monica and Rachel’s apartment (which I had in college at a place we called House 9), or Monica and Chandler’s place (which I had in my post-college Abilene life, at Nate and Abi’s house). But my life still has an ensemble cast – and since moving cross-country, I cherish my “co-stars” more than ever.
Do you prefer strong protagonists or ensemble casts – in TV, books or other media? And the kicker: why?
cakes, tea and dreams 
I love a good ensemble cast in a tv show. I think it makes the show more dynamic. Also, I frequently think of my life like a tv show, and one of the recent recurring jokes among my grad school cohort revolves around my friend Sarah’s “plan” for an English grad school sitcom. We frequently identify elements of our experience that “should be in the show.” I’m pushing for a 90s style laugh track, because I wish I had one of those in my real life. That way, people would always know when I’m being funny. 🙂
Hm, I’d never thought about it in so many words – but I like ensemble tv shows for many of the reasons you list. (and I love Castle!)
My favorite books are the ones with a strong protagonist and an ensemble cast — like Mankell’s Wallender and his team of detectives or Anne Shirley and her cadre of friends.
I like it just as you do – ensemble on tv, sole protagonist in books. Typically I prefer the solo style in movies as well (The Oceans movies being a glaring exception as I adore them). Here’s my attempt to explain it. What I love about books and movies is the story. I want a whole story – beginning, middle, end – and that’s so much more powerful when it’s all happening to one hero. But in tv, I want to come back again and again and find people I want to hang with. If the overall story is too obvious in tv (this person is supposed to get with that person, etc) then the obstacles become cliche and it just annoys me that they’re drawing it out. Plus, the visual aspect – I think we can easily relate to a book character forever, using our imagination to make them what we want them to be. But when it’s an actual actor, we might need more variety – sometimes seeing ourselves in this character, sometimes that one.
And that’s my attempt. 🙂
Oh yeah, I totally have a soundtrack going in my head almost at all times. It changes depending on who I’m talking to, the weather, my pace, etc. We can be dorks together.
Nothing like a great ensemble cast. All of my most favorite shows feature it.
(LOST, FNL, Cosby Show, Firefly, The Office, Community– even Chuck, sort of.) 🙂 Love it!
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