I don't "need" a character to empathize with in a show like Dexter as I think you're trying to infer.Adurentibus Spina wrote:I'm still trying to figure out why you want a character to empathize with.
It's something that works with most people on a subconcious level when reading a story, watching a movie, tv series etc. You 're involved in a story of some sort, you usually identify, empathize, maybe root for a character to get to some sort of resolution. I'm not talking about a need to model behavior or lifestyle after a character (well, unless you're a Tolkien, Star Wars or Star Trek nut), I'm simply talking about a character or characters that compel the viewer to have an interest in their story arc and resolution.
Clearly, there's some movies for example, many that are great works of their genre that really don't have any easy to empathize with characters, say The Sopranos for instance - all the main characters (were) crooks and murderers.... But a few may have some qualities that a viewer can relate, humor, authority ...whatever. That's a big part of what draws the viewer in and keeps them engaged especially in a long, ongoing series. Even a nihilistic movie like Clockwork Orange the viewer has some small sense of pity late in the movie for the otherwise reprehensible Alex. There's not too many movies that featured *no* redeemable characters that aren't unpleasant chores to watch ("Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer") or at the worst, depressing, exploitive ("AntiChrist," "Salo") exercises in self-degradation.
I'm not saying certain movies, books and other works of fiction that are primarily nihilistic, visceral gut punches don't have their place or qualify as art, it's just not what I normally look for in entertainment.