annundriel | The Middleman (Reply)

The Middleman: Follows the Bechdel Rule so well that it was the reason we began talking about the rule here at NPR. Mind-boggling: It's science fiction — that traditional fortress of geek-maledom — but the character we identify with is a young woman. (And an artist.) She talks to her roommate about art events, vegan protests and their mothers; they're concerned with politics and creativity as well as boyfriends. "I know that the hot show on ABC Family right now is The Secret Life of the American Teenager," says NPR editor Sara Sarasohn, "but if my daughter were a teenager, I'd be making her watch The Middleman every week." Bonus: By default it follows the Morales Rule, because Natalie Morales plays the lead.

The 'Bechdel Rule,' Defining Pop-Culture Character

Interesting read.

The Bechdel Rule:
Any movie or TV show must have:
1. At least two female characters, who ...
2. talk to each other about...
3. something besides a man.

The Deggans Rule:
1. At least two nonwhite characters in the main cast ...
2. in a show that's not about race.

The Morales Rule:
1. Nobody calls anybody Papi.
2. No dancing to salsa music.
3. No gratuitous Spanish.

The Middleman is one of my favorite new shows this year. It's quirky and odd, fast-paced in dialogue (how they get their lines out in one breath is beyond me) and action, clever and witty. I love Wendy Watson and the Middleman. And Lacey and Noser and Tyler and Ida. Everyone in the cast is amazing.

It's also full of pop culture references. Last week's episode "The Clotharian Contamination Protocol" was filled with old school Doctor Who.

And the Middleman doesn't believe in swearing, which means he comes up with other things. Like, "Gobsmackit!" and "Grapes of Wrath!" It amuses me a lot.

The season finale, "The Palindrome Reveral Palindrome," was last night. I am really hoping they bring it back for another season, but they probably won't. Which is sad, because there's just so much in it to love.