Why We Worship A**HOLE Characters (Rick & Morty, Breaking Bad, The Punisher) - Wisecrack Edition 

What I took away from Rick and Bojack is that when I find that I relate to these characters, they are not role models, but evidence that I have some emotional and psychological work to do. They are moral examples of the flaws in our own personalities that need to be recognized if we are to grow as people. I think it's alright to be entertained by a**holes, but if one feels a connection, it might be good to see that moment as an opportunity for reflection, as opposed to celebrating the flaws that create the connection.

I was thinking of House. He fits in perfectly with this description too.

This is also applicable to House, Sherlock, and Bojack Horseman.

Personally, the most important part about making us like characters who are jerks is self awareness. If the character is a douchbag and the story treats them like their not, then the audience will feel about him/her the same way they do about jerks in real life.

Personally I always believed that because we live such repressed lives we envy the asshole since, while miserable, they are for the most part free to do what they want.

I still remember to this day the two guys who left the cinema after "wolf of wall street" right in front of me and were talking about how great the main character was and they should do the same... smh

Wisecrack: You can't fight fate... Guts: Hold my beer.

"rick and morty, the punisher and breaking bad spoilers ahead" 11:11 major spoiler to game of thrones

9:19 That police department is seriously misunderstanding their role in society.

My take on the title before watching Cause we can live vicariously through someone that can disregard consequences

i feel like we all need to learn the difference between liking and empathizing with a character & idolising or defending them. you can love deeply flawed asshole characters (in fact the show is probably designed to that effect) but you can also acknowledge when they're being assholes ruining their own lives or other people. Nuance is also important. Being able to accept that grey areas of morality exist and realising that there arn't always Right and Wrong characters, only varying degrees of flawed and whether someone manages to overcome their faults or not

I was gonna say that yeah, it's pretty much the wish fulfillment to say "screw the rules, I do what I want" We related to Walter White because of a failed medical system, we relate to The Punisher because we're tired of seeing criminals get away with things, we relate to Rick because we want to go on adventures. But the issues with these characters is that they don't actually grant that wish fulfillment. Starting with Rick as that's the lowest hanging fruit, we would love to do what we want, when we want and if anyone tells us no, we flip them off without consequence and if they try to fight, blast them away with a laser and think nothing of it. Even if we could get away with whatever we wanted, the consequence would be loneliness as no one would put up with that for long, which is what comes from Morty and Jerry as they hate Rick's utter selfishness and disregard for those around him. And we do see that Rick is a lonely person, which is why he still hangs around his daughter's family, he doesn't need Morty anymore because the Galactic Federation is gone at the beginning of season 3, but still chooses to stay with his family when Beth chooses Jerry because he doesn't want to be alone. The Punisher's wish fulfillment fails because of who the Punisher goes after, most of the time, he goes after thugs, murderers, theives, drug dealers, essentially blue collar crime, occasionaly he goes after bigger targets like those in the mafia. But he never goes after white collar criminals, CEOs of big banks, pharmaceutical companies or companies that work their employees to death for minimum wage and abuse them like slaves, companies that break laws all the time, he doesn't go after the lawmakers that allow these companies to break these laws or who turn a blind eye to it, The Punisher isn't doing anything to change a broken justice system nor is he really doing anything to help it either. You'll never see the Punisher turn into a more violent version of Robin Hood, you won't see him track down a banker who is unlawfully foreclosing on someone's home and kicking them out into the street. Walter White is harder to pin down in this case, he's the easiest to empathize with early in the series because he wants to make sure his family is set for life after he dies, but as the show goes on, it gets harder to do that because his pride not only brings him down but destroys everyone else around him. Walter White is more of tragic hero than Rick or Frank, because he started in a high position before the series began only to be blinded by his pride and sold off his share of the company he made with his friend and ever since then it's been a reversal of fortune for Walter because his pride continues to work against him throughout the series. Rick Sanchez and Frank Castle aren't tragic heroes at all, their flaws don't cause the reversal of fortune, but the reversal of fortune is brought on by an outside force. Rick and Frank are what's considered a 90s anti-hero, where they do the things that the heroes won't do to achieve the same results but in a faster time because they break the law to do it. Walter White is the tragic hero because he evokes a sense of pity from the audience and you want to see him succeed, but eventually you just want to see him get what's coming to him as the series goes on.

I think part of the draw is the catharsis of seeing a character taken to hyperbolic levels. It's easy for a vet, or a genius, or someone wronged by the system to feel like an outcast, and it can be compelling to see a member of those groups finally refuse to back down. The problem is when this becomes the norm. Characters like Rick, Frank, and Walter, they're not supposed to be role models; they're supposed to be the cautionary tale of someone truly refusing to fight their character flaws, and become their own tragic apotheosis. I think we kinda lost track of that when these over the top characters became widespread instead of being outliers.

I think these characters just appeal to the animal within. The one that wants eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and the power to control the world around him whether the world likes it or not. I mean Rick definitely has that kind of control of the world, and of course it doesn't end up working out for him in the end, but most of the time he's free from any immediate consequences of being an asshole, stepping on people, and doing whatever he wants. There's a part of every one of us that wants to be that kind of person. It comes to the mental forefront whenever someone cuts you off in traffic and you fantasize about slashing his tire or keying the side of his car. Every time you've wanted to punish someone for a wrong you perceive to have suffered, its that part of your mind that takes hold. These characters are just a fantasy that appeals to that side of us. For the most part we know that we just can't go around stepping on people, or destroying that which we don't like, but we still wish we could. Fiction allows us to explore that without it being absolute mayhem in the real world.

For me, I always felt it was their freedom that drew me to them. They say and do whatever they damn-well please without fear or remorse. Archer (From Archer) and Bernard Black (From Black Books) are my two fictional idols; basically for this reason.

I generally chalked up our liking of asshole characters to two reasons: A) We find them more relatable than nice guys due to their deeply flawed nature mirroring our own. And B) Deep down, much as we do not want to admit it, some of us want to be assholes.

You could have added Bojack (especially considering his arc in season 5)

We worship them because deep down we all find them relatable in their struggles, despite their flaws. It's what makes them strangely simpathetic even if we do not want to admit it.

Because we’re all cynical, miserable and depressed. I’d love for a meta show to blow a hole in all that cynicism, because we desperately need it.

10:30- Reminds me of the world's greatest scene from a show: Vikings. A character speaks to a seer who can see the future: "You and your gods are wrong. You see, I guided my fate. I fashioned the course of my life and my death. Me. Not you. Not the gods. Me. It was my idea to come here to die. 'Your so-called' prophecies are dangerous. By telling her she would never have another child yet she got pregnant but then because of your words she put her unborn baby in danger, so what if she didn't hear your words? what if she thought it would have survived. She would have rested and protected it, and she would be the proud mother of a healthy child. You presented her a destiny, and she manifested it."

Not part of the notification squad. Just an early boi with no life.

The charcaters are portrayed in such a way that their actions are justified. The nilhilism of rick, the breaking bad crime mafia, etc. all protagonist are all humane because a person seeing it sees how this character makes his choice.

This was a really insightful and super enjoyable bit of commentary on some of our favourite characters! Thank you guys so much for the work you do! Please keep it up!

The problem is peoples' egos refusing to accept the idea that there's any room for self-improvement. If I'm an asshole and I identify with Rick, I'm going to to jump through as many hoops as it takes to avoid admitting there's anything wrong with him because that means admitting there's something wrong with ME. Dan Harmon isn't creating assholes; the assholes were there the whole time. Also, as much as I appreciate Wisecrack holding the world's audience to something resembling a standard, the sad fact is that a lot of people just have shit reading/watching comprehension and wouldn't recognize the point of a story if it gouged out their eyes and made them fuck their own mother.

Thanks for another great video. Another character that immediately came to mind when I read the title is Frank Gallagher from Shameless

Ngl kinda surprised you didn't once mention season 5 of Bojack Horseman, whose show not only has a main character that is a gigantic asshole (and whom the show creator has also expressed his shock at how many people related to him) but the entire season was about this subject matter specifically

Can’t wait for your take on Endgame. I think doing a psycho-analysis on each of the main avengers processing of grief and trauma could be great, but am very excited to see what you all come up with!

The Joker, Alex DeLarge, Travis Bickle, Tyler Durden...

How did House, Sherlock and the Joker not come up in this?

Great video! I'm personally glad I don't really "worship" these people, but I'm honestly also thankful that I now know why I sympathize with these characters more than I would like to. I mean, Rick and Morty and Breaking Bad were both some of my favorite shows for their character realism and storylines.

Well said, I believe its because we desire control and we admire people who are willing to suffer the consequences of being a jerk to gain a degree of freedom in their lives; also because many people are tired of living reserved, inoffensive vanilla lives on autopilot and these characters remind them that they too could possibly do things differently.

Maybe the real assholes are the friends we made along the w-- Nah, for real, this was good. It would bother me a bit when I'd hear something like somone saying they rooted for Heisenberg, but I get it now. In the asshole characters you focused on, we see people who are able to transcend the rules and norms of a society that we often see as unjust and unfair. It's understandably aspirational, but we also shouldn't let it allow us to lose sight of the flaws in those characters that make them bad people. I find Rick immensely entertaining as a character, but I also recognize the guy is a dick who emotionally manipulates his daughter and is all-around negligent. He deserves to be where he's at in the family hierarchy at the end of S3.

There's no beating fate Guts: I'm going to stop you right there!

Rorschach would have been a good one to include in here. Especially since the comics go into how his views were shaped by his upbringing rather than any personal choices.

You guys constantly produce some of the most thoughtful content on RU-vid. Thank you for that and please keep it up! :)

This is by far my favourite episode ever, great job guys

3:54 All those masks without large mouths prolly weren’t real Greek theatre masks. The masks were used to amplify the sound using the large shape of the mouths that would help actors project their voices farther. Those ones at that time stamp are all just gonna stop the sound

2 wisecracks in 3 days? I'm not even mad

that was absolutely a very significant analysis on that I keep props to you and your team well done well done

This guys video are getting longer by the day but still worth it

thanks again for another phenom of a video. Another aspect I think to these types of characters is their talent/power. With their ability in their respective areas we vicariously experience what it would feel like to be so talented that our world listened to us rather then the other way around. It is an exciting fantasy to imagine that kind of power.

I have wondered this exact same thing for a long time. This shed some enlightenment.

Wisecrack, your videoes are amazing! Keep them interesting!

Making a video about arsholes and not mentioning Dr.House? How could you

But Walter White didn't need to be a meth dealer. Gretchen and Elliot offered to pay for his treatment and he refused out of pride. He also continued to cook and deal meth after going into remission (in fact he's angry when he finds out he's in remission). The show gives him many "outs" that he refuses to take.

Each one of those characters that was listed also knows themselves and accepts who they are (as far out from social norms as they may be) unapologetically; rather than being cowed into acting as others would have them do, each one of them acts authentically.

Great video. Also, wrote a paper on psychic distance a couple of weeks ago so enjoyed seeing it in the discourse here

Love this episode, it's good to see them objectively as well as how cool they are. Is there a full version of the end song on Spotify or anything?

Great video. Here in Brazil, we have the Capitan Nascimento brutal policeman who uses violence and torture to fight against the drug dealers on the Slams of Rio de Janeiro. the Films Elite Squad 1 and 2. The filmmakers and the actor Wagner Moura expressed that the character of Capitan Nascimento is an outlaw, who abuses his power as a cop. Should not be admired... and exactly this happens right wings use the image of the character as a hero against corruption and what happens is this was also used to win the last presidential elections here. They distorted the criminal cop to a hero against crime and even real cops use their images on cars and web pages. This is crazy and shows us how media are changing reality and the narrative of facts.

Always Sunny strikes the perfect balance in my opinion. The characters are relatable assholes and people enjoy the show, but people don’t idolize Dennis, Mac, Charlie, Dee or Frank.

I love the video! I would love to see one on Longmire as well!

This is appreciated and really well done!

My guess has always been that the characters portray a small aspect of what many of us want to be, or at least things we want to do, and/or we can relate, sometimes even agree with them because they're in positions we aren't in (and might never be in), depending on the character. I figure that if they reflect someone you want to be, or things you want to do, then you only admire that they can be or do those things while sort of ignoring the worst parts of the character. Sort of like thinking a super villain has a cool power, which they use in really creative ways, so you think "I'd love to have that power, but I'd use it differently." When I refer to something we want to be or do, I'm mainly talking about being more assertive and making more extreme actions when you're dealing with bullshit without negative results. This works more with characters like Rick Sanchez. I'm not saying most people wish they could straight up murder or completely ruin the lives of anyone who slightly inconveniences us, like Rick might do from time to time. If your boss tells you you have to work on a certain day despite you asking for that day off in advance, and it doesn't matter if you say this, your boss might even look like they enjoy screwing you over like this. When this sort of thing happens, you're most likely to just put your head down and take it, but you wish that you could find some way to screw them over, put them on the spot by outsmarting them, or maybe even coerce them with a bit of physical violence, but if you really did all that, you're most likely going to get fired, maybe even arrested, or the least they'll do is mess with you whenever they see the chance. We like characters who can listen to that evil voice in their head every now and then without really getting into trouble. I also think of "Happy Gilmore" where he punches people for making fun of him, but there's never any blood, and in real life he'd be arrested for assault, so it's fun to see a character throw some punches, or making extreme decisions in response to minor problems. In the case of characters like Walter White, if anything most people can sympathize, if not agree with his motivation. I would want to make sure that my family is taken care of when I'm gone, and I would like to say I'd even be willing to do some shady stuff to ensure they'll be taken care of. Why would I be scared of being tried or going to jail, I'm going to die anyway. I think the Punisher embodies both of these ideas, where he's being screwed over by people and responding with extreme actions, though arguably justifiable or appropriate given his circumstances. People can understand seeking vengeance, if someone murdered a member of my family, I'd want to see them face retribution, through either being convicted and sentenced to prison, or preferably them being executed. In a similar sense to "who cares, I'm going to die anyway" that Walter White faces, because the Punisher's family is dead, he thinks "I just want revenge, I don't care what I have to do to get it, I have nothing more to lose!" Since this is the type of situation a very small percentage of people can really relate to (it seems very rare for an entire person's family to be murdered, especially without them being killed in the process), it is easier for people to sympathize and relate (in some extent) to the Punisher in theory. In the off chance my entire family is murdered and I really have no one left in my life, I don't see why I wouldn't go on a rampage to kill their murderers. That's also why I hate when the argument "it won't bring them back" is overused, mainly because it doesn't seem like the character wants to kill them because they think it will bring their loved ones back, or that they care that what they're doing is wrong, it seems pretty clear they just want revenge regardless of whether or not it will cost them their future, freedom, and even their soul or humanity, sometimes they see it as those things were already taken from them too!

Great analysis! I think one thing that wasn’t brought up about these characters’s reverence by the fans is their ability to “win” or be the best at whatever they’re putting their mind to. Even if their focus is on morally reprehensible things there’s that Michael Jordan effect when it comes to a character being so great at what they do which appeals to those of us watching who are ultra competitive

Wow i love tut summary of my entire English class literature in this succinct brief survey. Bam! 16 years studying archetypes and plotlines and character types summarized in one 16min video. Kudos dude insightful stuff...

As usual, top notch video. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a video dealing more with the contrasting narrative structure, briefly mentioned, that the hero who overcomes their flaw is in a comedy.

Another great movie example in this is D-Fens in Falling Down.

These are the kind of characters teens should be analyzing at school. We may have empathized with centuries old characters centuries ago, but today, teens and young adults don't care about them. Then they go out and see these more realistic portrayals and think this is what real life looks like.

Excellent episode guys!

Awesome videos Wisecrack, keep it up!

modern tragic heroes are popular because they tell stories of martyrdom.

Honorable mention: Eric Cartman

Really good video. Congrats

This is what Wisecrack does best. Excellent job, guys!

“There’s no beating fate, period.” Naruto Uzumaki would like to have a word with you.

at the end of the day, rick is just another self-delusional failure looking for a distraction identity. You know, like the rest of us.

This has been a much needed topic for soooo long. Also, Tyler Durden

This was a very insightful video with great examples. I personally love a lot of the aforementioned shows, but was disturbed by how many people didn't see how tragic their lives were. Instead of seeing their flaws as being something that needs to be resolved and/or addressed throughout the narrative, the audience these days tend to think of these characters as somehow getting a raw deal, by having to address the unfairness of society. It's easy to blame society for all, if not most of your problems. Heck a lot of the times, certain aspects of your life are outside of your control, and resentment is completely understandable. The question I come across in my own life is how much of that resentment is justifiable or even helpful, since the extreme measures that are usually necessary to wrest control from society's grasp over your life are usually not worth it in my estimation. Really if one looks at modern narratives, it helps to recognize that life is not like these television shows, movies, and video games. The writers attempt to relate to the audience's innermost frustrations and yearnings, which are manifested into a conflict that you, as the viewer, get to go along for in an exciting ride where those frustrations/yearnings are satiated in a cathartic release at the climax. And even though real life can feel like that at times, it causes a great amount of suffering to expect and even to seek out that cathartic release, as reality generally punches you in the mouth when you go too far outside the realms of what is socially reasonable/attainable. It also creates a divide between reality and fantasy, which do intersect, but the world we create together should not be based off of idolization of these tragic characters.

The Joker is the most puzzling, to me at least

*Wisecrack:* You can't beat fate. *Kratos:* Boy, hold my blades of chaos.

Love the video, as always

You guys have the best videos!

What a very interesting take on the subject! I started to dislike Bojack, Rick and the Punisher as characters because their answer to life seemed so boringly repetitive. (The Punisher is just a sick psycho tho.) I hope we can get some more Nietzschean characters in the future, characters that can actually learn and create their own space in which they can make their own meaningful choices, instead of these sulking (societal)determinism-lame-bois. What society needs is definitely some more people vigorously pursuing meaning, instead of more people trying to justify (personal and societal) standstill, because they believe you can be a cool while failing at life, and just want to keep gaming until death or some kind of apocalyps.

*Lesson Of The Day:* Anti-Heroes were a-holes all the time, because their flaws gave them humanity. So that's why we always praised for their a-hole ways.

WOW! Great analysis!

Thank you. These videos have helped me alot

I've watched quite a few of these videos and it surprises me that we've been doing the same things for so long, just presenting it as something different.

Larry David is regularly asked “is the Larry we see in Curb Your Enthusiasm the real Larry”. His response is “that character is my version of Superman. All the things I wish I could say/do in social interactions”. I think that’s a lot of it: most people aren’t willing to be that forward while truly not giving a fuck. But there are times everyone would like to. That’s the appeal. Or at least part of it...

This is a fascinating dive. At one point, I found myself almost obsessing over the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There was the prim and proper individual, and then the aggressive and entirely dominating personality of his shadow. I was raised in a town that seemed full of polite, passive-aggressive people who can't even handle the idea of conflict out in the open, let alone saying what's actually on your mind. Then I find characters like Mr. Hyde and other villains who are able to talk blunt, get what they want, and don't let any social pressure or societal stigma stop them from doing so. Having that kind of control over one's own decisions and choices is an intoxicating draw. Of course, the consequences rear their ugly heads in the end. But it is still difficult to look at the 'screw what everyone says, I'm going to do what I want' model of behavior and not be a little envious of the power it can hold.

A great video with spot on comparisons to Greek theatric traditions. One small problem. Walter White doesn’t quite fit as well as the other two tragic heroes. There seems to be some misconception that “he had no choice” when he decided to start making drugs to pay for his medical care. He did have a choice because he had health insurance (an HMO if I’m not mistaken) through his job, but wanted a doctor that was outside his network. That was the driving force that required him to pay out of pocket and the need for insane amounts of money. The family aspect may have driven him to his path even if he stuck with the provided health care, but might have undercut the pride element somewhat. Or enhanced it if it was played up as the self deluded rationalization for why he had to make drugs. But Rick and the Punisher fit the tragic hero archetype perfectly. Thank you guys for all the thoughtful research and effort you put into all your videos.

This problem can be seen as well here in brazil with José Padilha's Elite Squad (same director of narcos and the robocop remake), the first movie can be read as glorifying the violence used by the police towards drug dealers and even users in the favelas. Padilha has even made a second movie to try and show the problem is deeper and spoke publicly in these terms but it didn't seem to have the same effect as his first movie made.

Most of us are going to end up rooting for ANY well-written, well-developed protagonist independent of their moral compass.

I think the worship is a combination of two things - It's due to the characters being relatable despite their flaws, resulting from them having problems we can relate to and therefore emphasise with, and due to them going against the rules forced upon us by society. The edginess of "fighting the man" and defiantly being free of societal restrictions is attractive.

Pretty interesting and well documented as always.

You guys should do the “Philosophy of Xavier: Renegade Angel”.

Have you ever read "Hero of Our Time" by Mikhail Lermontov? I feel his take on the Byronic hero has a lot of parallels with this, and one of the main lessons I got from reading it, and the lesson I think my professor wanted me to get, was that I can indeed relate to such asshole characters, and I shouldn't be ashamed of that because we all do. Dan Harmon's fears about his fandom ruining the party exactly that lesson embodied. Perhaps the only difference between people who act like Rick and people who enjoy watching Rick is the self-awareness one might have to understand how they relate and why they enjoy Ricks antics, while not actually having a desire to play them out in their own lives.

This is a really good video

Good work wise crack👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼

"No sense in fighting fate..." Every Berserk Fan, "Oh really?"

To me Rick (and by extension Jerry) are the embodiments of the phrase “Ignorance is Bliss”

Ah wisecrack. You are consistently helpful

"In heaven, all the interesting people are missing" - Friedrich Nietzsche Also, by the way, some characters who qualify as likable assholes: Tony Soprano Walter White Rick Sanchez Negan Tyrion Lannister The Joker Deadpool Dexter Morgan Jack Torrence Pennywise Ultron Loki The Penguin The Riddler Frank Underwood Saul Goodman Tony Montana Don Vito Corleone Vincent Vega Jules Winnfield Django Buffy Summers Wolverine

At the end of the day these characters rarely have to deal with the long term effects of the myriad of poor choices that they make. Just like Homer Simpson in the episode "Secrets to a successful marriage"

Alec Baldwin has said the same thing about his character in Glengarry Glen Ross.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF "MAD MEN", PLEASE! P.S: I think you've oversimplified the issue, but it's still a great analysis.

Isnt it funny that people in the rick and morty universe don't seem shocked by any of the cool things rick can do, like they are so cavalier about different realities, changing into a young body, pickle rick like the physchiatrist was like insanely okay about seeing a pickle person...lol

🤔 Makes a lot of sense. Hey wisecrack, why don't you make a video on the "bad boy" trope for romantic novels. I always wondered why people like to romanticism "bad boys" and the obviously "toxic" relationships associated with it

I need this video played through a megaphone across the internet

I'm just glad that you guys get that these guys aren't role models cause I've had far too many arguments with people who don't see it

can you do a philosophy video on LOVE DEATH and ROBOTS please, you can just choose one episode but a whole breakdown of the series would be awesome.