Ensemble Cast

It is that time of year when the networks are showing the season finales.   When I was thinking about the kind of shows that Gerry likes to watch, and the kind of shows that I like to watch,  I realized that my favorites have a strong "ensemble cast".   His shows may also have an ensemble cast, such as NCIS, or CSI  but the drama of the episode is primarily about solving the mystery or the crime or the problem, and only secondarily based on the relationships of the cast members themselves.   My favorite shows tend to be primarily about the relationships among the members of the ensemble cast, and the medical issue or surgery, or external problem is secondary to the relationships.

One of my favorites, Brothers and Sisters, not only had their season finale recently, but also the series finale.  That particular show was all about the dynamic going on between and among the main characters in the story, the family members.  Faithful fans have to say goodbye to the Walker family.

As much of a fan as I have been,  even I think it is probably time to let them go.  As interesting and lovable as they all have been, never has there been a more dysfunctional family, with an overbearing and interfering mother, siblings with no boundaries,  and the whole lot of them being over-involved in one another's lives.

When I reflected on all of this, I wondered whether or not we select our favorite TV shows along gender lines.   I do have female friends who are big fans of NCIS, though, so maybe that does not hold up.

Often in life, however, it is true that women are interested in relationships and men are interested in cars or sports.  I only just recently realized that my favorite television dramas are all about the ensemble cast and their interpersonal interactions.

I do think all of this is somehow related to the fact that men are from Mars and women are from Venus.