Allie Gregory Blog #5

          I watch TV to be entertained, pretty much without exception. That is, of course, not to say that I don't watch shows that have other purposes, but even Science shows are still basically entertaining. (When I was little my favorite show was Mythbusters. Exciting stuff.)
          That being said, only a certain range of shows can actually hold my attention. Reality shows bore me. Grammy's would also fall in the category of things that bore me. I'm just not into real life drama. To me, it feels fake. I can't imagine anyone being who they really are when they are thinking about millions of people watching it, and anyone who can spill their deep emotions on national television has no sense of living a real life. I actually go as far as to feel bad for children on TV shows. I wish they didn't have to grow up with that kind of pressure.
          On the other hand, TV isn't all bad. My all-time favorites are Sherlock, Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Merlin. I love them. Pretty passionately at that. I'm the type of person who gets completely lost in a story and falls in love with characters. I like complex, intertwined plot-lines and relationships, even if they're just friendships, that inspire a range of emotions. Merlin I loved for the magic, for Merlin's undying devotion, and for his and Arthur's wonderful friendship. Doctor Who not only fulfills my love for Sci-Fi, but it inspires me. IT gives me a character in the Doctor that has every reason in the world to be bitter and hateful and give up, and instead all he wants to do is help people. I love that one for it's incredible optimism. Supernatural just impresses me on a lot of fronts. I think it struggles on occasion when it tries to get too emotional (actually a lot of the time), but it's the story of two brothers who save people. With faults along the way, it usually comes full circle quite brilliantly, and at least the first few brotherly sacrifices were tearjerkers that you really felt (They can only die for each other so many times...).
          I watch TV shows as an escape. For 20 minutes or 40 minutes or for an hour and a half if it's Sherlock, I don't live in this boring world filled with useless drama and people who care about things that don't matter. I get to be in a world of magic. A world of impossibly clever, witty people, with hearts too big and optimism a little brighter than seems real. And I don't see it as wrong to idolize the impossible, but rather as correct to shoot for the very best. While I may never have the whimsical realities of some of my favorite TV shows, I can try to have Merlin's epic devotion, and the Doctor's ever-present excitement and faith in humanity. Reality TV just can't give me that.