The Art of Character Development in Top American Sitcoms
American sitcoms are popular around the world for their hilarious content. For several years, American sitcoms were made to make the audience laugh. So, the characters were primarily one-dimensional, and their jokes were problematic and stereotypical. However, some of the shows also portrayed the growth of characters. Like real-life people, these characters had their share of flaws; however, the sitcoms showed how they went through different phases and tried their best to evolve. Below are some of the top American sitcoms that showed character development in an exceptionally mature way-
Art of Character Development in Top American Sitcoms:
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Chandler Bing (Friends)
Mathew Perry’s character, Chandler Bing, brought light and happiness into people’s lives. Chandler is one of the most memorable characters with his sarcasm and witty humour. However, beyond all his jokes, Chandler goes from a person who struggles with insecurity and has his jokes as a coping mechanism to a more assertive and self-confident person.
The initial seasons also showed Chandler with commitment issues; he was one whom you could not imagine in a serious relationship. However, as the season proceeded, Chandler and Monica became one of the favourite couples of the sitcom, and he turned out to be a wonderful husband and father. Chandler’s character development was one of the best in Friends, as the show did not necessarily focus on all their characters to bring out the best in them.
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Pam Beesley (The Office)
You will notice two characters in binary opposition when you begin watching The Office. The over-confident boss, Michael, who always believes he deserves and is qualified for jobs that he can barely fit into, and the under-confident receptionist, Pam, who is highly indecisive, does not believe in herself and doesn’t mind being treated less than what she deserves.
As we move with the story, Pam develops into a person who believes in her passion and dreams. She enrolled in an art school and later created her platform in Dunder Mifflin. Eventually, according to her wishes, she ends up working in the art industry. The Office explored Pam’s growth with her ambitions and fears, showing how a timid and indecisive person grows to take her life into her own hands and create her own paths.
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Jay Dunphy (Modern Family)
Although Modern Family was a very mature show compared to other sitcoms with realistic characters and their development, one of the most remarkable of the development was through Jay’s character. Reaching the 60s, it is challenging for anyone to accept changes and alter the opinions that one has been following for a lifetime. Although I would not say that Jay accepted all that the new generation threw at him, he was sometimes stubborn, but that is precisely how older people act in real life.
The reality that hits home with the show is through Jay’s perspective. From accepting his son’s marriage to another guy, adopting an Asian Kid, his stepson going to an art school to leaving his company in his daughter’s hand, and accepting technological changes in the company he had put his whole life in, Jay developed tremendously. All the springing changes around him were sure to make a person mad, but Jay always ended up changing his opinions.
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Jake Peralta (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Although Jake was always kind-hearted and ready to help everyone, he still grew from a chaotic and immature person to a responsible and mature husband and father. Much of the appreciation for that goes to Captain Holt, as the seriousness and responsibility emanating from the guy made Jake aware of his shortcomings.
Till the very end, Jake remains a hilarious character; however, he realises that even his police force has a lot of flaws that need to be mended. Jake gives up the job that he loves the most in the world to support his wife. Although he grew up in an unloving and emotionally unstable environment, he made sure that the people around him did not encounter the same. He was truly the greenest flag.
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Marshall Eriksen (How I Met Your Mother)
Nobody ever comes across the number of girls that Ted had to date, nor is anyone particularly looking for the generic bad-guy to good-guy when he meets a girl trope that they tried to give Barney; the most realistic character in the show was Marshall. While being an absolute green flag, Marshall showed the struggle one has to face in their 20s.
When the show begins, we get a rose-tinted perspective of his life- a girlfriend from high school whom he is going to marry and is on the way to becoming a lawyer. However, Marshall finds out that life is not that easy and not, as John Green says, a “wish-granting factory.” Then begins Marshall’s journey with obstacles that he could not have imagined. His girlfriend breaks up with him and leaves the city; he loses his father and struggles to find a job.
However, he goes through all of it and comes out to be just as kind-hearted and gentleman as he was, if not more. Life is never going to be easy; you gotta Marshall-Eriksen your way out of it.
Conclusion-
So, these were some of the American sitcoms with fantastic character development. We have mostly covered the old sitcoms. As time passes by, we get introduced to more emotionally developed and mature plotlines in the sitcoms.
What Is Your Character Development in Top American Sitcoms? Comment Below.
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