Hi :icon_bigg So, I'm doing my Thesis on the representation of LGBT+ characters on television, and one character I focus on in particular is Max Blum from Happy Endings (a sadly now-cancelled ABC comedy.) After some research, I've found that people have been quite split on what they thought of him. Some said he was refreshing and love that he broke a lot of gay stereotypes, yet some others said that he was "not realistic" or "not gay enough." I was wondering if I could get your opinions on him as a character? Did you like/dislike him? Why? Did you like/dislike the depiction of his sexuality? Did you like/dislike how the writers/actor handled the character? Why/not? It's just for me to gauge some differing opinions and reactions from someone other than myself (I know nobody personally who watched the show), nothing will be published. Personally, I really loved his character (and all the other characters too) and miss the show dearly. Thanks! :icon_wink
To be honest hes the only gay guy on TV I feel I can relate to. I'd say I have a very similar sense of humour to him (I'm always told I'm very sarcastic and dry - although I never like to mock people). I'm also quite slovenly, and my wardrobe consists entirely of "comfy" well-worn clothes; he majority of which don't fit properly/match. However I would say Max has a far better dress sense than I do (his clothes aren't faded for a start!). I'd also note that I'm a bit more educated, financially stable and not as bitchy as he is. I dunno, I just appreciate a bit of a wider representation of gay people on TV. People have very narrow views (likely the result of the media) of what gay men can like and do. Personally I have a few traits that people might not find "stereotypical" in a gay male: -I hate clothes shopping/fashion -I love punk rock -I love extreme/outdoor sports -I love good food and beer -I love action films and kung-fu films -I like cars and gadgets -I'm neither good looking or super-fit (this is a weird presumption many straight women seem to hold) -I get along better with men or mixed-sex groups (I feel a bit of an odd one out when left in female only company, spare-wheel and all that!) -I love DIY I also have a few more-stereotypical traits: -I'd say I'm somewhat more feminine than your typical straight guy - although most people presume I'm straight when they first meet me -I don't really like team sports (although I'll happily sit and watch a big game if there is beer and food provided!) -I'm sometimes partial to some chart-pop music -I'm a liberal, tree-hugging hippy! Stereotypes are stereoytpes - nobody fits into a perfect mould (thank god). I've met straight guys who love Lady Gaga, gay guys who love Slayer. *shrugs* Appreciate the diversity I guess!
Wow, thank you for your thoughts! This is really cool to read. I loved him as a character too and liked that he broke the mould. I actually identified a lot with Max in some ways (even though I'm a gay lady lol :lol and really thought that his character was a breath of fresh air. It's nice to hear someone else appreciated him (and the show) too. Such a shame it was cancelled I'm really enjoying writing about him though, so at least I can honour the character in that way :icon_bigg Thanks again!
Not a problem. Noticed your profile picture, Cosima from Orphan Black? I suppose she is a good example from the "other side", being a very fresh portrayal of a lesbian character. I thought she was written well, with her sexuality not being made into a big issue at all (not used for titillation or embellishment).
Max was hilarious, I thought he was a decent representation of a gay man, in that he slept with other men. Saying he "wasn't gay enough" is ridiculous. Honestly I wish there were more gay characters on tv who didn't have being gay as 90%+ of their personality. Honestly, his laziness and dry wit was what I related to more than his sexuality, because the writers did such a good job giving him such a funny personality.
I thought Max was a great character to show that not all of us are flamboyant. Sure I'm bi, not gay, but Max was my favorite character because I related so much to him, sarcasm and all hahah. Really wish that show wasn't cancelled :/
I think that was what made it great. He was more than just a character to fill a gay slot, he was actually treated like a person and given the depth any straight roles would be given. Normally in TV and film a straight character can have a huge variance in their roles, actions and personality - they can be heroes, villains, optimistic, grouchy, a spy, a family-man you name it. Gay characters on the other-hand are usually only placed there to act out gay stereotypes - usually as a sassy, comic relief companion to a straight female lead character. Need your dowdy female heroine to have a makeover? Bring in the token gay guy! Happy Endings was a breath of fresh air. I particularly liked the epidode where the different gay subcultures are parodied. I think the notion of pigeon-holing yourself based on something as irrelevant as your body-type (i.e. "I'm big and hairy so I'm a bear", "I'm hairless and skinny so I'm a twink") is unnecessary, self-limiting and just a bit bizarre. The episode really poked fun at the notion that after coming out you have to further squeeze yourself into a label by taking it to extremes to show us the ridiculousness of it.
