Cheesy, yes, but I’ll bet it’s a valid question for a billionaire philanthropist like Teddy Rist. Or, maybe not. Whatever.
How many of you weren’t surprised when Teddy jumped into the swimming pool, fully clothed? I saw it coming, too, but it brought back a really funny moment in my life….
At a party to celebrate the completion of our freshman year in high school, I was sitting alongside the pool, when my wife, then an ex-girlfriend turned friend, happened by. I asked her for the time, and then commented on how nice a watch she had; I asked her if I could look at it. She took it off and handed it to me! After some prodding, of course, but this is someone all of us cynics wish we could be, and I mean that in a sincere way. Anyway, next thing she knew she was in the pool, clothes and all … but I’d saved the watch. Don’t tell me I’m not a man with a big heart.
Anywho … I’m enjoying The Philanthropist a lot. There’s something about it that’s very reminiscent of enjoyable action-packed movies, and I think that James Purefoy is great. Sure, Teddy’s a little far a field sometimes from where most of us would be, but I like how he gives everything he’s passionate about his all.
I also appreciate the increased amount of input the writers are giving Dax, which means more screen time for Michael K. Williams; definitely all good.
But these mini-lessons on world politics are a lot too optimistic. We’ve seen some questionable stuff thus far, but a compromise between India and Pakistan, even if it is in the shared-rule Kashmir, and involved a little bit of water crossing the border? This is a centuries-old feud between Hindus and Muslims, and Teddy Rist isn’t going to solve it in a day, or a year.
And, not even won’t he solve it, but he’s not likely to bring them to any sort of compromise whatsoever. I applaud his ambitions, as well as the causes he’s looking to impact, but some things are just too much. There’ve been too many cliff note political issues on the show so far, and the only conclusion to be drawn from them is that, clearly, the writers have an agenda that we’re meant to be buying into.
Well, I’m not, and, as hard as it may seem to be able to do this, I try to ignore the politics that go with this fun romp while I’m watching. Not because I feel one way or the other about them, but if you’re getting your political science lessons from The Philanthropist, you’re going to have as sunny, deluded, and lollipop-sweet an outlook on international affairs as … well, as people who took too crash-a-course as well.
The show should definitely stick with the do-gooder theme, and I love Teddy’s passion. But, there’s plenty to be done around the world without making Teddy’s understanding of, and approach to international affairs completely asinine.
Most philanthropists know to stay out of local affairs; sometimes it’s okay to learn from real life.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 07, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
Hmm, Aryeh. I think we are doomed to always sit at opposite sides of the TV table, save on NCIS. At first, I enjoyed the big P’s do-gooding ways. However, I’ve discovered that I’m incredibly superficial. I want my globe-trotting with a focus on cosmopolitan candy (i.e. Paris, San Fran). However, the Kosovo and Nigerian dilemmas felt slightly too political for me or too realistic, whichever. On the one hand, I applaud the show’s attention to areas not typically incorporated in mainstream network primetime and for including actual details from the areas without the one-dimensional portrayal of ‘good’ and ‘evil.’
On the other hand, Teddy is too much of a do gooder for me. And, I just want to vicariously watch him visit swanky international hotels. Although he’s doing good individually (in ways that should’ve bankrupted him by ep 6), on the corporate level I can’t quite see his removing resources from local areas as a good thing long term for the countries or their local environments. I have more questions to ask about the company, but I’ll leave that alone for now. And, truthfully, those are minor complaints. My main issue is truly the unfiltered do-gooding. I know that’s the point. But, how much did he drop on those vet families? They needed the assistance, but after the past 5 weeks, shouldn’t he only have 5k left? I was totally on board with his playboy by day Bruce Wayne by night deal, but now it truly does feel like a spoiled boy trying to feel better about himself. I know that’s the point, but still . . .
*POST AUTHOR*
Well, from an over-politicizing stance, we’re together on this one! I definitely feel as if it’s a mistake to give us the abridged version, especially since they also seem to be arriving at abridged resolutions. You can help the world’s population without reforming the world.
On the other hand, I think a lot of people feel as if there are plenty of things to be done here at home, so why all the focus on the international. I’m not interested in getting into that particular debate, but I do understand the argument.
I think the show wants you to want to watch him live the high life, which is why scenes from a work camp are interspersed with ones from expensive restaurants, or whatever, but it’s actually hard to believe that he’d still be the same superficial person once he started trying to do good. They need to work on fitting those two personas together better.
As for the money, a) he’s a billionaire, and b) much of the main philanthropy funding has come from the company’s charitable arm. I can’t imagine that he should be hurting for cash at this point.
I think you’re right on the spoiled kid thing, and that’s where the problem comes in, trying to maintain his image as a playboy. Once he retires that lifestyle, he’ll come across as more altruistic. Until then, you have an excellent point about his just trying to ease his own conscience.