Am I supposed to like Dirk Gently? - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016) Discussion

[–] dave-214-436913 8 years ago

This is actually a great question ... but those who don't like the question probably don't feel a need to connect to the characters. Viewer types can be split into many different kinds of categories, and one of those are those who connect with the characters vs those who don't (viewing shows more as a voyeur because they find the characters interesting). I'm someone who connects or at least I want to connect to the character. It sounds like you do as well. For that reason I feel like I have to be able to relate with them and respect the decisions that at least the protagonist makes ... otherwise they're not interesting to me. They're just idiots who make me mad. I couldn't stand BSG Reimagined for that reason.

Different strokes for different folks ... and thank heavens there are. Wouldn't it be awful if all shows were for people who want to connect to the characters, thereby depriving those who love to watch unlovable characters? Or vice versa? The problem to me is that our society is becoming ever more voyeuristic (statistical analysis of a number of recent phenomena bears that out), which is to be expected given the way people now interact on the internet and such, it being the prime interactive medium for so many now. As a result I find that producers are catering more and more to that audience and so people like me ... It's now a rare show that I find to be enjoyable to watch. Especially in the more cutting edge genre ... they tend to cater more to the voyeur crowd which leaves me unfulfilled.

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[–] LalocheziaAddict 8 years ago

It's important to connect with the protagonist. Dirk is not the protagonist. He is simply the plot device. Elijah is the one you are supposed to connect with.

It is almost exactly like Ford in HHGTTG.

"In my defense the hotel room made the first move." - Johnny Depp

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[–] !!!deleted!!! (4524359) 8 years ago

I get your point, I also disagree. You don't have to connect with the protagonist. At least not in a way that you in any way sympathize with the protagonist. Sure it's the most common way to write protagonists but it's not the only good way.

You're right about Dirk not being the protagonist though.

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[–] LalocheziaAddict 8 years ago

I ended up stressing that part more than was my intention. I was trying to point out to OP that Dirk was not protagonist and that liking him was not important. You are right, liking the main character is not important but it is what makes the bulk of viewers comfortable.

I do think though you need to be able to connect with that character though. Even he is a horrible person and unlikable as long as you can in some way root for him - possibly even if you are simply invested in his downfall (though I can't think of an example.) - then you can have an engrossing show. But if can't connect at all I don't see how that can be entertaining.

"In my defense the hotel room made the first move." - Johnny Depp

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[–] haikenedge 8 years ago

I don't connect to Wood's character Todd either. And while you might say some might invest in the character's downfall, as much as I don't like Dirk Gently, I don't do that either; for me, he's got X-Pac heat, and I actually don't care whether he gets what's coming to him, as long as he just leaves the show, because that's how little I like the character in either direction.

I mean, I get he's meant to depicted as a force of nature... but it feels like the entire thing is completely absurd to a point where it's broken my suspension of disbelief and has soundly made me think the show is made up of imbeciles and incompetents (with the exception of the holistic assassin, though I suspect she'll turn into one too when she runs into Dirk Gently).

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[–] LalocheziaAddict 8 years ago

it feels like the entire thing is completely absurd to a point where it's broken my suspension of disbelief

It's absurdist humor. If you require suspension of disbelief this is not the genre for you. No judgement, westerns don't work for me, it's simply a matter of taste.

"In my defense the hotel room made the first move." - Johnny Depp

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[–] danielgalun 8 years ago

Well, if you don't like any of the characters or the show then why are you watching it? You want a character to leave a show you shouldn't even be watching as it's obviously not your thing? That makes no sense.

I think the show is great, I like all the characters. Not as people, I couldn't care less what their moral compass is, what drives them, how good of a person they are or anything like that, I like them because they're entertaining and their story is interesting. Personally I can't stand shows or movies where I'm suppose to relate to the fictional characters on some deep human level, but if you like those things maybe you should go watch Battlestar Galactica or something. For me, even the interesting world and Cylons and war of Battlestar isn't enough to make up for it otherwise being a soap opera, putting them on a spaceship is not gonna make me care about their lovelife so that's just dead time where I'm waiting for something interesting to happen. I much prefer a show like this that's fun, interesting, entertaining and honestly, not that deep. And I happen to like the whole premise of everyone and everything just being weird and absurd, it sure beats everything just being normal. This is probably my favorite new show and I think it's made very well, if you're not getting it at all then why would you watch it? You might wanna consider that you're just to stuck up to enjoy this for what it is, you don't have to watch it just because Elijah Wood is in it you know, he's not some stamp of approval from the world of art and theater.

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[–] MoviemanCin 8 years ago

The short answer would be yes. And in the final analysis, does it really matter? The more important question is do you like the series? I LOVE it, and give it an 8.5/10!

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

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[–] sheeleyb 8 years ago

You're supposed to be entertained by him, but if you were to meet him on the street you should think he is a complete jack-off.

______________________________________
God bless America and the "Ignore this User" link.

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[–] Tokyo55 8 years ago

Wow! Am I the only one who likes Dirk? He's interesting & means well. I like, love, adore & hate the other characters.

Elijah Wood - He's okay
Hannah Marks - Loved, but now just okay.
Fiona Dourif - LOVE!
Jade Eshete - Adore!
Neil Brown Jr. - So So
Richard Schiff - Loved, pissed that he got killed!

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016) - One of the best shows on TV! Like a funnier Quantico.

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[–] tomk1of1 8 years ago

There is no rule..lol..He is suppose to be irritating,but intriguing,frustrating,yet contagious. We don't want him to go away. He is the key to all this. Like him or not,he is necessary and important. He is the catalyst,the glue to the story. Without him we don't get this wildly entertaining...whatever this is. My new favorite series....lol.

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[–] TheUglyCasanova 8 years ago

I didn't like him at all in the first two I watched. Then I got the audiobooks of the two books and understood more about Dirk's eccentricities and his character has grown on me. He annoyed me so much to begin with but now I think the actor does a great job portraying what Douglas had in mind for Dirk.

Just keep giving him a shot and hopefully you will enjoy the character too as I really love this show and hope it goes on for a lot longer.

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[–] MoviemanCin 8 years ago

I love ALL of the characters!

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

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[–] kvothetraspie 8 years ago

To echo others, you aren't supposed to anything, I liked the character, you dislike it, and so it goes.

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