Current Events > Started watching "Eastbound and Down", I know it came out in 2009

(+) Yeah! (+)

but it feels like its target audience was Donald supporters. Couldn't make it more than 5 minutes in, does it get better or is the humor really just a crude redneck dumbass who uses racial slurs?

---

Idk I'm sorta liberal and I found that show hilarious as fuck.
But if you can't get over Kenny Powers or accept him for who he is, then it's not the show for you.

---

I could kind of tolerate it if they had written the character a little differently, but the jokes and actions all seem kind of vindicated, it's like they're idolizing him.

---

Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. I saw the previews at the time and I wasn't interested.

When I think of likeable right-wing characters, Ash Williams in Ash Vs. Evil Dead comes to mind. He was a right-wing boomer at times, but he was also entertaining as fuck and he fucked up deadites like no-one's business. To a degree I think of Earl Hickey, but mostly from a redneck angle rather than explicitly a right-wing angle - Earl was a good dude trying to make up for his mistakes, and he seemed like he was friendly enough while growing as a person.

Gotta ask as someone who hasn't seen Eastbound and Down - what traits of Kenny Powers are getting to you most?

---

Feel like you just want to bash people on the right and this is your path to that.

Show was hilarious as fuck and I kinda feel bad that you let your bias and dumb political nonsense get in your way of enjoying your life.

---

Hexenherz posted...

I could kind of tolerate it if they had written the character a little differently, but the jokes and actions all seem kind of vindicated, it's like they're idolizing him.

The show manipulates you to see him for his awesomeness the same way Kenny idolizes himself so that when he does gain humility and empathy, it's more meaningful to the story and people around him.
Just don't expect him to tone down his redneck traits and humor. That shit doesn't change because that's just who Kenny Powers is.

---

MrMallard posted...

Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. I saw the previews at the time and I wasn't interested.

When I think of likeable right-wing characters, Ash Williams in Ash Vs. Evil Dead comes to mind. He was a right-wing boomer at times, but he was also entertaining as fuck and he fucked up deadites like no-one's business. To a degree I think of Earl Hickey, but mostly from a redneck angle rather than explicitly a right-wing angle - Earl was a good dude trying to make up for his mistakes, and he seemed like he was friendly enough while growing as a person.

Gotta ask as someone who hasn't seen Eastbound and Down - what traits of Kenny Powers are getting to you most?

I loved Ash, that's a good example of a character where he didn't mind saying what was on his mind, even if it wasn't politically correct, but the characters around him also reacted in a way that made it clear it wasn't acceptable. I think it was a good compromise there.

Like I said I only made it 5 minutes in Eastbound and Down but it starts off with a news montage of him saying racist and homophobic things without any repercussions, and then he's driving down the road in a big pickup truck drinking a beer and flipping random people off, and then he's eating lunch with his brother's family and kids saying things that seem like they should be making his brother/sister-in-law uncomfortable but they don't really react in a way that demonstrates that.

But...

Jagr_68 posted...

The show manipulates you to see him for his awesomeness the same way Kenny idolizes himself so that when he does gain humility and empathy, it's more meaningful to the story and people around him.
Just don't expect him to tone down his redneck traits and humor. That shit doesn't change because that's just who Kenny Powers is.

So you're saying there is some character development where there are repercussions for what he does? I know I didn't give it a lot of time, but it just didn't feel like it was headed in that direction, so I appreciate your insight there.

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

Feel like you just want to bash people on the right and this is your path to that.

Show was hilarious as fuck and I kinda feel bad that you let your bias and dumb political nonsense get in your way of enjoying your life.

How am I bashing someone on the right by asking whether or not a show stays a specific way or changes in time? This is a really weird take on this topic, especially when the "humor" isn't really funny (sorry, I don't think "There are f-words in San Francisco" is very insightful, original or humorous.)

---

What are these redneck traits and Ill have to go back to watch that first episode because I really dont remember the first 5 minutes being nothing but racial slurs.

---

It's actually pretty poignant if you stick with it. Kenny finds himself miserable and starts to realize that money and fame don't make him happy even though that's all he wants. The crude humor is not the point of the show. It's really good

---

The scenes of Kenny listening to his book on tape are key

---

Imagine limiting your enjoyment of every form of media through a political lens so that you can only enjoy things that support your worldview

---

The Trent posted...

Imagine limiting your enjoyment of every form of media through a political lens so that you can only enjoy things that support your worldview

When a show starts out like this one, then yes.

Thanks to mature users like Jagr and ledbowman, my initial assessment was shown to be wrong and I can admit that.

I don't watch shitty news channels, either. Sue me.

---

What are these redneck traits of his, Im still curious about that. Im not a racist bigot so I dont think about that stuff but I would love to hear this.

---

Baseball and mullet means uncultured right wing celebration

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

What are these redneck traits and Ill have to go back to watch that first episode because I really dont remember the first 5 minutes being nothing but racial slurs.

He definitely makes jokes about minorities, gays, and calls Kenny the r-word at some points(I don't remember how often but not alot), but he's also not so mean spirited about it either that he's completely unlikable.

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

What are these redneck traits of his, Im still curious about that. Im not a racist bigot so I dont think about that stuff but I would love to hear this.

As I explained in the other post, it was the racist/homophobic jokes in the intro scene, the "drinking a beer while driving a gas guzzling pick up and flipping off random people", etc.

The show framed these as regular jokes. I'm sure some people enjoy that, I don't.


---

Its an amazing show. If youre easily triggered, might as well stop now.

---

The corruption of Stevie is a highlight and perfectly illustrates the damage Kenny does (also it's really funny)

---

Jagr_68 posted...

He definitely makes jokes about minorities, gays, and calls Kenny the r-word at some points(I don't remember how often but not alot), but he's also not so mean spirited about it either that he's completely unlikable.

Weird, redneck doesnt come to my mind when I hear those things. Hmm, interesting, different people see different things.

hey you guys ever heard that song lets get it started by the black eyed peas....who wrote that song? My bad, just a random for no reason thought.

damn, another random for no reason thought....anyone else here a fan of DMX? Hes honestly one of my favorites and man does he have a lot of lyrics about people liking people of the same sex.

i been listening to a lot of Kevin Gates lately....that Lonely song....fuck ***** I dont wanna be your homey .... that fuck word is wildly awful when said how he says it.

---

Someone's having a melt sandwich for brunch today.

---

I'm liberal and the show is hilarious.

---

Hexenherz posted...

Someone's having a melt sandwich for brunch today.

Sure.

Dont wanna chime in on anything else? Yahhhhhh I wonder why.

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

Sure.

Dont wanna chime in on anything else? Yahhhhhh I wonder why.

obviously he's just calling you mean names in his head and ignoring the points

---

Anyway it was nice talking TV with you TC, I haven't thought about Eastbound and Down or My Name Is Earl in years. I like the song from the first Smokey and the Bandit movie, but I was never interested in the Eastbound and Down TV show. If you stick with it, let us know how you like it.

---

If I may make a suggestion: don't bother after season 1. It's less focused, less inspired, less funny outside of the specific circumstances of season one. It's got nothing left to say. I laughed once or twice during the entire last 3 seasons. Season one is a perfectly self-contained three hours

---

Politics never crossed my mind watching it

---

MrMallard posted...

Anyway it was nice talking TV with you TC, I haven't thought about Eastbound and Down or My Name Is Earl in years. I like the song from the first Smokey and the Bandit movie, but I was never interested in the Eastbound and Down TV show. If you stick with it, let us know how you like it.

Thanks!!

We started Veep, was easier to get into so will probably shelf Eastbound and Down.

But I appreciate everyone's insight into it.

ledbowman posted...

If I may make a suggestion: don't bother after season 1. It's less focused, less inspired, less funny outside of the specific circumstances of season one. It's got nothing left to say. I laughed once or twice during the entire last 3 seasons. Season one is a perfectly self-contained three hours

That's interesting, usually the first season is the barrier to entry and the other seasons get better. Kind of a shame to see a show decline like that.

---