I think it depends on how related they are. Relatable that they are out to get revenge against unjust wrongs against them? Sure. Relatable that they are mowing through crime syndicates all while soaking up bullets? Not so much. It's why the anti hero is so relatable. Many of us can relate to someone who has a checkered past but is seeking redemption. It's why the very rich person gets upset when his very hot wife cheats on him with some other very rich guy the same way some very average guy gets upset when his wife cheats on him with some other very average guy. They can relate to each other even though the specifics are very different Themes are relatable. Walter white is relatable as he was a guy who felt he got dealt a bad hand and decided to do something extreme about it. Many people deep down wanna be like yeah my life is unfair I should do something about it. His turn of becoming a bad person and greedy is relatable. And his redemption (albeit extreme) is relatable

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You do not need to be the exact same as the characters for them to be relatable, though. Sure, most people aren't middle-aged chemistry teachers with cancer, but a lot of people have been in a similar position to Walter White: stuck with a problem they don't have the resources to fix and slipping further and further into distress and despair due to that. Relatability isn't saying, "I know what that's like," it's saying, "I can imagine how that feels." It's empathy versus lived experience.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, I disagree. Even if I'm stuck with a problem, I'm not going to become a drug kingpin and kill other criminals for territory. See, a lot of people, including you, think that you're supposed to relate with these anti-heroes. But you're not supposed to. Sure, you see the word through their eyes, but that doesn't mean you're supposed to relate to them. That's why they're an anti-hero. They're not the good guy.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Seems like you simply don't know what words mean. Relatability has nothing to do with being the good guy or not. It's about understanding why a character does the things they do, even if you don't agree with them.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

True, but oddly enough the sopranos characters are just about the most relatable tv characters every for me. Not the gangster that much, but the kids. I grew up there at that time.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I would argue that some characters are fun *because* they aren't relatable. Most of us aren't super spies, but we love watching Michael Westin kick ass anyway.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

For example: entire cast of succession

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Speaking of villains who aren't sympathetic, probably my favorite movie villain is the Emperor from Star Wars. He's a cackling asshole whose motivation (in his own words) is "Unlimited Powaaaaaa!" I dread the day we get the Disney show where it shows him as a young kid who was abused or something, and that's why he's evil.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

This is the most shallow take on the word "relatable" I've ever seen. Congrats. Truly unpopular definition of that word.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Is this an unpopular opinion? I do think relatable characters are easier for the audience to insert themselves, but i mean, Walter white is super popular and well written, but I doubt a lot of the audience relates to him on many levels. And people are very tired of Disney villains. That's why everyone and their mother loved puss and boots last wish' villains.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'll take it one step further and say that "relatable" characters usually aren't good or entertaining, but rather annoying and bland.

by Anonymous 1 year ago