Flanderization of TV characters

[Turner the Cat]

Only just learned this term, but it’s helped me label something else that irritates me.

“Flanderization is the process through which a complex fictional character's essential traits are oversimplified to the point where they constitute their entire personality, or at least exaggerated while other traits remain”

Madge from Benidorm was a good example, went from someone we’ve all been around to just a cartoon character.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia seems to have also gone that way, but they do seem to continue to make it funny.

Any other examples, irritating or non-irritating?

Would this not be just a clever way of saying lazy stereotypes?

 

[Grimes]

Would this not be just a clever way of saying lazy stereotypes?

Nah, it’s taking a flawed but relatable character and making them a complete joke in the latter seasons. Most likely based from lack of ideas on writers part.

Like the OP says the only one that springs to mind that’s exaggerated their characters successfully is Always Sunny, they start off as flawed pub owners and by about 3 or 4 seasons in they’re all literal psychopaths.

 

[PrisonBroken]

Ironically, Homer. Went from being a daft dad to being an absolute braindead idiot with no other character traits.

Joey in friends did the same

 

[Uncle Junior]

Dave from the Royle Family

 

[Starman]

Joey did the same in friends

Edit: beaten to it

 

[Fetch Fletch]

Exactly. Will be thousands of North East lads who had a Nana who was 5 stone yet feared by everyone, never without a tab in her mouth and insisting everyone eats 24/7.

Never seen benidorm but aye 100%

 

[PJH]

Michael Bluth, Arrested Development revival seasons. Eroded his more down to earth reality of dealing with things and amped up the well meaning but suffocating parental role by making it not really well meaning.

 

[PeteFTM]

Nah, it’s taking a flawed but relatable character and making them a complete joke in the latter seasons. Most likely based from lack of ideas on writers part.

Like the OP says the only one that springs to mind that’s exaggerated their characters successfully is Always Sunny, they start off as flawed pub owners and by about 3 or 4 seasons in they’re all literal psychopaths.

The early Sunny episodes were hilarious because as you say, they were flawed but it was almost believable. They’ve all become caricatures of themselves now though, which is funny at times but they’ve completely lost the original feel. Still enjoyable though.

 

[thefatghost]

Dave from the Royle Family

Beat me to it

 

[Jasper]

Exactly. Will be thousands of North East lads who had a Nana who was 5 stone yet feared by everyone, never without a tab in her mouth and insisting everyone eats 24/7.

That is quite literally me Nana.