| 1 | Remember, a CentralTheme is not the same as AnAesop; a theme is a question, idea, topic or concept that the text explores, while an Aesop is a conclusion the author reaches about the theme or a lesson they wish to impart to the reader. As such, you should avoid phrasing your examples as conclusions. |
| 2 | ---- |
| 3 | * ''Series/{{The 100}}'': What moral boundaries would you cross to protect the people you care about? |
| 4 | * ''Series/TwentyFour'': How do you deal with the consequences of past decisions? |
| 5 | * ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'': What is the human condition? What does it mean to be human? |
| 6 | * ''Series/ThirtyRock'': How do you maintain professional integrity in a business and world that seems to find that concept ridiculous? |
| 7 | * ''Series/AbbottElementary'': Making the best with what you have despite the difficulties. |
| 8 | * ''Series/AlienNation'': Immigration and assimilation. Coping with an unexpected wave of immigrants who can't completely assimilate; coping with permanent exile to a society one cannot completely assimilate to. |
| 9 | * ''Series/AmericanCrimeStory'': |
| 10 | ** ''Series/ThePeopleVOJSimpson'': Is there such a thing as an "impartial" person? Can we overcome our prejudices and preconceptions and judge someone fairly? And if we cannot, is that truly justice? |
| 11 | ** ''Series/TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace'': Why do people lie? Are the lies people tell unique and naturally occurred, or are they born of the lies that those people tell themselves? |
| 12 | * ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'': |
| 13 | ** ''[[Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse Murder House]]'': The harmful nature of lies and infidelity, and the idea that their influence never really goes away. The central Harmon family slowly falls apart because Ben's past extramarital affair drives a wedge between him and Vivien, while Violet hides her clinical depression from her parents. In the past, [[spoiler: Constance Langdon]], [[spoiler: Larry Harvey]], and [[spoiler: Chad Warwick]] all had relationships fall apart due to infidelity, while [[spoiler: Moira O'Hara]] died over an extramarital affair, and the original owners of the Murder House died because [[spoiler: they couldn't accept the death of their son]]. In the present, Tate can't bring himself to admit that [[spoiler: he's a mass-murderer]], Constance can't bring herself to admit that [[spoiler: Tate is her son]], and [[spoiler: the birth of the Antichrist]] ultimately comes about because [[spoiler: Vivien unknowingly has sex with Tate]]. Notably, the show portrays ghosts as fully corporeal beings who have absolutely no trouble interacting with the living, reflecting the lasting influence of the past. |
| 14 | ** ''[[Series/AmericanHorrorStoryAsylum Asylum]]'': Coming to terms with the past. ''Everyone'' in the season (good or bad) is either entranced or haunted by something in their past, and they can only [[EarnYourHappyEnding Earn Their Happy Ending]] by learning to confront it instead of [[NeverMyFault blaming it on other people]] or trying to hide from it. Dr. Arden is haunted by [[spoiler: his Nazi past]], Dr. Thredson is haunted by [[spoiler: growing up without a mother]], Sister Jude is haunted by [[spoiler: her alcoholism sending her life off the rails]], and Sister Mary Eunice is haunted by memories of being a social outcast. And at the end of the season, Lana comes to terms with her experiences by [[spoiler:shutting down Briarcliff and writing the story of Bloody Face]], Kit comes to terms with them by [[spoiler:forgiving Jude and rescuing her from Briarcliff]], while Johnny [[spoiler:gets himself killed when he tries to take revenge on Lana]], and Monsignor Howard [[spoiler:commits suicide because he can't deal with the guilt of ignoring the abuses at Briarcliff]]. |
| 15 | ** ''[[Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven Coven]]'': Oppression and power corrupts. |
| 16 | * ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'': Old fashioned heroics in a world lacking heroes. |
| 17 | * ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Is there value in seeking redemption? Especially when the path to it is long, thankless and possibly endless? Is redemption still worth fighting for if you ''know'' it's impossible? |
| 18 | * ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'': |
| 19 | ** Is it right to stay loyal and supportive to your family when it is in danger of falling apart or abandon to better your own personal family if they brought all their troubles on themselves? |
| 20 | ** Sometimes, people don't change or grow, even in face of adversity. |
| 21 | * ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': What it means to be a role model. |
| 22 | * ''Series/Babylon5'': The dangers of extremism and the idea that one cannot find all the answers to life's questions in one place. |
| 23 | * ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': The need to survive at all costs. The power of forgiveness and reconciliation. Faith, Idols and God. |
| 24 | * ''Series/{{Beef}}'': |
| 25 | ** Anger, and how people deal with it, be it suppressing it or blowing up |
| 26 | ** PoorCommunicationKills. How lack of communication and understanding between people makes relationships troubled. |
| 27 | * ''Series/BeingHumanUS'': The potential for evil is in all of us, and it's up to us to choose whether to [[ThenLetMeBeEvil give in to it]] or to continue trying to retain our humanity. |
| 28 | * ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Are brilliance and wisdom mutually exclusive? Can you be a genius and also wise in the ways of the world? |
| 29 | * ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'': There always have been smart and stupid people, and history is their conflict. |
| 30 | * ''Series/BlackMirror'': |
| 31 | ** In general: |
| 32 | *** The ambiguity between the benefits and drawbacks of modern technology, and what kind of impact it's having on modern society and those who live in it; [[NewMediaAreEvil are we becoming slaves to new media? Is it changing us and how we look at the world around us for the worse?]] |
| 33 | *** A secondary theme in several episodes is the nature of justice versus DisproportionateRetribution; several episodes involve a character suffering an ordeal who is exposed to be an AssholeVictim at best... but the punishment they receive for their sins is often so horrific, and their punishers so callous and sadistic (often using the sins of the Asshole Victim to gleefully indulge in their own cruelties without fear of punishment), that the question becomes whether those imparting justice have become just as (if not more) monstrous than those being sentenced. |
| 34 | ** And then there's the individual episodes: |
| 35 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorTheNationalAnthem The National Anthem]]"'': Is it worth degrading yourself for the sake of someone else? |
| 36 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorFifteenMillionMerits Fifteen Million Merits]]"'': The current state of affairs is pointless and soul-destroying. People do pointless work to buy pointless things and the carrot of celebrity is dangled in front of them as the only way out, but then when they find fame, it just turns out to be another prison. |
| 37 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorWhiteBear White Bear]]"'': The phenomenon of "justice porn" and social voyeurism, and how mob mentality justice can [[HeWhoFightsMonsters make you blind to justice and even worse than the person you're punishing]]. |
| 38 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment The Waldo Moment]]"'': How politics is becoming more about spectacle, personality and populist cynicism than sound policy and respect for universal rights and democracy. |
| 39 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorNosedive Nosedive]]"'': How people become obsessed with social media status and how this pursuit affects people in their real lives, right down to their job or housing. |
| 40 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorShutUpAndDance Shut Up and Dance]]"'': The horrific extremes people will go to so that they can avoid the consequences of their crimes. |
| 41 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorMenAgainstFire Men Against Fire]]"'': How people in minority groups become dehumanised, especially in war. |
| 42 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorHatedInTheNation Hated in the Nation]]"'': The phenomenon of cyber-bullying and online death threats. |
| 43 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorUSSCallister USS Callister]]"'': How [[DrunkWithPower absolute power corrupts absolutely]], with those lower on the social totem pole becoming easy targets. |
| 44 | *** ''"[[Recap/BlackMirrorArkAngel ArkAngel]]"'': Overprotective parenting and how it can adversely affect the relationship between parent and child. |
| 45 | *** ''"[[Film/BlackMirrorBandersnatch Bandersnatch]]"'': Do people really have free will? Or are there some [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall external forces]] that [[YouCantFightFate make all our choices for us]]? |
| 46 | * ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'': Conflict between duty and self-interest. |
| 47 | * ''Series/{{Bones}}'': The awesomeness of science. |
| 48 | * ''Series/BostonPublic'': High-school teachers and administrators are just as troubled and flawed as their students. |
| 49 | * ''Series/TheBoys2019'': |
| 50 | ** Having a super''power'' don't make someone a super''hero''. |
| 51 | ** The consequences of allowing media business to influence and be involved in real life affairs on a personal and international level. |
| 52 | ** Why real accountability is important and what happens when it isn't applied properly. |
| 53 | * ''Franchise/BreakingBad'' (franchise): |
| 54 | ** ''Series/BreakingBad'' (original series): |
| 55 | *** What is [[BeingEvilSucks the toll that doing evil will take]] on your life, family, and soul, even if it's initially (apparently) [[AntiVillain for good reasons]]? |
| 56 | *** Alternatively, is it possible to do something evil for good reasons and not have it affect who you are? |
| 57 | *** How important is it to be the master of your own destiny ''without'' relying on others? How far are you willing to go for that? |
| 58 | *** Everyone has people whom they love and cherish, but how far are they willing to go to protect those loved ones? |
| 59 | *** The sin of pride and ego, and how it can lead to one's downfall. |
| 60 | *** People are never who they seem, so don't base your judgements on first glance. |
| 61 | ** ''Series/BetterCallSaul'': |
| 62 | *** Can a lifelong scoundrel actually become a better person, or will they always slip back into their old habits? |
| 63 | *** [[ReformedButRejected Slamming the door on someone trying to improve themselves]] can make them [[SelfFulfillingProphecy much more susceptible to backsliding]]. |
| 64 | *** Living with the burden of guilt and remorse over one's misdeeds and mistakes, and the consequences of one's actions eventually coming back to bite them. |
| 65 | ** ''Film/ElCamino'': Traumatic memories from your past will always haunt you for the rest of your life. But you can at least ''attempt'' to start over fresh in a completely new place. |
| 66 | * ''Series/{{Broadchurch}}'': What secrets do people hide? Can ''anyone'' survive the scrutiny of a close look? And when they inevitably fail, is it right to shame and deride them? |
| 67 | * ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': |
| 68 | ** The conflict between maturity and immaturity, and whether you can grow up and find success while still managing to enjoy your life. |
| 69 | ** What an ideal, just and representative police force should look like in modern America. |
| 70 | * ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': |
| 71 | ** [[GrowingUpSucks Kids need to grow up sooner or later]]. We will lose the ones we love eventually. |
| 72 | ** Family isn't always biological. |
| 73 | * ''Series/BurnNotice'' has several. |
| 74 | ** Can you work with someone you don't like? |
| 75 | ** ThePowerOfFriendship. |
| 76 | ** Everyone is vulnerable in some way. |
| 77 | * ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'': In the story-arc that ended in Season 6, what cost seeking justice for the wrongs of the past can have on the present and / or future. In general, the perils and opportunities of opening yourself and your heart up to someone else. |
| 78 | * ''Series/{{Cheers}}'': |
| 79 | ** Everyone needs to have somewhere to come home to. |
| 80 | ** How and why we chose the places we spend our lives, and the people we choose to spend them with. |
| 81 | * ''Series/{{Chernobyl}}'': Science and truth versus politics and lies. |
| 82 | * ''Series/{{Chuck}}'': IJustWantToBeNormal vs. IJustWantToBeSpecial. |
| 83 | * ''Series/TheCloser'': Can you separate your personal life from work? |
| 84 | * ''Series/CodeBlack'': Medical decisions are not just solved in a day (even if WebcomicTime suggests this), and for a hospital, there is ''never'' StatusQuoIsGod or a SnapBack at any time: ''everything'' is dynamic, not static. The other central themes are around morality in a way similar to ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' when looked at a character-centric StoryArc for that season. Also, how do you separate work from personal life? |
| 85 | * ''Series/ColdCase'': No crime stays unsolved forever. Also, "the good old days" [[NostalgiaFilter were never any better or worse than today]] -- each generation since time began has had its dark side. |
| 86 | * ''Series/CobraKai'': |
| 87 | ** Taking [[TheHero the]] [[TheBully arche]][[MentorArchetype types]] [[EvilMentor of]] [[BullyHunter the]] [[ArrogantKungFuGuy original]] [[Franchise/TheKarateKid series]] and blurring the lines between them, showing [[NotSoDifferentRemark how similar]] they really are, [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality how they see themselves]] verses [[PerspectiveFlip how they see each other]] and [[HeelFaceTurn how easy it is]] [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain for one to become the other.]] |
| 88 | ** The dangers of living in the past. |
| 89 | * ''Series/TheCollector'': Is a decade of happiness enough to [[DealWithTheDevil trade in your soul]], the only thing about yourself which will last for eternity? |
| 90 | * ''Series/{{Columbo}}'': |
| 91 | ** How appearances can be deceptive; a seemingly [[ThePerfectCrime perfect crime]] might be full of flaws, and someone who is seemingly unintelligent [[ObfuscatingStupidity might be smarter than they appear]]. |
| 92 | ** Also hubris; each of the killers is arrogantly convinced that they've devised a foolproof plan to commit and get away with murder, but there's always just one more thing that they've overlooked... |
| 93 | * ''Series/{{Community}}'': |
| 94 | ** The series as a whole focuses on how people bond together to form [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin communities]] with one another, and what it takes to hold these communities together; in particular, how [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]] and accepting others, flaws and all, helps with this. Each season also develops a particular aspect of this theme, based around the class that the main characters are taking together for that year: |
| 95 | *** Season 1 (Spanish) - Communication; how do people of different backgrounds learn to speak a common language with one another? |
| 96 | *** Season 2 (Anthropology) - Unity; can people of different persuasions come together as TrueCompanions? And can they stay TrueCompanions without either tearing themselves apart or letting outsiders do so? |
| 97 | *** Season 3 (Biology) - Evolution; can the group stay together even as they evolve differently as people? |
| 98 | *** Season 4 (History) - History; the group coming to terms with their pasts but also realizing how much they've grown. |
| 99 | *** Season 5 - Renewal/Restoration and starting over; the show doesn't follow the characters as they study a particular class but as they try to make the school a better place, and thus try to figure out how start their lives over again after things have fallen apart for them. Later episodes dealt with conflict and how it is both avoided but at the same time needed to advance a story. |
| 100 | *** Season 6 - moving on, and accepting that nothing lasts forever and that the people you love may end up leaving you behind. |
| 101 | * ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'': |
| 102 | ** Mental illness is a serious thing, you need to look for treatment, support and take care of it. |
| 103 | ** The influence parents have on their children, for better or worse. |
| 104 | ** Love will not fix everything in your life. There is no fix to your problems aside from facing them head on and dealing with them in a mature way instead of running away. |
| 105 | * ''Series/CriminalMinds'': Why do people do terrible things? How will we manage the terrible things we have to carry inside us? |
| 106 | * ''Series/TheCrown2016 '': |
| 107 | ** What place does an inherently illiberal and undemocratic monarchy have in the most peaceful, prosperous, and stable era in human history that was ushered in after the horrors of World War II? |
| 108 | ** How important is duty to others when it costs you personal happiness? |
| 109 | * ''Series/{{CSI}}'': There is no perfect crime. The suspects always leave a clue behind. |
| 110 | ** Alternatively, science as an instrument of justice. |
| 111 | * ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'': The superficialities of day to day social life |
| 112 | * ''Series/DadsArmy'': The contrasting absurdities and bravery of the British in wartime. |
| 113 | * ''Series/{{Dallas}}'': Can personal ambition take precedence over family loyalty? |
| 114 | * ''Series/DancingOnTheEdge'': When the going gets tough, how open-minded are self-proclaimed open-minded people? |
| 115 | * ''Series/Dark2017'': Determinism. Is it possible to alter past and future events? And do humans have free will or are we slaves to desires that are casually determined? |
| 116 | * ''Series/DaysOfOurLives'' When it comes to romance People turn to scheme to get what they want. |
| 117 | * ''Series/DeadLikeMe'': Picking up the pieces of your life, the importance of seizing second chances. |
| 118 | * ''Series/{{Degrassi|TheNextGeneration}}'': Dealing with adversity can be tough, but if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can prevail. "Whatever it takes, I know I can make it through." |
| 119 | * ''Series/DharmaAndGreg'': Opposites attract. |
| 120 | * ''Series/{{Disjointed}}'': The benefits of using marijuana for medicinal purposes, as well as its place in modern medicine and society. |
| 121 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'': |
| 122 | ** Overall could be said to focus on pacifism ([[DependingOnTheWriter whether]] [[TechnicalPacifist technical]] or otherwise), the question of where "home" really lies and the ever-changing nature of reality. But breaking it up for each Doctor (mainly taken from the ''Series/DoctorWho Ratings Guide''): |
| 123 | ** ''First Doctor Era'': The meeting of the primitive and the advanced. |
| 124 | ** ''Second Doctor Era'': The dangers of technology. Also, the enemies outside and inside (this is the era where the 'base under siege' plot was most commonly used as a staple). |
| 125 | ** ''Third Doctor Era'': Authority. |
| 126 | ** ''Fourth Doctor Era'': Survival at all costs, climaxing with [[GrandFinale Season 18's]] message of 'change and decay' (Season 12 in contrast had an underlying theme of 'rebirth'). |
| 127 | ** ''Early Fifth Doctor Era'': "We're all in the same tribe!". |
| 128 | ** ''Late Fifth Doctor Era'': [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism The failure of peaceful methods in a corrupt, violent universe]]. |
| 129 | ** ''Sixth Doctor Era'': Life under surveillance. |
| 130 | *** Also, as an extension of the "Late Fifth Doctor Era": What methods ''were'' necessary to exist in a corrupt, violent universe, and the toll this could have. |
| 131 | ** ''Seventh Doctor Era'': "Unfinished Business". |
| 132 | ** ''Eighth Doctor Era'': Having all your responsibilities cleared and being free to move on. |
| 133 | ** ''War Doctor Era'': Even when there isn't a better way, always hope you can find one. |
| 134 | ** ''Ninth Doctor Era'': "Everything dies. Everything has its time" along with [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Battle Not With Monsters]]. |
| 135 | *** Nine's era also has "everyone can save the day." A majority of the episodes resolve themselves due to the Doctor's inspiring miscellaneous characters to be heroes. |
| 136 | ** ''Tenth Doctor Era'': Life after the funeral. Also, the pain of immortality, and the delicate balance between being ''a'' hero and assuming that you are the only person left with the power to save people. |
| 137 | *** Arrogance and hubris, and the consequences of this, is also something of a theme. It's notable that whenever the Tenth Doctor lets his more arrogant tendencies get away from him, the consequences usually come back to bite him. |
| 138 | ** ''Eleventh Doctor Era'': Fairytales and stories, along with "Time can be rewritten". And now in series 6, Becoming a legend will make you TheHero to some and TheDreaded to others, no matter how neutral your intentions. |
| 139 | *** In a more subtle example, series 6 also put an emphasis on the relationship between parents and their children. A third of the episodes involve a father-son relationship as a plot point, and that's not counting the major reveal of the season ([[spoiler:River Song]] being the daughter of [[spoiler: Amy and Rory]]) that is spread over two two-parters. |
| 140 | ** ''Twelfth Doctor Era'': What makes a good person? |
| 141 | ** ''Thirteenth Doctor Era'': Chaos born from the breakdown of an established order. |
| 142 | *** Also, the recurring theme of being sure you are living in the present day in the best possible way as you are here and now instead of mindlessly focusing on the past or future that belongs to somebody else. |
| 143 | ** ''Fourteenth Doctor Era'': Can you truly rest after a lifetime of adventures filled with trauma? |
| 144 | ** Also, anyone, even the most seemingly insignificant person, is important and matters even if that person can't see it themselves. |
| 145 | ** What does it mean to be ''"The Doctor"''? |
| 146 | ** The series as a whole has "the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism". |
| 147 | ** Both the Classic and New Series have dwelled on the fact that nothing lasts forever, that even the best of times will come to an end eventually, while at the same time accepting that that isn't a bad thing, so long as you enjoy the journey, and treasure the memories once it's over. |
| 148 | * ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'': What is the human identity? Is it tangible? Can it be destroyed? |
| 149 | * ''Series/DowntonAbbey'': |
| 150 | ** It's the EndOfAnAge and those that don't adapt to the changes are doomed to become obsolete. |
| 151 | ** How far will people go to avoid scandal? |
| 152 | ** The series themselves could have their own themes centered around change. Series 1 and 2 deal with change itself; Series 3 is about denying that change; Series 4 is about accepting change, while Series 5 is about resilience in the face of change that is harmful or negative. |
| 153 | * ''Series/EarlyEdition'': How a single act can change the lives of others, [[NiceJobBReakingItHero or make it worse]]. |
| 154 | * ''Series/{{Euphoria}}'': Everyone has baggage. |
| 155 | * ''Series/{{Extras}}'': Can you achieve fame and fortune without sacrificing your integrity? |
| 156 | * ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': |
| 157 | ** Duality, the conflict between who we really are deep down versus the people we wish to be and present to the world. |
| 158 | ** Tied into the first theme: Personal morality versus what we do to survive. |
| 159 | ** How awe-inspiring the universe is, both in its wonder and its horror. |
| 160 | * ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': |
| 161 | ** Faith in all its permutations. The terrible and glorious things faith can motivate people to do, how they react when their faith is taken from them, and the forms that faith comes in (religion, family, heroes, causes, love, friends, and so on). Faith ''itself'' can be more worthy than whatever symbol it's placed in. |
| 162 | ** The film ''Film/{{Serenity}}'', though touching on that theme in the Operative and Mal's character arc, has a different one that may have surfaced if the series had continued, which is this: Flawed humans can't create perfect humans or a perfect world. The death of what is considered 'sin' would be the end of the human race; without evil, without wrong, without the ability to ''choose'' to be good (rather than being good because that's all we can be), we may as well be dead. |
| 163 | * ''Series/FoylesWar'': The moral and ethical price of fighting a war on the people living in the home front. Can murder even be considered a crime when thousands more are dying through warfare every day? |
| 164 | * ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': |
| 165 | ** The foolishness of snobbery and putting on unnecessary airs and graces. |
| 166 | ** The ridiculous lengths that people will sometimes go in order to try and succeed or impress others... and how they can backfire. |
| 167 | ** The conflicts between how we see ourselves, how we want other people to see us, and how they actually see us. |
| 168 | ** Intergenerational conflict, and what it takes to resolve it. |
| 169 | * ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': The clash of cultures, and how things like wealth and education won't shield you from the harsh reality of life, especially for African-Americans. |
| 170 | * ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Friendship in all its forms (friendship among men and women, friendship that is broken and reforged, friendship that blossoms into romance). |
| 171 | * ''Series/FriendsFromCollege'': You can't live chasing the past. |
| 172 | * ''Series/TheFlash2014'': Even one's own loved ones have secrets. |
| 173 | * ''[[Franchise/ASongOfIceAndFire Game of Thrones]]'' universe: |
| 174 | ** GenreDeconstruction. The series mixes splendor and squalor to deconstruct romanticized fantasy settings and both good and bad characters subvert or suffer for fitting romanticized fantasy archetypes. |
| 175 | ** The many and varied ways that people can end up becoming twisted and evil. [[FreudianExcuse Being deprived and abused]] can turn you bad. [[EntitledBastard Being spoiled and pampered]] can ''also'' turn you bad. Being deprived in some ways and spoiled in others can ''definitely'' turn you bad. Likewise, being [[StrawNihilist too cynical and pragmatic]] can lead you to commit atrocities, but so can being [[KnightTemplar too idealistic and high-minded.]] Given all that, ''can'' people even be truly good, and if so how? |
| 176 | ** ''Series/GameOfThrones'': The series itself has a great many themes because of the sheer density of the series but it its core is that while evil will gain early and short sighted victories, by its very nature will fail and collapse in on itself. As for good, unless the people fighting for it are willing to compromise and adapt they will break and fail under the strain. |
| 177 | *** Season 1 is about honor and naïveté in a morally bankrupt world. |
| 178 | *** Season 2 is about building alliances and trust even with your enemy. |
| 179 | *** Season 3 is about the consequences of people who aren't ready for power having it thrust upon them. |
| 180 | *** Season 4 is about {{Revenge}} and how no sin or wrong is forgotten regardless if it happened years or minutes ago. |
| 181 | *** Season 5 is about holding the world together as it falls apart. |
| 182 | *** Season 6 is about whether or not a lost cause is still worth fighting for. |
| 183 | *** Season 7-8 are about inspiring heroes and noble causes, and how they can bring out the best in people on the one hand or blind you to reality and lead you to make horrible mistakes on the other. |
| 184 | *** Extremism is dangerous. Fire can be deadly, but ice will kill you just as dead. |
| 185 | *** Each of the characters has their own particular shade of grey, Jerkasses often have a point, everyone has a FreudianExcuse, and even the most sympathetic characters sometimes have glaring moral blind spots. {{Forgiveness}} and Redemption are common dilemmas posed to both the characters and the audience. How many good deeds does it take to outweigh a bad one? What is truly unforgivable? |
| 186 | ** ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': Season 1 is about how bitter rivalries, jealousy, power hunger and lust can tear families and kingdoms apart. |
| 187 | * ''Series/GilmoreGirls'': |
| 188 | ** Do we sometimes still need our parents in our lives, even when we're grown up and no longer under their roof? |
| 189 | ** What are the consequences of not learning to deal with failure at a young age? |
| 190 | ** If parents try to raise their children differently than they themselves were raised, can that prevent their children from repeating the mistakes of their parents? |
| 191 | ** What comes ''after'' you achieve your dream job/career? |
| 192 | * ''Series/{{Glee}}'': |
| 193 | ** HighSchool is terrible, but it's still worth [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism opening yourself up to joy]]. |
| 194 | ** Popularity is a fleeting and unsatisfactory thing, and the more you try to achieve it the more you'll hurt yourself and others. |
| 195 | ** [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits We all have something "wrong" with us]], or something which makes us different, but [[BeYourself we should embrace that]] and turn our weaknesses into strengths. |
| 196 | * ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'': Finding love and happiness, no matter what stage of life you're in. |
| 197 | ** The elder years can be as much exciting and fulfilling as one makes it to be. |
| 198 | * ''Series/TheGoodGuys'': Crimes can't be solved without getting one's hands dirty. |
| 199 | * ''Series/TheGoodies'' used its central theme [[DrunkWithPower (Everybody goes drunk with power)]] to kick off silly, wacky plots involving violence and slapstick. |
| 200 | * ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': |
| 201 | ** The complexities of morality. What does it means and what's required to be a good person? At which point you can be considered good? |
| 202 | ** What people truly need to become better is a chance to do so. |
| 203 | ** The importance of forming bonds with other people. |
| 204 | * ''Series/{{Gotham}}'': How does one root out corruption when it impacts on every level of society? What effect might such a crusade have on the psyche of even the most noble and well intentioned individual? |
| 205 | * ''Series/GraceAndFrankie'': |
| 206 | ** The hardships of life for people in their 70s. |
| 207 | ** Finding fulfillment late in your life. |
| 208 | ** Provided you live long enough, your body (and sometimes your mind) will begin to fail you, and you must learn to rely on others to survive and function. |
| 209 | * ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': Even the worst of us wants to be understood, but we flinch from understanding. So is the one who ''does'' understand a person of the deepest compassion or a figure of terror? And how would we, or they themselves, know which? |
| 210 | * ''{{Series/Happy}}'': How [[ChildrenAreInnocent cheerful, childlike naivety]] clashes with [[CrapsackWorld dark, cynical reality]]. |
| 211 | * ''Series/TheHauntingOfHillHouse2018'': Being haunted, be it by ghosts, by the past, by grief, by trauma, etc. |
| 212 | * ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'': Power does not give you the right to hurt and oppress others. |
| 213 | * ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': The effects that investigating murder and being surrounded by death can have on those who are charged to investigate them. |
| 214 | * ''Series/HolbyCity'': Medical decisions are not just solved in a day, and for a hospital, there is ''never'' StatusQuoIsGod or a SnapBack at any time: ''everything'' is dynamic, not static. The other central themes are around morality in a way similar to ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' when looked at a character-centric StoryArc for that season. |
| 215 | * ''Series/{{House}}'': The cure sometimes being worse than the disease. |
| 216 | * ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': |
| 217 | ** The really, ''really'' long path to true love. |
| 218 | ** [[http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/06/143195693/how-i-met-your-mother-the-optimism-of-inevitability How everything that has happened to you and everyone who came into your life is part of the story of how you got where you are today.]] |
| 219 | -->'''Future!Ted:''' It's a scary thought, but it's also kind of wonderful. All those little parts of the machine, constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place, at the right time. |
| 220 | ** As of season 6, and especially during it's duration, the theme of moving on and how old things need to go so new things can come also plays in. |
| 221 | * ''Series/ImAlanPartridge'': The emptiness of a life lived in narcissism and wasted seeking fame and recognition for its own sake, rather than for anything of merit. |
| 222 | * ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'': Anger gives you strength, which you may need to fight evil. But it also makes you stupid and prone to collateral damage, and frightens the people you want to protect. |
| 223 | * ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Actions always have consequences even if you refuse to acknowledge or learn from them. |
| 224 | * ''Series/{{JAG}}'': The military in general represents all that's good about America, and although there are a few rotten apples in the barrel, the military as a system is never at fault. |
| 225 | * ''Series/{{Jam}}'': The things we laugh at can sometimes be truly sick, twisted and depraved. |
| 226 | * ''Series/Jericho2006'': What ordinary people are capable of when they are put in desperate situations. |
| 227 | * ''Franchise/KamenRider'': Being a franchise where each Season usually operates under its own continuity, the CentralTheme tends to change from series to series. |
| 228 | ** ''Showa-era Riders:'' There are a few exceptions, or at least, seasons where it is not as large an issue, but the basic unifying theme of the pre-Kuuga era is "Does becoming a monster mean losing your humanity?". It should also be known that this theme is still in effect in the Heisei and Reiwa seasons given the fact that all of the protagonists are related to or have powers that connect them to the antagonists in some way, and in fact, [[spoiler:some protagonists either toe over the line into becoming or are revealed to be the monsters they've been fighting and the overall conflict of humanity vs. monstrosity is reflected upon]]. |
| 229 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga:'' If violence is needed to combat violence, then when and how does it stop? |
| 230 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderAgito:'' What does it mean to evolve? |
| 231 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki:'' Are some wishes or motivations more 'correct' than others, and to what degree can people be justified in striving for them? |
| 232 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz:'' Just because one is less evolved does not mean they are weaker. |
| 233 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderBlade:'' A theme along the lines of ''Faiz'' and goes one step further: What is the final product of evolution - and is it a good thing? |
| 234 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderHibiki:'' Behave in a way that you believe in. |
| 235 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto:'' The positive and negative effects of personal pride and how it connects with one's identity. |
| 236 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderDenO:'' Can multiple goals that seem contradictory lead towards an outcome that benefits everyone? |
| 237 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderKiva:'' The actions of the past will affect the future. |
| 238 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderDecade:'' Everyone has their own story to tell. |
| 239 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderDouble:'' Alone you are good, together you are better. |
| 240 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderOOO:'' AmbitionIsEvil... or is it? Is greed good? Do people need desire, and if they do, how much of it do they need? |
| 241 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderFourze:'' ThePowerOfFriendship applies to both heroes ''and'' villains. |
| 242 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard:'' People need hope, but do they justify the methods used? |
| 243 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim:'' What do I do with this newly obtained power? If power can only destroy, then what if I don't want to destroy anything? Also, just because adults have lived through more than the children have doesn't mean they know any better. |
| 244 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive:'' Who are the real monsters? |
| 245 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost:'' What is the value of a person's life? Are individual lives still worth protecting even when that individuality causes conflict with one another? |
| 246 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderAmazons'': Is it living if you have to kill others to survive? That is the tragedy of living in a dog-eat-dog world. |
| 247 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': Would you prefer the real world, where you only have one "life" that you have to fight so hard to protect, or would you rather live in the world of games, where you can press "continue" as many times as you want? |
| 248 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': Can science lead to love and peace, even if it can enable war and destruction? Also, the people around us help shape what we become, for better or worse. |
| 249 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'': Is destiny predetermined? Should we punish someone for something they will do or guide them to a better option? |
| 250 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'': |
| 251 | *** The positive and negative effects of growing technology. [[AndroidsArePeopleToo Can technology work side by side with humanity for the better]], [[JustAMachine or are they just expendable tools to be used until they break?]] [[AIIsACrapshoot Or can it all lead to something much worse?]] |
| 252 | *** Which is [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman more human]]: a robot [[DoAndroidsDream that strives towards its dreams]] or a "real" human [[BlindObedience who blindly follows orders]]? |
| 253 | *** Hatred and malice. If [=AIs=] learn from humans, then they learn our bad points as well. [[TheChainOfHarm Abuse breeds abuse]], and human and AI alike need to become strong enough to overcome hatred. |
| 254 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'': |
| 255 | *** You are the writer of your own story and live to tell the tale to others. |
| 256 | *** ThePowerOfTrust is something everybody needs in their life, but how does one know just ''who'' to place that trust in? |
| 257 | *** The importance of confiding in your friends. Bearing a burden on your own only makes it so they can't help you while you're suffering internally. |
| 258 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderRevice'' |
| 259 | *** Is it healthy to hold back on negative thoughts and emotions? Should we let it out once in a while or at least accept it? |
| 260 | *** Is it better to live in a peaceless freedom or a freedomless peace? And how determined are you to fight for both peace ''and'' freedom? |
| 261 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'': How far are you willing to go to get what you desire? Anything worth having takes effort, but are you willing to risk your very life? And what kind of desires are worth such a risk? |
| 262 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderBlackSun'': |
| 263 | *** Discrimination can feed animosity, escalating disputes, and continuing violent cycles. Understanding, acceptance, and the significance of overcoming prejudice in order to establish peace and harmony are all factors that can be used to challenge discriminatory views and work toward a more inclusive and equal society. |
| 264 | *** The long-term consequences of CycleOfHatred extend far beyond the immediate conflict and impact the prospects of coexistence. |
| 265 | *** How do we face challanges in a cruel and harsh world? Are we have to surrender to the cruelty of the world or [[{{Determinator}} we have have to fight it back in order to prevent more oppressions]]? |
| 266 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderOutsiders'' |
| 267 | *** BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil and OrderVersusChaos. The conflict of good and evil always [[GoodNeedsEvil brings out the best on both sides]]. The idea of a world without conflict will only lead to stagnation and self-destruction because of the absence of something to struggle against. |
| 268 | *** A theme carried over from ''Revice'' take a step further: is it really worth it to sacrifice freedom over permanent and everlasting peace? And the sacrifices in question could also mean at the [[KillAllHumans expense of human lives]] being an [[FinalSolution answer to a perceived problem]]. |
| 269 | *** Good intentions can lead to bad outcomes. Your actions will have lasting consequences not only to yourself but to the people around you. |
| 270 | *** The anthology re-examines the concept of Kamen Riders in general. One who fights for justice while overcoming tragedies and triumphing against the forces of evil, or [[BewareTheSuperman one who uses their powers for evil to oppress all sentient life]]. The latter being represented in the form of the BigBad, a KnightTemplar AI that seeks to rid the world of everything that's evil. If Zein seeks to cleanse the world of malice, then what's the point of having Kamen Riders existing in the first place? |
| 271 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderGotchard'': Going off with the themes of human malice from ''Zero-One'' and ''Outsiders'', we humans are always capable of evil-- by choice or against our will; no matter how hard we try to suppress them, especially when absolute power corrupts absolutely. If ''Outsiders'' focuses on an [[TheComputerIsYourFriend A.I.]] trying to cull down malice [[HobbesWasRight through totalitarian methods]], this series has the villains preying on the malice of people to turn them into monsters. |
| 272 | * ''Series/TheLarrySandersShow'': The contrast between the slick surface glamour of showbusiness and the backstabbing grubbiness behind the scenes. WordOfGod also indicates that the show is about love -- specifically, the kind of love between [[HeterosexualLifePartners lifelong friends]] who care deeply for each other but struggle to express it. |
| 273 | * ''Series/LawAndOrder'': The strengths and flaws of the criminal justice system, and the difficulties in trying to find true justice while operating within it. |
| 274 | * ''Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'': The somewhat weird aren't always as bad as you think they are, it's the normal or truly mad you should be worried about. |
| 275 | * ''Series/{{Legion|2017}}'': What makes someone truly insane? |
| 276 | * ''Series/{{Life|2007}}'': The difference between forgiveness and revenge. |
| 277 | * ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': The main theme of Season 1 is how far are you willing to go to do the right thing or get {{revenge}} before darkness consumes you? |
| 278 | * ''Series/{{Lost}}'': Science vs. faith, and which one we choose to believe in during critical situations. |
| 279 | * ''[[Series/Lucifer2016 Lucifer]]'': "What is it that you truly desire" and how far are you willing to go to get it? |
| 280 | ** God and The Devil aren't making our decisions for us, we're all responsible for ourselves. |
| 281 | * ''Series/MadMen'': The contradictory roles men and women are ''supposed'' to play in society. |
| 282 | ** Additionally, the ability of individuals to adapt to societal changes. |
| 283 | * ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'': |
| 284 | ** As the show's theme song states, "[[LifeIsntFair Life is unfair]]." |
| 285 | ** Related: Very few people ever get a leg up in life, so if you are lucky enough for an opportunity to fall into your lap, don't waste it or else. |
| 286 | ** Also, your family is an essential part of your identity, no matter what paths you may later choose to take in life. |
| 287 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' |
| 288 | ** ''Series/AgentCarter'': Can you ''earn'' the respect of people who see you as inherently inferior? |
| 289 | *** Season 1: How do you live your life after losing the one(s) you love? |
| 290 | *** Season 2: What being the psychological toll of being the WomanBehindTheMan? |
| 291 | ** ''Series/TheDefenders2017'' |
| 292 | *** ''Series/Daredevil2015'': |
| 293 | *** Season 1: What does it mean to take justice into your own hands and the fine line between being a hero and a thug? |
| 294 | *** Season 2: Is one method of doing the right thing automatically better than the other and can both sides work in some situations? |
| 295 | *** Season 3: Is it better to continue to seek forgiveness when it isn’t initially accepted? Can grudges affect both parties? How can good men with good intentions stay afloat while being manipulated by predatory individuals? |
| 296 | *** ''Series/JessicaJones2015'': |
| 297 | *** Season 1: Facing trauma and the difficulty of your past. Also, who is your true family. |
| 298 | *** Season 2: Change in relationships and why people become heroes. |
| 299 | *** Season 3: Lies, both to others and to one-selves. |
| 300 | *** ''Series/LukeCage2016'': |
| 301 | *** Season 1: Social justice, racism, and inspiring others. |
| 302 | *** Season 2: How fame and power can corrupt one's morale and beliefs. |
| 303 | *** ''Series/IronFist2017'': |
| 304 | *** Season 1: If you left your past life behind involuntarily, will everything be back to normal once you return? |
| 305 | *** Season 2: What does it mean to earn something? Can new information change if something is earn despite showing that they are capable of using it already? |
| 306 | ** ''Series/Runaways2017'': |
| 307 | *** Parents are people, but that doesn't mean they should not be held [[CallingTheOldManOut accountable for their actions]]. |
| 308 | *** EvenEvilHasLovedOnes, but that doesn't mean they won't justify hurting them. |
| 309 | ** ''Series/WandaVision'': The grief of losing multiple loved ones and what are the consequences of running away from said grief. |
| 310 | ** ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'': The legacy of symbols and idols, from people who were directly affected by those idols to those in power manipulating the symbols for their benefit. Also, what makes someone a successor to the symbol? |
| 311 | *** Also, the difference between a good soldier and a good man (a central theme for the Captain America series as a whole, especially [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger the first film]], but no less prevalent here). |
| 312 | *** The contributions of African Americans in American history, past and present, and how those contributions often go unrecognized. Related to that is [[spoiler: Sam becoming a symbol of America, and what that entails for a person of color]]. |
| 313 | ** ''Series/Loki2021'': |
| 314 | *** Season 1: Creating our own destinies vs keeping one's fate as it should and the determination it takes to complete either goal, even if it must take morally questionable acts for either order or chaos. |
| 315 | *** Season 2: What does it mean to have a "glorious purpose"? Does it involve a lot of sacrifices to others or is it possible to prevent others from getting hurt even if you have to sacrifice your own happiness? |
| 316 | ** ''Series/Hawkeye2021'': Meeting those who inspire us and learning more about those we look up to. Sometimes, they may not be the hero we imagine them to be but even in their darker moments, there are still reasons they are worth being role models. |
| 317 | ** ''Series/MoonKnight2022'': Identity. What if someone has an identity that they didn't know about and was there all along? Is one identity more valid than the other despite not remembering anything about it or was there longer? Can both identities work side by side? |
| 318 | ** ''Series/MsMarvel2022'': Family and cultural heritage. Is it possible to honor them while still trying to be your own person? |
| 319 | ** ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'': Everyday life. Can a superhero still have a relatively normal life even when their identity is public knowledge? How do they deal with issues such as gaslighting and harassment? |
| 320 | ** ''Series/SecretInvasion2023'': Degree of trust and resentment. When is it okay to justify promises not being fulfilled? Should trust be automatically given or earned? When is retaliation justified and when is it seen as too far? |
| 321 | * ''Series/TheMarvelousMrsMaisel'': What relationships are you willing to sacrifice to achieve personal success? How does individual determination square up against collaboration when working towards your dream. |
| 322 | * ''Series/{{Mash}}'': The only way to deal with the horrors of war without going completely crazy is to let yourself go a ''little'' bit crazy instead. |
| 323 | * ''Series/TheMentalist'': Whether or not someone can pursue revenge single-mindedly and still be a good person. |
| 324 | * ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'': |
| 325 | ** Power (including magic) does not make a person good or evil, it is what a person chooses to do with it that defines them. |
| 326 | ** Parents cast long shadows over their children. |
| 327 | ** Secrets are destructive, especially when they exist between friends and family. |
| 328 | ** Social status is not an indicator of worth and blood is not necessarily ThickerThanWater. |
| 329 | ** YouCantFightFate and BecauseDestinySaysSo. |
| 330 | * ''Series/MetalHeroes'': |
| 331 | ** A general theme in the series is the importance and responsibility of using technology for good even when it can easily be abused. |
| 332 | ** ''Series/SpaceSheriffGavan'': The lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. |
| 333 | * ''Series/MiracleWorkers'': No matter where or when you live, the little things in life will always be the same. |
| 334 | * ''Series/MissionImpossible'': People using each other as pawns. |
| 335 | * ''Series/ModernFamily'': How a diverse group can still be a family. |
| 336 | * ''{{Series/Monk}}'': Obsession, and the way it can be good in some parts of life, and bad in others. The titular detective himself says that "[[BlessedWithSuck It's a gift]]... [[CursedWithAwesome and a curse]]." |
| 337 | * ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': How would a complete outsider view our world? What could ''we'' learn from what he sees? |
| 338 | * ''Series/MrBean'': Thinking outside the box. |
| 339 | * ''Literature/MrMercedes'' (in the AT&T Network adaptation): How far will someone go to being a complete sociopath? Also, disabled people are not just people in a wheelchair (as demonstrated by Holly Gibney, an important character). How far will ''you'' go outside the box for a goal and/or to seek justice? |
| 340 | * ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'': Doing good for the sake of doing good and not for a reward or to avoid punishment. |
| 341 | * ''Series/NancyDrew2019'': Folklore can often have a dark origin behind it. |
| 342 | ** Whitewashing and ignoring women’s stories in history is wrong and may bring trouble in the present. |
| 343 | ** You are not the sins of those related to you. |
| 344 | ** In Season Two, identity becomes a theme, as Nancy deals [[spoiler:with her biological heritage, and tries to figure out who she really is]], George [[spoiler: tries to coexist with the spirit of Odette]] and Bess [[spoiler:gets cut off from her relatives.]] |
| 345 | * ''Series/TheNeighbors'': Finding common ground among people of different beliefs. |
| 346 | * ''Series/NewGirl'': How the inclusion of a new friend changes the dynamic of a group. |
| 347 | * ''Series/TheNewsroom'': Intelligence and Ethics vs Greed and Superficiality. Every character who's painted in a negative light abandons ethical and professional integrity to serve their own ends. |
| 348 | * ''Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}:'' |
| 349 | ** ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'': How to co-exist in one family despite major differences. |
| 350 | ** ''Series/ICarly'': Even the most whacked out ideas could entertain one or many people. |
| 351 | ** ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': Make it Shine; If you're feeling confident, don't hesitate to put yourself in the spotlight. |
| 352 | ** ''Series/HenryDanger'': The struggle of maintaining a balance between a work life and a social life. |
| 353 | * ''Series/{{Nikita}}'': Accepting help comes at a price. |
| 354 | * ''Series/NipTuck'': Hiding the ugliness of people. |
| 355 | * ''Series/Numb3rs'': Using math to solve crimes. |
| 356 | * ''Series/TheOC'': Starting your life over. |
| 357 | * ''[[Series/TheOfficeUK The]] [[Series/TheOfficeUS Office]]'' (Both UK and US): The demoralising and crushing tedium of white-collar work. |
| 358 | ** Also, the debate on whether one should escape from the toil of this work to follow one's dreams (risking failure in the process) or to stick with it (enduring a lifestyle of monotonous labor that nonetheless grants financial stability). |
| 359 | * ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Getting back what is previously lost. |
| 360 | * ''Series/OneTreeHill'': Children trying to be better than their parents. |
| 361 | * ''Series/{{Osmosis}}'': Is certainty possible? Or is chasing it simply madness, especially when it comes to things as uncertain as love? |
| 362 | * ''{{Series/Oz}}'': |
| 363 | ** Mercy, punishment, and rehabilitation. |
| 364 | ** Does man have the capacity to change his wicked ways? |
| 365 | ** Finding one's true self, and all the simultaneous existential horror and relief that entails. |
| 366 | * ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'': The conflict between idealism and realism within local government, and how this can be resolved in order to make our communities better places to be. Also, whether or not small and seemingly insignificant acts can make the world a better place overall. |
| 367 | * ''Series/PeepShow'': The differences and conflicts between the appearances we present to the world and our secret inner thoughts. |
| 368 | * ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Who do you save and who do you kill? Who and what are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good? Do you even have the right to make that decision? |
| 369 | * ''Series/PoliceCameraAction'': As an {{Edutainment}} show, has several: |
| 370 | ** 1994 pilot episodes: Britain's roads are not as picturesque as they look, and you need to be aware of the hazards on the roads. |
| 371 | ** 1995-1996 series: Driving a car is something to take seriously (and in the episode "Helicops", the central theme was "police have a number of roles, not just fighting crime", while for "International" it was "police do not face the same problems the world over"). |
| 372 | ** 1997-1999 series: You face judgment choices when driving. Know your limits. |
| 373 | ** 2000-2002 series: Safety is important, but enjoy owning your vehicle. |
| 374 | * Power Rangers: |
| 375 | ** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' and ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'': Overlapping theme of tradition vs progress. |
| 376 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'': The nature of evil. Is it inherent or taught? Can villains be noble or redeemed? |
| 377 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'': Are loyalty and honor universal values? |
| 378 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'': SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVersusFate. Can we control our future? |
| 379 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'': Never giving up even in the most daunting adversities. |
| 380 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'': What is the value of family? |
| 381 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': The coming of age story, and the balance between ambition and legacy. |
| 382 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': Do you have to be the best to still be a hero? |
| 383 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'': Is redemption possible? Can you improve the worst quality of yourself? |
| 384 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'': How does extreme situations affect people? Will it bring out their best? Their worst? |
| 385 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'': How lifelong expectations can dramatically affect a person's life for better or worse. |
| 386 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': How much will you prosper if you know little about the world around you? |
| 387 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers'': How one sees themselves versus how others see them. |
| 388 | * ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'': Secrets may brings people closer...or tear apart their lives. |
| 389 | * ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'': The conflict between the individual and authority. |
| 390 | * ''Series/{{Primeval}}'': |
| 391 | ** NatureIsNotNice - but it's not evil either, simply indifferent. |
| 392 | ** NatureIsNotAToy - if you try and meddle with forces you don't understand for whatever reason, it ''will'' come back to bite you... oftentimes literally. |
| 393 | * ''Series/{{Psych}}'': A bit subtle, but: how hard are you willing to work to be who you want to be? Various characters ended up where they were by trying to pursue who they want to be while others struggle in achieving that goal and having to improve to reach that. |
| 394 | ** Is it worth it to lie if it helps people? |
| 395 | * ''Series/PushingDaisies'': Life and death are not opposites. Life, death, and rebirth are the opposites of stasis. |
| 396 | * ''Series/QuantumLeap'': SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong. |
| 397 | * ''Series/RedDwarf'': Isolation. How to put up with the people surrounding us when we're forced to spend time with them. |
| 398 | * ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'': Trying to survive in an WeirdnessMagnet. |
| 399 | ** Dealing with the choices your parents and community made in the past during the present. |
| 400 | * ''Series/RobinHood'': |
| 401 | ** The BBC's version: For the first two seasons: what's more important, the needs of the individual or the impersonal greater good? |
| 402 | ** For the third season: fight the good fight, even if (or when) it costs you everything you hold dear. |
| 403 | ** The relationship between an individual man, the people in his life, and the legend that builds up around him (as epitomized in the gang's catchphrase: "We are Robin Hood".) With that in mind...no matter who dies, legends will live on, and ensure that there will always be people willing to fight against "The Man". |
| 404 | * ''Series/{{Rome}}'': How long till one's fortune runs out? |
| 405 | * ''Series/RussianDoll'': |
| 406 | ** Reaching out to others for help, or to help them. |
| 407 | ** Addiction and mental illness, as well as their cyclical nature. |
| 408 | * ''Series/SchittsCreek'': What happens when an ultra-wealthy family is stripped of their wealth? Can they learn to be a family without the money that was central to their identities? |
| 409 | * ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': When the power to save or destroy people's lives rests in your hands every day, you need your friends to help you handle the responsibility, because you ''can't'' do it all on your own. After all, [[WaxingLyrical you're no]] [[ThemeSongPowerUp Superman]]. |
| 410 | ** While it was never a harped on theme, the secondary message seemed to be based on masks. The different masks people wear around different people, how we develop our masks, the way masks are paradoxically the things that can keep us going and break us (ex. Dr. Cox tough-Dr-Jerk-act keeps him coming back to a place that constantly taxes him emotionally yet it also causes him extreme loneliness), and how sometimes a hospital can be the one place where the mask comes off. |
| 411 | ** To quote a commenter from Website/{{Reddit}}: "Scrubs always had the underlying theme that [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome real life isn't a story]], and while we see the events in story form through JD's eyes that doesn't change what happens in the end". |
| 412 | * ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': How some people just will never learn a lesson, if there's even a lesson to learn. |
| 413 | * ''Series/SexAndTheCity'': Never losing hope or becoming jaded in the search for love. |
| 414 | * ''Series/SixFeetUnder'': Human mortality, the inevitability of death, and the effect it has on those still living. |
| 415 | * ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': Finding your calling. |
| 416 | ** What are the consequences when two friends conflict over saving people vs controlling people? |
| 417 | ** What is the difference between having privacy and keeping secrets. |
| 418 | ** Do those people who have the ability to take action have the ''responsibility'' to take action |
| 419 | * ''Series/{{Smash}}'': What would you sacrifice to make your dream come true? |
| 420 | * ''Series/TheShield'': |
| 421 | ** The meaning of justice and whether is possible to enforce such an ideal in a corrupt, messed up society. |
| 422 | *** Enforcing the law on an unruly area (Farmington) and its cost on the humans beneath the badge. |
| 423 | ** Is safety worthy of giving up on personal rights, be it for both citizen and criminal alike? |
| 424 | *** As a variation: The authorities keeping you safe may not have your best interests at heart. |
| 425 | *** What are you willing to sacrifice to make the world a better place? What price will you pay? |
| 426 | ** All institutions become tailored to the people helming them. As such, on their shoulders lies steering them through their virtues or flaws. |
| 427 | ** Fraternity, family, loyalty and teamwork: what does it mean to a cop? |
| 428 | ** All actions have consequences. |
| 429 | * ''Series/TheSopranos'': |
| 430 | ** Humanity's inner dysfunction, and its roots in NatureVersusNurture. |
| 431 | ** BetterLivingThroughEvil can be easy and attractive but [[BeingEvilSucks carries a lot of negative issues]], no matter how one tries to deny or justify it. |
| 432 | ** People's unwillingness to change and the consequences of their actions. |
| 433 | ** [[NostalgiaAintLikeItUsedToBe The past is never as people remember it]]. |
| 434 | ** Is the American Dream really worth chasing through any means possible? |
| 435 | * ''Series/{{Southland}}'': Cops aren't heroes or villians; they're people, with their own problems, just like you. |
| 436 | * ''Series/{{Spaced}}'': What it means to be a young adult in the early twenty-first century, and how that means figuring out who you are and what you want to do. |
| 437 | * ''Series/SquidGame'': The dehumanizing effects of capitalism, and the lengths people will go to survive under it. |
| 438 | * ''Series/StationEleven'' is about the healing power of art. |
| 439 | ** Miranda began her graphic novel ''Station Eleven'' after losing her entire family and finishing it was cathartic. Both Kirsten and Tyler used the graphic novel to cope with being kids in a society that had since collapsed. |
| 440 | ** The Traveling Symphony make it a point to perform Shakespeare for various little post-apocalyptic towns because they believe [[LivingIsMoreThanSurviving "survival is insufficient"]] and folks deserve to see art. |
| 441 | ** [[spoiler:Tyler/the Prophet finally communicates with his mother Elizabeth and father figure Clark when the three are cast in the analogous roles of [[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} Hamlet, Gertrude, and Claudius]].]] Clark complains that it shouldn't be art therapy... but it ultimately fulfills a similar function. |
| 442 | * ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The possibility of friendship among races. As ugly and violent as human history has been, it is possible for us to achieve world peace and equality. |
| 443 | * ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Whether it is possible to break free of the past, or whether people/civilizations will be forever chained by it, at least early on. Later seasons address the GodzillaThreshold, and whether it is possible to hold onto morality in the face of certain doom. |
| 444 | * ''Series/StrangerThings'': |
| 445 | ** Seasons 1 and 2 explore ThePowerOfFriendship and Family, both the one you're born into and [[TrueCompanions the one you choose]]. The series overall also explores the NostalgiaFilter towards the 1980s many have by peeling back the bright neon surface to touch on some of the horrors and dangers lurking under the surface. |
| 446 | ** Season 3 is as above, but also revolves around growing up and changing and if whether or not a friend group can stay together. |
| 447 | ** Communication, secrecy, and how bad people are at sharing what they ''really'' mean compared to what they're actually saying. It's probably not that big of a coincidence that one of the main plot points of Season 1 is simply trying to find a means of communicating with Will while he's stuck in the Upside Down. |
| 448 | * ''Series/{{Suits}}'': Competition in the workplace and at home. |
| 449 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': [[CrapsackWorld Life sucks]]. [[TrueCompanions Family — and not necessarily blood family]] is the only thing you can really count on. |
| 450 | ** What does it mean to be [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman human]]? [[AbusiveParents What]] [[ARealManIsAKiller does]] [[RealMenHateAffection it]] [[RealMenWearPink mean]] [[InternalizedCategorism to]] [[WellDoneSonGuy be]] [[TheUnfavorite a]] [[LoveMartyr man]]? |
| 451 | * ''Franchise/SuperSentai'': |
| 452 | ** ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger'': Also applying to the whole franchise, how teamwork and responsibility can lead to greater success for everyone, and how to cope if a teammate can't or won't contribute. |
| 453 | ** ''Series/JAKQDengekitai'': Who are the real monsters, the human criminals or the monsters themselves? |
| 454 | ** ''Series/BattleFeverJ'': What it means to be a hero. |
| 455 | ** ''Series/DenshiSentaiDenziman'': How far one is willing to go for a cause they are thrown into and carrying on the legacy of your predecessors. |
| 456 | ** ''Series/TaiyouSentaiSunVulcan'': The far-reaching consequences of our actions. |
| 457 | ** ''Series/DaiSentaiGoggleFive'': The ways science can be used for both good and evil. |
| 458 | ** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'': Going off of Goggle V's theme, how science can ultimately benefit people. |
| 459 | ** ''Series/ChoudenshiBioman'': [[DoAndroidsDream Does being more robotic make one less human?]] |
| 460 | ** ''Series/DengekiSentaiChangeman'': |
| 461 | *** Giving hope to those who have none. |
| 462 | *** How the line between good and evil is much closer than it appears. |
| 463 | ** ''Series/ChoujuuSentaiLiveman'': Enjoying your youth while it lasts and maturing into an adult. |
| 464 | ** ''Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger'': Just because something is silly doesn't mean it's not dangerous or heroic. |
| 465 | ** ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger:'': The importance of teenager-hood and what to do during that time. |
| 466 | ** ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoFive'': The importance of family relationships and how they can make or break a dynamic. |
| 467 | ** ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'': |
| 468 | *** The inevitability of death -- we humans remember that we all have to die and even lose people we love even in the most unfortunate of circumstances. No matter how much we can do about it, it is impossible to turn back time. |
| 469 | *** [[ScrewDestiny The future isn't yet set in stone. Our actions have the potential to change it, for better or for worse]]. |
| 470 | ** ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'': How the least likely of people can still be heroes. |
| 471 | ** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'': What causes tragedy in someone's life? |
| 472 | ** ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'': The work life of those who lay down their life. |
| 473 | ** ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'': The courage it takes to learn and embrace something new and the bonds of family. |
| 474 | ** ''Series/GoGoSentaiBoukenger'': The personal treasure of someone's life is more valuable than something powerful or legendary. |
| 475 | ** ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'': Training yourself to be the best you can be. |
| 476 | ** ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger'': How does one who strives for perfection deal with their personal imperfections? |
| 477 | ** ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'': Loyalty beyond obligation. |
| 478 | ** ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'': Learning from the new environment and people around you. |
| 479 | ** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'': What it means to inherit a legacy. |
| 480 | ** ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters'': Managing the inherent flaws of one's humanity. |
| 481 | ** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'': What does it mean to be worthy? |
| 482 | ** ''Series/ResshaSentaiToQger'': Imagination and the connection between one's childhood and adulthood. |
| 483 | ** ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger'': The importance of family supporting one another. |
| 484 | ** ''Series/DoubutsuSentaiZyuohger'': Differing views, whether caused by the environment one was raised in or the personal history they have with another. |
| 485 | ** ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'': What it takes to become a true IconOfRebellion. |
| 486 | ** ''Series/KaitouSentaiLupinrangerVsKeisatsuSentaiPatranger'': Common ground found by opposite sides of a conflict. |
| 487 | ** ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger'': Coming to terms with the history of your culture, both the good and bad. |
| 488 | ** ''Series/MashinSentaiKiramager'': Each and every one individual's talents have their own merits and uses, allowing them to "shine" in their own way. |
| 489 | ** ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger'': People from differing backgrounds coming together and bonding through the new experiences they encounter. |
| 490 | ** ''Series/AvataroSentaiDonbrothers'': Forging connections with others, no matter how small or fleeting they might be, and how those connections can change us [[LoveRedeems for the better]]--or [[LoveMakesYouCrazy for the worse]]. |
| 491 | *** Every person is the main character of their own story. |
| 492 | ** ''Series/OhsamaSentaiKingOhger'': What exactly does it mean to be a ruler? What responsibilities must one uphold when put in such a position? |
| 493 | * ''Series/{{Switched}}'': How can one bear the harsh reality of the world? |
| 494 | * ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}'': The occasionally inspired and more often absurd ways that our minds work when we're put under pressure. Also, how intense, devoted and creative we can get over seemingly pointless and trivial activities when there's even a hint of competition involved. |
| 495 | * ''Series/TedLasso'': The challenges of [[NiceGuy being kind]] in a world that isn't always kind in return, and the challenges of [[ThePollyanna clinging to optimism]] in the face of harsh reality. |
| 496 | * ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'': True heroism sometimes means doing things people won't like. |
| 497 | * ''Series/Touch2012'': Seeing things that others can't. |
| 498 | * ''Series/TheTudors'': Even absolute power has its limits. |
| 499 | * ''Franchise/UltraSeries'': |
| 500 | ** ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'': Also applying to the entire ''Ultra Series'' as a whole; even ordinary human beings can overcome the most gigantic adversaries especially when [[ThePowerOfFriendship they]] [[TrueCompanions work together]]. Can the power of man and the titans of light when united as one bring freedom, peace, and justice across the universe? |
| 501 | ** ''Series/{{Ultraseven}}'': |
| 502 | *** Humans have the capacity of committing acts of good and evil. But this also means that [[HumansAreFlawed humanity as a whole are far from perfect]]. A theme which would be carried on in the 1999 Hexalogy and beyond. |
| 503 | *** [[FantasticRacism Prejudice and discrimination]]. The series in general sometimes deal with humans and aliens (good or evil, otherwise) picking on each other, which puts Dan into a dilemma if humans are really worth protecting or are they simply [[NotSoDifferentRemark no better]] than the evil aliens threatening the Earth. |
| 504 | ** ''Series/ReturnOfUltraman'': Even misfortunes can become a blessing in disguise by [[{{Determinator}} turning pain into resolve and resolve into strength]]. |
| 505 | ** ''Series/UltramanAce'': Life can be cruel and unfair at worst; but that won't stop you from spreading kindness to others, caring for the weak and needy and befriending others no matter how many times you are betrayed. |
| 506 | ** ''Series/UltramanTaro'': [[LeeroyJenkins Recklessness]] and how it plays in the thin line between bravery and stupidity. |
| 507 | ** ''Series/UltramanLeo'': Pushing yourself to the limit. And how far will you do so even at the risk of your own well-being or those you hold dear? |
| 508 | ** ''Series/UltramanEighty'': Responsibility and commitment to one's profession. A person cannot multitask on many duties all at once; as the protagonist is both a teacher, a member of an attack team, and most importantly the titular Ultraman himself. |
| 509 | ** ''Series/HeiseiUltraSeven'': A few of them initially deals with environmental issues to coincide with Japan's environmental awareness back in the 1994. From 1999 and so on, the theme shifted to mankind's self worth and eventually into a full blown [[FantasticRacism xenophobic and prejudice]] against anything that isn't mankind or from Earth. |
| 510 | ** ''Series/UltramanTiga'': |
| 511 | *** Life has many ups and downs and will bring the best or worst in everyone. [[MiseryBuildsCharacter No matter tragic events and adversities affect a person, people will continue to push forward, grow strong by overcoming pain and sorrow]] and encourage others to do the same. |
| 512 | *** Another one shared with the [[Series/UltramanDyna succeeding season]]: the progress of human civilization from ancient history to the modern era, and how humanity as a whole being capable of evolving and adapting to the norms of the ever-changing society and technological advances as time passes. |
| 513 | ** ''Series/UltramanDyna'': Maintaining an optimistic outlook in life and [[{{Determinator}} "never-say-die" attitude]] while facing tough and difficult adversities. |
| 514 | ** ''Series/UltramanGaia'': An underlying theme along with the lines of the aforementioned ''Ultraseven'' takes this another step further: is humanity [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt doomed to extinction?]] Is this a divine punishment because humans [[HumansAreMorons have grown complacent and unaware]] of the world around them, or is it that they [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters have the capacity]] [[HumansAreBastards to commit evil?]] |
| 515 | ** ''Series/UltramanCosmos'': Coexistence between humans and otherworldly beings. Are the otherworldly beings in question evil against their own will, or by their own volition? |
| 516 | ** ''Series/UltramanNexus'': |
| 517 | *** How do people find the meaning of hardship and suffering in life and how they dedicated to overcome those challanges? |
| 518 | *** Even in the difficult times, YouAreNotAlone and don't be afraid to reach out to others. As the series as a whole is defined by the ArcWords "The light is a bond.", and the titular Ultra having bonded with several hosts allowed it to achieve its true form and defeat the BigBad. |
| 519 | ** ''Series/UltramanMax'': WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility. |
| 520 | ** ''Series/UltramanMebius'': Legacy. And what it really means to discover your true self. |
| 521 | ** ''Series/UltramanGinga'': There is no limit for one person to pursue his goal, as long as he keeps trying no matter how many times he/she fails. |
| 522 | ** ''Ultraman Ginga S'': [[YouAreNotAlone No man can shoulder his burden alone]]. Let others come to your aid when needed the most. |
| 523 | ** ''Series/UltramanX'': Curiosity and the ability to think outside the box; and how it will benefit you and the world around you, for better or worse. |
| 524 | ** ''Series/UltramanOrb'': |
| 525 | *** Do not let the mistakes from your past determine your future. Confronting your inner demons and moving forward is an essential process to coming to terms with failures and regrets, no matter how many times you stumble and fall. |
| 526 | *** Despite what a person has done wrong and how far they have fallen they are not completely beyond forgiveness and redemption. |
| 527 | ** ''Series/UltramanOrbTheOriginSaga'': [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne The trials, hardships and betrayals]] of TheChosenOne must face, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness for the benefit of others. |
| 528 | ** ''Series/UltramanGeed'': [[ScrewDestiny You alone have control over your own destiny]]. |
| 529 | ** ''Series/UltramanRB'': Familial love, and how our family plays a role in shaping our lives through tough and difficult times. |
| 530 | ** ''Series/UltramanTaiga'': ThePowerOfFriendship and [[FireForgedFriends forging a brotherhood]] [[TrueCompanions committed to support each other]] [[FamilyOfChoice even if they aren't related by blood]]. |
| 531 | ** ''Series/UltramanZ'': |
| 532 | *** Following the footsteps of the one you idolize to is easier said than done. You must work hard from the bottom to reach the top to earn their respect. |
| 533 | *** Another underlying theme along with the lines of ''Cosmos'' takes a step further; just because the monsters rampaging one episode after another doesn't necessarily mean they are attacking innocent people for no apparent reason at all, it's because some of them [[NonMaliciousMonster have no intention of inflicting harm]] and their rampage is the result of [[HumansAreBastards humans unwittingly angering these monsters]]. |
| 534 | ** ''Series/UltraGalaxyFightTheAbsoluteConspiracy'': The miniseries' chapters have a distinctive theme based on their story arc titles: |
| 535 | *** "The Beginning" is about race against time--the Ultras dealing with Series/UltramanMax being held captive and [[Series/UltramanOrb Maga-Orochi]] on the verge of evolving into Magatano-Orochi after being infused with [[Series/UltramanTowardsTheFuture Gudis cells]] that further accelerated its growth, Ultraman Ribut having to undergo intense training to rescue Max and defeat Maga-Orochi, or else it's evolution could spill the end of the universe. |
| 536 | *** "The Divergence" is about changing the future, for better or for worst. Especially with the latter case when Belial and Tregear, who are both [[FallenHero disgraced Ultras]], are informed about their future by Absolute Tartarus before they attained their corrupted forms, offers them a place to his Kingdom while nevertheless remaining evil, the result becoming [[AlternateSelf parallel isotopes]] of their original selves. |
| 537 | *** "The Appearance" is about being prepared for the worst, no matter how uncertain it becomes. Best exemplified with Franchise/UltramanZero gathering several Ultra Warriors to battle Tartarus and The Kingdom. |
| 538 | ** ''Series/UltramanTriggerNewGenerationTiga'': The lengths people will go to protect the happiness of others before their own. |
| 539 | ** ''Series/UltraGalaxyFightTheDestinedCrossroad'': Second chances. You may have been defeated once, but your real challenge awaits before you. Learn from your shortcomings and believing in yourself to achieve greater success. |
| 540 | ** ''Series/UltramanDecker'': |
| 541 | *** You need to look within yourself to find the answers that lie beyond uncertainties. |
| 542 | *** The future is not set in stone. Mankind's actions have the power to change it, for better or worse. |
| 543 | ** ''Series/UltramanBlazar'': Leadership. What does it mean to be a leader who takes full responsibility for the well-being of his/her comrades? The soldiers who fight by your side on the battlefield look up to you as the one [[AFatherToHisMen who treats them as their own]]. |
| 544 | * ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019'': |
| 545 | ** Childhood trauma and the effect it has on people during their adulthood. Alternatively, the consequences that mental illness can have if left untreated. |
| 546 | ** The importance of family, and how even a dysfunctional one can heal and become more close-knit. |
| 547 | ** PoorCommunicationKills. A majority--if not every--problem the family faces could be solved if they properly communicated with each other. Unfortunately, due to a combination of their upbringing and various [[GambitPileup Gambit Pileups]], they rarely, if ever, do. |
| 548 | * ''Series/TheWestWing'': |
| 549 | ** The conflict between idealism and reality within the American political system, and the difficult choices that a US President is often faced with making in order to ensure a favorable outcome for as many as possible. |
| 550 | ** The opportunities and dangers of wielding great power to try and do good things. |
| 551 | ** The conflict between the option which might be easier, safer or more popular but will do less good or even harm, and the option which might be harder, more dangerous or unpopular but will ensure better outcomes. |
| 552 | ** The dangers of lying, equivocation and dissembling, especially within politics, is also a recurring theme. Many of the issues the characters face come about because they concealed or distorted the truth about something they shouldn't have (such as President Bartlet's health issues), and are only resolved when the characters come clean and accept responsibility for them. |
| 553 | * ''Series/{{Westworld}}'': Do consciousness and free will exist? |
| 554 | * ''Series/WhitechapelTVSeries'': HistoryRepeats, and it's only by looking into the past that we can solve problems in the present-day. |
| 555 | * ''Series/{{Wilfred}}'': The conflict between what one wants (animal instinct) and what one is supposed to do (human conscience). |
| 556 | * ''Series/WillAndGrace'': The evolution of a friendship (from romantic to platonic to familial). |
| 557 | * ''Series/TheWire'': The effect of the drug trade and the resulting War on Drugs on society as a whole. In a broader sense, the ways in which institutions that are in theory set up to strengthen and better human society often struggle and even fail due to the weaknesses, small-mindedness and selfishness of the very humans who exist within them. |
| 558 | ** To add on to that, how institutions often keep people shackled to the lives that they lead, even if they want to rise above their circumstances. There is no escaping 'The Game.' |
| 559 | * ''Series/WithoutATrace'': [[HiddenDepths You don't really know someone until the day they disappear]]. |
| 560 | * ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': What does it take to be redeemed -- if this is even possible? |
| 561 | * ''Series/TheXFiles'': |
| 562 | ** Trust vs. paranoia; specifically, can you trust even one person when it seems like the whole world is out to get you? |
| 563 | ** The shady things those in authority will get up to when they think no one is looking and the ways they will manipulate you if they think they can get away with it. |
| 564 | ** Is the "Truth" really out there? And if so, is it even possible to find it through all the lies? |
| 565 | * ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'': |
| 566 | ** People can achieve their dreams when they fight hard enough, and even when they can't they can always get something out of their fight and grow with it. |
| 567 | ** Women are strong and deserve respect. |
| 568 | * ''Series/WallenbergAHerosStory'': The gift of life. |
| 569 | * ''Series/YesMinister'': The conflict between idealism, realism and cynical opportunism within the British political system and government, and how politicians and civil servants navigate and exploit this conflict in order to ensure the most favorable outcome for themselves (and occasionally the public). |
| 570 | * ''Series/TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles'': How famous individuals and historical events shaped the world around us. |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext CentralTheme / LiveActionTV
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
