Great Instances of Stories that Preach

[Buffyverse Fan]

So Willow's Magic addiction in Season 6 is probably the most criticized arc of the 'verse. Many believe that it was a clumsy and poorly veiled PSA of sorts about Drug addiction. So... let's not discuss that here.

What TV stories with preachy messages do you think were implemented well?

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

The first thing I think of is the whole first season of True Blood.

There are interesting parallels they made with the way minorities are treated in this county and with the way the vampires are treated in the show. I don't know if you're familiar with the concept of the show, but basically vampires have just "come out of the closet" and have shown themselves to the greater public and most are attempting to live "normally" amongst the humans. The issues is that there is a lot of prejudice from the general public regarding this, and lots of misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding their nature. There's the small group of vampires who refuse to assimilate into human culture, and they basically make the vampire species as a whole look bad.

When Vampire Bill starts dating a human girl named Sookie, they experience a lot of prejudice (kind of like with interracial dating). Sookie gets called a whore, and Bill is accused of trying to "sell out" and such.

It was clear to me that the show had a political message the second I started watching it and I think it was really well done.

And of course - who could forget Star Trek, which for me was all about, among other things, getting the message out that it was possible for humans to evolve to a point where all races and all civilizations could get along regardless of whatever cultural reality/issue was taking place. Star Trek was a morality tale Western set in space.

 

[Willow-Tree]

I've always got the impression that, whether intended or not, the sex = the bad.

When Buffy and Angel finally do it, he turns evil.
When Willow and Tara sleep together after getting back together, Tara dies.

There are more instances, but I can't think now.

 

[Thursday]

I may have only seen the first season, but I'll say the reboot of Battlestar Galactica. This show is a blatant critique of the Bush administration, but BSG shows both sides of the issue. Even though the characters occasionally soapbox, looking at you Six and Baltar, BSG's plots and characters are morally ambigous which is makes the show so frakkin' good.

 

[Kelsey]

I loved the anti-government stance in Firefly, though I'm not sure if it was a particularly "preachy" message. Still, the idea of dirty politics and governments "existing to get in a man's way" has a ring of truth to it, in my opinion.

I wouldn't say Buffy is completely anti-sex, but the way they represented the loss of innocence with Angel losing his soul was brilliant. I don't think the show was necessarily saying, "Don't have sex! Abstinance is key!" but it was definitely saying, "Be careful, sex changes everything."

Actually, the best "preachy" message I've seen in a while was in a movie and not a TV show. The idea of racism and prejudice was addressed fantastically in District 9. The idea of the targeted race being not human but alien really gave the viewer a different look at racism and how it develops. Also, what happens to the main character really highlights how terrible people can be to just a specific group of people (or aliens).

 

[Bungle Jerry]

Earshot, Earshot, a hundred times Earshot. The most mature, well-thought-out and intelligent take on teen violence I've ever seen.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

And of course - who could forget Star Trek, which for me was all about, among other things, getting the message out that it was possible for humans to evolve to a point where all races and all civilizations could get along regardless of whatever cultural reality/issue was taking place. Star Trek was a morality tale Western set in space.

I never followed the original series, but I am familiar with that concept. It sounds great to me, like an idealized version of the United States.

Earshot, Earshot, a hundred times Earshot. The most mature, well-thought-out and intelligent take on teen violence I've ever seen.

Oh, good one! Buffy's speech was that perfect balance between preaching and staying true to her character in the 'verse!