Real Internal Conflict

FRIDAY: The Practical

One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that reality shows often have constructed narrative baked right in. I mean, “18 people, 1 Survivor!” speaks right to the mutually exclusive conflict; everyone wants the same thing, only one person can have it. Conflict. And conflict is the starter seed packet of narrative.

I’m watching a reality show right now called “Clarkson’s Farm.” I never watched “Top Gear,” but Ian has, which is why he received the recommendation from Amazon to watch it. The first thing Ian did was warn me that Jeremy Clarkson is a complete ass, and… yeah. Except that he’s brilliantly built up the first internal conflict-driven reality TV show, which I find to be, pardon my language, fucking brilliant. Jeremy is a guy who wants to farm his land himself, but his own arrogance and ignorance constantly trip him up.

There’s an argument to be made whether Jeremy really is as arrogant and dumb as he pretends to be. Unlike most other reality stars who get caught out by the camera being assholes while pretending to be good people, Jeremy gets caught being good while pretending, I think, to be an asshole. That’s how he builds in the internal conflict; he indulges his worst inclinations while at the same time, trying really hard to take on and succeed at the challenge he’s set himself to.

Aside from that, it’s classic comfort viewing. I’m happier whenever I turn it on, and I’ve watched it a few times now.