Pull up a chair. Today's guest walked in fifteen minutes early, brought a binder, and has already reorganized the waiting room by color-coded folder. She's thrilled to be here. She's also, I'd wager, a little worried this session is going to find something she can't fix with a well-timed breakfast of waffles and whipped cream. … Continue reading The Character Couch – Leslie Knope
Character Couch
The Evolution of Walter White: From Mr. Chips to Scarface
When Vince Gilligan pitched Breaking Bad to AMC, he reportedly described the show's entire arc in one sentence: he wanted to take Mr. Chips and turn him into Scarface. It's a strange comparison on its face. Mr. Chips is the gentle, beloved schoolteacher from the 1934 novel Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Scarface is Tony Montana, a … Continue reading The Evolution of Walter White: From Mr. Chips to Scarface
The Character Couch – Worf
Pull up a chair. Today's guest arrived early, sat down without being asked, and has already informed me twice that this entire exercise is beneath a warrior's dignity. He's still here. That tells you almost everything you need to know about him before he says another word. Worf is a strange case for the Couch, … Continue reading The Character Couch – Worf
The Character Couch – Anakin Skywalker
Pull up a chair. Today's guest arrives in a full-body respirator, which is going to make the active listening portion of this session a little difficult, but we'll manage. Anakin Skywalker is one of the strangest cases the Couch has ever taken on, because he's not really one patient. He's two. There's the nine-year-old slave … Continue reading The Character Couch – Anakin Skywalker
The Character Couch – Eleanor Shellstrop
Welcome back to The Character Couch, where we dust off our amateur psychology credentials and spend some quality time with fictional people who absolutely could have benefited from a real therapist at some point. Today's subject shuffled in a little late, made a joke about the waiting room being a trap, and spent the first … Continue reading The Character Couch – Eleanor Shellstrop
The Character Couch – Cece Parikh
Welcome back to The Character Couch, where we put on our amateur psychology hats and spend some quality time with characters who probably could have used a real therapist at some point along the way. Today's subject arrived looking impeccably put-together — and I mean that literally. She is a professional fashion model, so she … Continue reading The Character Couch – Cece Parikh
The Character Couch – Travis Bickle
Welcome back to The Character Couch, where we put on our amateur psychology hats and spend some quality time with characters who probably could have used a real therapist at some point along the way. Today's subject arrived at the office alone, at night, and spent the first ten minutes of our session staring at … Continue reading The Character Couch – Travis Bickle
The Character Couch – Sheldon Cooper
Welcome back to The Character Couch! Today's patient — and I use that word with the full awareness that he would immediately correct my use of it, inform me that he is not crazy because his mother had him tested, and then produce a laminated copy of the Roommate Agreement just to make sure I … Continue reading The Character Couch – Sheldon Cooper
The Character Couch – Hannibal Lecter
Welcome back to The Character Couch! Today's patient — and I use that word with the full awareness that he would correct my pronunciation of something, offer me a glass of wine I definitely should not drink, and then evaluate my bone structure with the quiet, professional interest of a man deciding whether I'd pair … Continue reading The Character Couch – Hannibal Lecter
The Character Couch – Pam Beesly
Welcome back to The Character Couch! Today's patient — and I use that word with the full awareness that she would smile politely, write it down on a Post-it note, and then doodle something in the margins while pretending to listen — is Pam Beesly. Receptionist. Saleswoman. Office administrator. Artist. Wife. Mother. And, for the … Continue reading The Character Couch – Pam Beesly
