I understand that part of the show but is it a little bit unrealistic for them to do all the things that they've been doing to Ray and Robert and their families without event she just cutting them out?
Driving the car through there living room? Inviting all of Robert's girlfriend's over to criticize him? Stealing the football from the college football kicker and the family having to deal with it?
I guess in my head I'm just trying to understand how it's realistic to deal with all that from the grandparents without eventually just cutting out of their lives.
Edit: I guess they're really more the parents in the grandparents. But my question still stands
When you have young children, you’ll understand why some people put up with overbearing parents in order to get some help with the kids.
35
tetoffens22 hr ago
+12
They also live across the street, so cutting them out would be even more awkward.
12
neo_sporin22 hr ago
+3
my sister in law and her husband passed up a greeeeeat opportunity because it would have meant leaving the safety net of grandparents being available to baby sit
3
Taskebab22 hr ago
+14
I mean, you need some plot points and conflict if you wanna reach syndication
14
Y-2763222 hr ago
+13
Because not everyone is as willing to break ties with family members as American Listnookors from dysfunctional families?
The parents on ELR are sitcom caricatures, but the answer is really simple in that case, they all love each other despite the crazy shit.
And in real life, lots of people might not *like* their family members but still love them. You can argue that's not healthy, but neither is an atomized society with individuals without bonds aside from those they made on the internet, so...
13
metametapraxis22 hr ago
+7
It is a sitcom. It isn't representative of real life. It only has exaggerated echoes of real life, as per most sitcoms.
7
Marikk1522 hr ago
+20
Because it’s a sitcom
20
Barkovitch22 hr ago
+11
It's a comedy show. If you want realism, you're looking in the wrong place.
11
RoseCutGarnets22 hr ago
+4
Are you telling me Ork isn't a real planet? What about Alf's planet? Sweet Jesus WHAT ABOUT ALF?
4
greyfoggydaynl21 hr ago
+3
ALF?! Isn't he back now? In POG form, I hear? Right
3
helpusdrzaius21 hr ago
+2
He's back in Pog form, baby!
2
Nullhitter22 hr ago
+4
Ever had loving parents? You deal with their annoyances even when you don't want to.
4
Vincent_adultman9822 hr ago
+8
In suburban areas, it was super frowned upon in the early 2000's to cut anyone off if they're family. As a society we've moved towards not being that way as much, but it was super rare when that show was on the air.
It's also a comedy show, so those types of events are obviously heightened and not treated as seriously as they would be in real life.
8
ssdissaor21 hr ago
+3
Italian (also applies to latino) family dynamics you are too anglo to understand
3
RoseCutGarnets21 hr ago
Also Irish. Really most places in the world and most cultures besides white American WASP. Intergenerational living was the norm before the capitalist myth that each generation buying a home=success. Not having grandparents help raise kids and then not having your kids care for you when old is a raw deal for all 3 generations.
0
ssdissaor21 hr ago
+2
You are right, feel the same kind of of kinship watching Derry girls compared with the average American sitcom
2
Starbuck52222 hr ago
+2
plus, the kids just play quietly in their room all of the time.
One time it's Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Parents and uncle and grandparents are opening gifts in the grandparents living room. No kids in the room nor coming in asking for anything.
2
zachtheperson22 hr ago
+2
Mostly just because the writers decided so.
In-universe though it's because Raymond is a major mama's boy, the mom treats Raymond as her favorite and showers him in praise, and Robert always felt jealous of his brother so he still fights for the attention of their parents. Meanwhile the mom is either knowingly or unknowingly manipulative, and constantly enforces the behavior of both brothers by feeding Ray attention. This causes both brothers to overlook their parent's negative behavior because they both want to be on their parent's good side.
2
Potential-Piano25622 hr ago
+1
Because of the grandparents, the show is hilarious, not real, just fun, quit nitpicking.
1
Charming-Report166922 hr ago
+2
What you're describing is referred to as a "premise"
2
MySmellyRacoon21 hr ago
+1
It’s a sitcom genius. It’s not real.
1
QuePasaCasa21 hr ago
+2
Why does Robert, the largest Barone, not simply eat the other Barones?
2
boomosaur21 hr ago
+2
I dunno, why does raymond constantly lie to his wife to get sex, and then she's magically cool the next episode?
2
EyeWasAbducted21 hr ago
+2
Because it’s funny
2
Horny_GoatWeed20 hr ago
+2
Have you never watched a sitcom before?
2
Ochevesako22 hr ago
+2
This just sounds like expecting realism from a sitcom. Don't.
2
bishop37522 hr ago
+1
For the same reason Ray stays married to Debra. His latent masochism coupled with his wild insecurities, which are both stored in the empty space where his actual spine should be.
27 Comments