It may seem odd for a personal growth counselor to be writing about the fantasy world of a mainstream television drama. But don’t we all need some healthy escapism at times, for balance? And, emotional as I feel after viewing the last of my favorite long-term shows, I feel compelled to…share feelings!
I don’t have cable TV, don’t subscribe to streaming services…just an antennae on the roof, which brings a few network stations, as I don’t have inclination nor time much for television. However, “Madame Secretary” on CBS has, through the last part of the Obama years and during the current administration, been my absolute, pretty much un-missable, Sunday night date.
It has been a refuge of intelligence, integrity, good-heartedness and optimism, giving the notion that people of good will might actually work in government. (Sort of the opposite of, from the one time I saw it, House of Cards). However pie-in-the-sky or, steeped in old-fashioned values this show was…I know that hundreds of thousands of viewers felt, as I have, that its comforting high-mindedness made it as an essential part of the week.
Additionally, it had much focus on her family, with wonderful story lines, lots of love, and awareness (even if, perhaps, a bit of television unrealism) of how one might balance family with a high political post.
The interesting characters in her staff were also graced with subplots involving a variety of issues, from romantic (mostly straight but some gay) to other great plot additions that made one care…and showed the Madame cared, about her staff.
Just to have had this charming, classy respite from “real life” politics for these years has given me such calm. I feel like the manner in which things were handled was something that most anyone could relate to, no matter ones political stance.
I will miss Téa Leoni’s classy way of dress (with compassionate eyes as sparkly as her always subtly elegant earrings), the lovely supportive romanticism between her and husband Tim Daly (which morphed into real life romance), and the well crafted settings, relationships, and sense of justice prevailing.
After a final season that was so different and grueling that I almost thought it was designed so we would not miss the show, the final episode last night was beautiful and left me crying for easily a half hour after it ended, at the loss of this show! (Spoiler: Blake sings at the most improbable, romantic White House wedding…& everyone seems to live happily ever after).
I can only hope that real life will begin to offer more justice, sanity, and pleasure in politics to fill what will be a gaping hole for many of us in our Sunday nights!
It will be missed
Yes, it’s “only” a TV series – but the notions of justice, respect, egalitarianism, fairness and love – even in the political arena – are alive & well in the collective psyche & soul. In fact, they’re indestructible, despite the tawdry, morose, cruel, egotistical, dishonorable, frenetically soulless version of the world sold to us by the corporate media as “normal.” Love can’t be destroyed, but its representations can be distorted to create the appearance of fear winning out. The persistence of love is proven every time one of us is brought to tears witnessing a noble, honorable, selfless act. It’s who we are beneath our forgetting.
David, thank you!! That is so eloquently beautiful! I love how you addressed what moved myself–and so many others–about that program, but also addressed the world we are in! Wish to guest write my next blog post? 🙂 Gorgeous, healing words!!