Current mood:	geeky
Current music:	"What You Came For" - Franz Ferdinand

Top Ten Relatable TV Characters
I've been spending a good chunk of time this week trying to catch up on Chuck (a very seriously underrated show...it had better not get cancelled). While in the midst of this today, I had a moment where I connected to Chuck Bartowski's character and found him intensely relatable—this kind of thing happens often while watching that show. It's a big reason I enjoy watching it.

This led me to wonder...what other television characters do I find relatable?

So I made a list.

I don't imagine there'll be too many, but be mindful there may be minor *SPOILERS* ahead.

10) TIE: Dr. Jack Shephard (Lost)/Alex Rieger (Taxi)

As much as I hate to admit it, given that I'm not even a fan of him, I do find myself having a lot in common with Jack. I often find myself thrust into a leadership role like he does. He's always trying to fix things and save people, one of my less admirable qualities. I often find myself criticizing him for not staying out of other people's problems, and trusting that people will be able to fend for themselves, when in reality, I have the same tendency myself.

On the flipside of the coin, everyone's always going to Alex, hoping that he'll intervene and help solve their problems. I feel like part of the reason I get involved in other people's business is that they trust me and ask for the help. However, where Alex always wants to stay out of it, I most times am eager to do what I can.

9) Xander Harris (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

This one is part of a trend that you'll notice over the course of this list. If I were on a show with lots of action and heroes, I'm the geek on the side who's cracking jokes (often bad ones). This isn't to say he doesn't have his moments of bravery and heroism, but it's a little more subtle. I like that. He's also very self-sacrificing, and that's something I know I at least aspire to.

8) Chandler Bing (Friends)

Again, with the bad joke type sense of humor. Also, he started dating and eventually marries a close friend. Too early to tell on that stuff, but he also values friendship (durp), which is something very important to me. I'd like to think I'm not as much of a dork as him, but I have the feeling I am.

7) Dawson Leery (Dawson's Creek)

I haven't seen enough of the show (really only maybe a disc or so of the first season) to know if the comparisons hold up, but I remember in college when we all first made this connection. He loves movies, the girl next door, and optimism/romanticism. Based on that, I can totally connect. Note: I'm starting to get a hankering to go through this series after researching it a bit.

6) Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

While I rarely find myself in bizarre situations like Larry, his mundane and often annoying observations are the kind that I make on a seemingly hourly basis. I don't envy you if we're close enough of friends that I say them out loud; I get the feeling they're only funny half the time, if that. He also has just enough self-loathing to keep me interested. But just like Larry, my world seems to operate with its own societal rules. We just wish the rest of the world knew them.

5) Dexter Morgan (Dexter)

Dexter for me has always been a show about our darker natures, the side of ourselves that we hide from the rest of society. I've always been really tapped into that side of myself, so naturally, the show's protagonist preaches directly to that. I love the front that he puts up for everyone else; there are days when I feel like that's all I'm doing.

4) Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld)

The same mundane observation reasons as #6, but he's also an absolute neat freak with a lot of goofy characters for friends. Spot on.

3) Chuck Bartowski (Chuck)

A geek working a mundane job is in love with the girl next door type who just so happens to be a complete badass. Chuck also has problems dealing with responsibility, but, just like some others on this list, often rises to the challenge and forces himself to be courageous for the sake of others. Again, I really hope this show gets renewed.

2) Hank Moody (Californication)

First of all, he's a writer, so I'm a sucker for that and all the issues that come with it (writing about real life experiences, writer's block, feeling inspired, etc.). Secondly, while I'm not as much of a ladies man as he is (but seriously, who is?), it seems to me that the reason he sleeps around so much is that he does, on some level, fall in love with every girl he meets. Fortunately for him, he's charismatic enough to bed each one. I wasn't so lucky. Finally, his issues with overindulgence hit home in that "darker side" kind of way that I mentioned earlier.

1) Dr. John Dorian (Scrubs)

He has a goofy sense of humor. He has a bromance with a best friend. He's in love with his other close friend, and they've had a back-and-forth/are-they-aren't-they type relationship. He can be insecure and indecisive, but he's got a heart of gold. He genuinely cares about other people. The darker side is there too, but it's just below the surface and a little harder to see. Oh, JD...I raise an appletini in your name.

Honorable Mentions

Tim Bisley (Spaced)
Hiro Nakamura (Heroes)
Tara Gregson (The United States of Tara)
Topher Brink (Dollhouse)
Lee Adama (Battlestar Galactica)

I now encourage you all to form similar lists. Not only was it a lot of fun, but it made me feel a lot better about the ridiculous amount of television that I watch. I guess it turns out I'm learning things about myself while doing it.