I was watching King of the Hill years ago, when this line from Dale caught me completely off guard and cracked me up: "I can't challenge Hank; he's the Alpha Neighbor! I'm just a gamma, or an omega at best!"
If Dale was told about the SSH, he'd 100% be the guy to "expand" on it to the point where it barely resembles the original. Frito would be the one to call it manstrology.
Judge also nailed the situational nature of the SSH. Hank is about as obvious a delta as they come, but when the guys are drinking beer in the alley they all defer to him and he’s their leader. Even Boomhauer, who is higher status in general terms. Hank was the QB of their high school football team, which kind of set things in those relationships forever.
Everyone recognizes the main players of the SSH at an instinctual level. As demonstrated here many times, it’s accurately shown up in literature for centuries up until this day. You know it when you see it. It’s the accurate articulation of the traits of the individual ranks that’s new. That’s the genius of Vox. Every single person that reads the definition of any of the ranks immediately thinks of someone they know or knew in their life. It’s that damn accurate and that in itself is an art.
Mike has long talked about how he creates characters. He takes inspiration from real people, combines two or three real people together in one character, and exaggerates their personalities for comedic effect. The skill of combining different people together is to find what makes them appealing, interesting, compelling, and staying true to that core nature.
Who's your favorite Mike Judge character? For my money it's Cotton Hill.
...and while a dragon is not man, many dragons are people.
Even if the inhuman male doesn't map perfectly onto the patterns, the behaviours can most certainly be adapted and in a number of aspects are quite relevant.
Dragons for example you can distill the forms of pride or greed in the ranks into a single being majestic yet delusional enough to believe all riches of the world are his birthright.
When you know the rules of how the mundane works, surely you can break them more effectively for the fantastic!
Though, that said even in real life, the 'real fantastic' has impressive, though not erasing influence over the patterns.
Glad you liked it! And yeah, the gamma vice of wish fulfillment is often what gets in the way of getting the basics right. I still got a nark on against T.H. White for making child King Arthur some underdog runt.
President Camacho was a legitimately great man. A ridiculous over the top arrogant Alpha who still had the wisdom and humility to recognize when his own abilities were deficient and he needed help.
Terry Crews wasn't even acting!
1) He’s fat
2) One or two niche interests requiring memorization and knowledge.
How many evangelical preachers did this just describe?
After reading Sigma Game my subconscious led me to rewatching Lawless.
The Bondurant brothers - Forest the alpha, Howard bravo, and Jack gamma.
Others - Floyd alpha, Agent Rakes gamma, Hodges delta, Gummy gamma.
Really enjoyed rewatching it with new eyes :)
Talking about the Iliad brought "The Last Hurrah" to mind.
Priam had Hector.
Skeffington and Cass, two Alpha opponents, both of whom had ineffectual, pathetic sons.
Skeffington himself was a tragic Alpha, beaten by changing times and an empty suit opponent, and no viable heir to inherit.
Priam another, undone by his Gamma son.
The Tragic Alpha as archtype. The feckless, Gamma son as Nemesis, unable to sustain the empire.
Aurelius didn't adopt his successor, and Rome paid the price.
I was watching King of the Hill years ago, when this line from Dale caught me completely off guard and cracked me up: "I can't challenge Hank; he's the Alpha Neighbor! I'm just a gamma, or an omega at best!"
If Dale was told about the SSH, he'd 100% be the guy to "expand" on it to the point where it barely resembles the original. Frito would be the one to call it manstrology.
Judge also nailed the situational nature of the SSH. Hank is about as obvious a delta as they come, but when the guys are drinking beer in the alley they all defer to him and he’s their leader. Even Boomhauer, who is higher status in general terms. Hank was the QB of their high school football team, which kind of set things in those relationships forever.
Samwise would fit right in drinking beer with them
Ackchually...
https://kingofthehill.fandom.com/wiki/Jeff_Boomhauer#Character
https://kingofthehill.fandom.com/wiki/Hank_Hill#History
yeah you're right, Boomhauer was QB and Hank was the star running back. Shoot me.
No, you are more valuable alive.
Hank is more a Bravo archetype, being a manager and number 2 at work.
He's very bad at managing ppl and actively hates it. Hank only cares about selling "Propane and propane accessories".
Everyone recognizes the main players of the SSH at an instinctual level. As demonstrated here many times, it’s accurately shown up in literature for centuries up until this day. You know it when you see it. It’s the accurate articulation of the traits of the individual ranks that’s new. That’s the genius of Vox. Every single person that reads the definition of any of the ranks immediately thinks of someone they know or knew in their life. It’s that damn accurate and that in itself is an art.
Buck Strickland was a great character. A successful alpha who fell to his vices, but in the end, always looked after his employees.
Hank was the greatest Delta. Great awesome guy but so passive. His interaction with his crazy Alpha dad really showed how frustrating Hank is.
Yup. And you can see how reliable followers like Hank are to thank for Strickland's success. If loyalty's essential, loyalty's to be rewarded.
Office Space is another example. Peter after his hypnosis - sigma. Michael Bolton - gamma. Milton - omega. Lumbergh - delta. Bobs - bravos.
Mike has long talked about how he creates characters. He takes inspiration from real people, combines two or three real people together in one character, and exaggerates their personalities for comedic effect. The skill of combining different people together is to find what makes them appealing, interesting, compelling, and staying true to that core nature.
Who's your favorite Mike Judge character? For my money it's Cotton Hill.
Dale always made me laugh the hardest. Coming from a redneck background, I've known a LOT of Dales in my time
Hank and BoomHauer.
...and while a dragon is not man, many dragons are people.
Even if the inhuman male doesn't map perfectly onto the patterns, the behaviours can most certainly be adapted and in a number of aspects are quite relevant.
Dragons for example you can distill the forms of pride or greed in the ranks into a single being majestic yet delusional enough to believe all riches of the world are his birthright.
When you know the rules of how the mundane works, surely you can break them more effectively for the fantastic!
Though, that said even in real life, the 'real fantastic' has impressive, though not erasing influence over the patterns.
"They’re all-too-often wish fulfillment on the part of the writers, who in Hollywood are predominantly Gammas."
In a sensible Republic, such men would never be given access to the myth-making
apparatus.
Can you imagine an Achilles, but written as a Gamma? One shudders.
The crying over Briseis WAS a bit much. But, Greeks.
Kind Homer gave us Paris for the role of Gamma.
And, of couse, Patroclus as his tragically loyal Delta. Or Bravo? He did lead the Greeks in battle wearing Achilles's armor.
Hector? Bravo to Priam's tragic Alpha, himself doomed by Paris's innate nature.
Glad you liked it! And yeah, the gamma vice of wish fulfillment is often what gets in the way of getting the basics right. I still got a nark on against T.H. White for making child King Arthur some underdog runt.
President Camacho was a legitimately great man. A ridiculous over the top arrogant Alpha who still had the wisdom and humility to recognize when his own abilities were deficient and he needed help.