Two and a Half Men Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Two and a Half Men
Creator: Chuck Lorre
Year: 2003-???
Country: US
Language: English

When I first saw Two and a Half Men on television I was absolutely repulsed by it. I found it to be the most misogynistic show ever produced on television, though perhaps it could place second to King of Queens. However after I watched an entire season of it I was enthralled, it's quite brilliant on every level though much of the American audience that watches it might not entirely get the point. I shall explain more after I explain the basic plot.

The show involves the Harper Brothers Alan (Alan Cryer) and Charlie (Charlie Sheen) who are essentially the "odd couple" of 21st Century television. Allan is a cheap neat freak who sponges off his brother Charlie, a misogynistic millionaire with mommy issues. Allan gets a divorce from his wife Judith (Marin Hinkle) who gets his house, therefore Allan and his son Jake (Augus T. Jones) live with Charlie. In the tenth season Charlie is killed by his stalker and is replaced by a man named Walden Schmitd (Ashton Kutcher)

There is a reason why the show is called "Two and a half MEN" because the show is essentially a satire of masculinity. Whenever you watch television the typical popular show revolves around the typical masculine man, however this is not the case with this particular show. Neither Alan nor Charlie nor Jake nor Walden resemble what a man is supposed to be like according to our society. Alan is incredibly feminine, not strong by any standards and clearly cannot support himself. Charlie is an out of shape boozehound who uses women (more on that in a bit) to attempt to heal his mommy issues. Trying to hide his emotions like a "man" is "supposed to do" doesn't work for him. Jake is an overweight child who only knows how to do "feminine" jobs like cooking and cleaning, in the tenth season Jake goes into the army...only to cook for them. Walden is incredibly emotionally fragile and though he's very successful, he just can't get what he wants: love.

What about the women? Yes they are all shown as a stereotype of what society thinks females should act like, however this is also a satire on men's views towards women. A lot of men would like gorgeous dim-witted women to sleep with them and a lot of men see their ex-wives and mothers as contempt bitches. The show reveals that this male mindset hurts men. Sleeping with random women isn't going to solve any of your problems, infact it's going to make them worse. Being un-compromising with your ex-wife doesn't help your situation and certainly trying to hide your emotions from the women in your lives in order to appear more masculine only hurts you.

In conclusion, this show may also explain why a lot of relationships don't work out. Every male character seems to reject the females, or be wary of committing, because they are afraid of being hurt themselves. Kieslowski showed this brilliantly in Three Colors:White. Two and a Half Men is not only funny and well-written, but it also has a decent set of morals. It screams a rebellious cry to  men "DON'T BE THE STEREOTYPICAL MAN! IT ONLY CAUSES PAIN AND ANGUISH!" Praise it! 4/5