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Redemption-rooting for dirty rags on television

al swearengen

Long-time commenter bsgfan2003 (or Rosie, if you prefer) is guest clacking today. She’s a stay at home mom of three who loves two things dearly: 1) children 2) when people respond to her first post, so she doesn’t have to take off a finger in a ritual shame ceremony.

Keith threw down the gauntlet. CliqueClack is the no-boundaries wonderland. And so I board. Choo Choo! (I hope I did not rip that off from someone else!)

I’m probably classified as a conservative woman, who bleeds Catholic. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s God, Country, and Notre Dame for me.

So while I strive to be good, I know wholeheartedly that my goodness is as dirty rags. So, as I examine my soiled linen — figurative and literal (I have three kids, you know) — I came to the conclusion that I root for the redemption of Dirty Rags on television. I have lots of “Dirties;” my favorites have been Battlestar Galactica’s Gaius Baltar (Space Dirty), Deadwood’s Al Swearengen (Wild West Dirty), Dallas’s J.R. Ewing (Old Skool Oil Man Dirty) and Entourage’s Ari Gold (Hollywood Dirty).

Of late, my favorite Dirty has been The Hills character Spencer Pratt (Reality Dirty) (no judging please — it’s summer). You see, I watch because I want to see redemption for the Dirties. Even incremental steps toward redemption brings me great joy. When my Dirties show humility or perform unselfish acts, I am over-the-moon happy.

Gaius Baltar: a bona fide redemption. Al Swearengen was on his way but was waylaid by the real “Dirties” at HBO. J.R. never made it. Ari Gold is inch-worming there. Will Spencer Pratt redeem himself somehow? I’d certainly like to see it (get well, Heidi Pratt!)

So are you with me folks? Who are your favorite dirty rags? Did they find redemption? Are they trying?

Photo Credit: HBO

12 Responses to “Redemption-rooting for dirty rags on television”

June 11, 2009 at 3:05 PM

I’d say House is the M.D. dirty rag (Diagnostic Dirty), no?
I think he’s currently looking for redemption with electroshock therapy.

June 11, 2009 at 3:48 PM

First: Yeah, BSG!

Second: Since I admitted my unexplained love for Gossip Girl, you’ve got to throw in some Chuck Bass (trust fund dirty?). His is a character that I never think will truly be redeemed, but sometimes you can’t help but root for him.

And to give the Buffyverse some love, your favorite vampire with a soul and mine, Spike. This the guy that loved a woman so much that he fought to get his soul back, instead of having it cursed on him like Angel.

June 11, 2009 at 4:37 PM

Nice post. I know you watched The Wire while I was doing virgin diaries. I feel like that show was full of dirty rags, but McNulty had a bit of a redemption by the end.

June 11, 2009 at 5:22 PM

The Wire season 4 is an interesting study in how we become dirty. We all start out with so much potential and by degrees, we degrade, or not. The wonderful thing about life is that each day we have the free will to decide to be better!

June 11, 2009 at 4:42 PM

Ahhhh bsgfan2003, there are so many choices here. I’m going to pick one that most viewers on this site probably have not even heard of. I was reminded of this character while watching dvds of the old “The fugitive” series on dvd.

I am speaking of the obsessively-dedicated lieutenant Phillip Gerard, whose relentless pursuit of Dr. Richard Kimble transformed a cop and killer program into a classic for the ages. While Kimble was the sympathetic protagonist in the program, Gerard, while perhaps unintentially, slowly was portrayed as the cold, obsessive antagonists that many viewers actively despised for his efforts to capture our hero….the handsome, innocent, Doctor Richard Kimble.

But if you closely watch that show, there are many moments that hint of a different take of what Gerard really thought. Gerard was the classic “professional policeman” in that his respect for upholding the law trumped any and all personal feelings. But there were many moments in that show that strongly hinted at his deep, inner belief in Kimble’s innocence. Many times he exposed passions and even sympathy for Kimble that was in painful conflict to his concept of duty. I always admired this character and was always in the hope that he would come to openly befriend Kimble, a man that he certainly respected.

June 11, 2009 at 5:32 PM

Ladies and gentleman, I think we have a first!!!!!

(I kid I kid, I joke I joke)

June 12, 2009 at 6:22 AM

Cool new picture Ivey :-)
Who’s that? Matt Dillon as a puppet?

June 12, 2009 at 12:32 PM

David Boreanaz in the Angel season five episode “Smile Time.”

June 11, 2009 at 5:06 PM

Oh this one is a gem. I’m not allowed to curse, but your first post is about cursing.

I’m appalled *snicker*

June 11, 2009 at 5:29 PM

Hypocrisy is one of the reasons why I am dirty. ;)

And, I still forbid you to use a GD. Have a good day!

June 12, 2009 at 6:24 AM

How about I start getting around that by cursing BSG-style, mom? ;-)

I feel like a five year old… :-)

June 12, 2009 at 4:03 AM

BIG BROTHER Baby!! They are all dirty rags and I love them.

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