Netflix and Existential Pondering

Macbeth’s Netflix Queue:

Macbeth is a naturally born leader who struggles to control his inner demons after killing his friend Banquo and the former king Duncan. A majority of his decisions are based off personal gain or are motivated by Lady Macbeth’s persuasiveness. Macbeth also fails to regain control of his life after performing these questionable acts, and instead lets his life deteriorate into madness. These are the TV shows that best represent Macbeth’s fears, desires, and deepest beliefs about power.

The Walking Dead: Rick Grimes, the leader of the Atlanta surviving group, does whatever it takes for his family and friends to survive. The beginning of the show sees Rick’s strong morals and authoritarian nature flourish under the pressure of a zombie apocalypse, much like Macbeth’s inner warrior nature. However, as the show goes on, Rick becomes more and more tyrannical, and his decision making is questionable at best. The show’s portrayal of him makes it very difficult to see if Rick and his team are the heros, or the villains. Macbeth’s morals similarly deteriorate over the course of the play, and he would be able to relate to all the issues that Rick has with maintaining his power, like with Shane in Seasons 1 and 2. Rick also struggles with the weight of human existence, as it is known that there are 5000 walkers (zombies) for every single human on the planet. Similarly, Macbeth struggles with living after taking both Duncan and Banquo’s life, but both characters manage to persevere and continue their suspicious decision making.

Stranger Things: (minor spoilers) Stranger Things is a nod to the 1980’s classics, created by Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, that enthralled audiences with their horrific and mysterious plot devices. The stars of the show include Mike, Eleven, Dustin, and Lucas who search for their missing friend Will Byers after he disappears after an unnatural storm. After the second episode, the supernatural is introduced through the form of alternate dimensions and a Demogorgon - a humanoid monster. Macbeth could relate to the struggles of fighting otherworldly forces, the Demogorgon in ST, and could see the traits that he once admired in the kids - bravery, intelligence, and innocence. He would empathize with the main character, Mike, and see him as a child-like version of himself before his warrior days. Ultimately, this might reveal that Macbeth isn’t happy being a leader, and could show him that not all fights with the supernatural can be won.

Daredevil: Arguably one of the better superhero shows to be present on Netflix, Daredevil features a lawyer, Matthew Murdock, who, despite being diagnosed as blind, can “see” things around him because of a radioactive substance. Coincidentally, he also is an expert fighter because his father was a professional boxer and he uses these special skills for the “betterment” of the rest of Hell’s Kitchen. Matt often struggles with issues from his past, like his father’s suspicious death, his old teacher’s harsh tactics, and his own violent tendencies. Macbeth shares an abundance of these characteristics with Matt: he is a cunning warrior and lets his inner demons have too much say in his decision making. Both Macbeth and Matt try to fight their way out of personal issues, and it often leads to someone they care about getting hurt or killed. This would show that Macbeth may not believe that he is the “villain,” but rather that he is simply trying to conquer his inner demons while being a strong leader.

A Gifted Man: This CBS show, on air for one short season, is about a young and extremely talented neurosurgeon named Michael Holt. Michael is coping with the death of his ex-wife, Anna, with whom he was close with despite their recent divorce. Anna soon begins to appear to Michael in the form of a ghost, which only he can see, even if others are in the same room. A friend of Michael’s, Anton Little Creek, eventually senses Anna due to his shamanic skills, but is never able to see her. The show is written about Michael’s efforts to figure out why Anna continually reappears and what can be done to fix his immediate problems. Similarities are apparent between Macbeth and Holt; both are competent, strong-willed men who have a fear of the supernatural, even if it is trying to help them. Both of their lives quickly change from orthodoxy to all hell breaking loose seemingly overnight and it takes a mental and spiritual toll on each individual. Michael’s deceased ex-wife also helps him make critical decisions, something that Lady Macbeth attempts to aid Macbeth with. This would prove that Macbeth’s actions are motivated by his fear of the supernatural and his desire to regain control of his life.