Does Divorce’s Frances have to be Likable?
Frances on Divorce is not the most likable protagonist, but does that matter for the show’s future?
This is something of an age-old debate. It’s generally believed that main characters have to elicit empathy from the viewer in order for there to be any sort of attachment. If there’s attachment, people watch, and the series thrives. If they don’t, it can get a bit tough. Frances on Divorce, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, is a protagonist that walks a very fine line.
Frances places herself in the precarious position of asking for a divorce because she doesn’t love her husband anymore (a valid reason,) and then we learn that after she has been cheating on him. Her change of mind also doesn’t feel emotionally solid — she only switches gears after her boyfriend, Julian, doesn’t seem thrilled at the prospect of her being a free woman. But in terms of the show’s viability, it’s worth questioning if Frances actually has to be well liked.
Watch a clip from the first episode:
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She’s a woman at a crossroads, and one that’s about to pay for her mistakes. We don’t know all that much about her husband, Robert, but he could have plenty of issues that hasn’t come to light yet. Divorce is a show about imperfect people in an imperfect marriage. These character are going to have to grow on us, and Frances doesn’t have to be a perfect person for that to work, she just has to not turn viewers off.
It’s a difficult role to pull off. So far, she handles it well. This is an issue that Girls has dealt with throughout its entire run, with Hannah as the focus of attention. Divorce is not Girls, and Frances is not Hannah. Frances does not have to be likable for Divorce to succeed as worthy television, but there does still have to be something there for viewers to hold on to.
Next: Check out another Westworld preview for the season.
After a few more weeks we’ll have a better idea of where the show is going to go, but divorce as a concept can be ugly. Hopefully viewers will be able to hold on for what will surely be a bumpy ride.