I have often found myself complaining, in the past few years, that characters in on-screen dramas seem to be clones of one another. The accused-but-innocent defendant's lawyer will be a tall, lanky blond guy, but so will one of the most likely suspects in the case. And often, these look-alikes will end up doing something that's out of character (for the other one), so I'll need to clarify between two middle-aged women, both of whom have round faces, long hair, and glasses: Ask my wife, "wait - isn't that the business tycoon's wife who just shot Philomena?" No, she'll say, "that's his son-in-law's oncologist." In the old days, I think, casting directors were more at pains to make the characters more easily recognizable Even in "Archie" comics, Betty was a blonde with a short "do," Veronica had dark long hair.
It's all very confusing. I don't think the problem is my advancing age - after all, my vision confirms that these doubles DO in fact look a lot alike. I suppose part of the problem is that I'm seldom really giving the screen my full attention. But I believe television and movie producers must know we aren't riveted to their drivel, so wouldn't they try to make it easier for us? Put a moustache on that father-in-law, or give the librarian a pixie cut.
I am heartened that the problem has also been noticed by others, and am thankful (for example) to Washington Post columnist John Kelly for having given it some attention: "Am I Seeing Double?.."
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