Watching the 2024 TV show Curfew, what I experienced instead was a slow-moving storyline that took its time to build momentum, which was disappointing. More significantly, though, the show seemed to embody a troubling trend that has become all too common in contemporary media: the demonization of men. This portrayal, one that I found deeply offensive, points to a broader problem in modern storytelling, where gender politics increasingly shape the portrayal of characters in an unbalanced and often harmful way.
Curfew starts with a slow, methodical approach, setting up a world where the government has imposed a curfew, ostensibly to protect women from "evil" men, which is all men (of course). While the world-building is intriguing, the show quickly becomes bogged down in its own political and social commentary. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the male characters in the series are painted with broad, negative strokes, a symptom of the growing trend in media that seeks to marginalize or villainize men in a misguided attempt to uplift women.
In Curfew, many of the male characters are portrayed as either villains, buffoons, or otherwise morally compromised individuals. They are often impulsive, aggressive, or driven by selfish desires, while the women are presented as morally superior, more competent, and more compassionate. The contrast is stark and, frankly, unrealistic.
In particular, the male characters seem to be used as narrative tools to highlight the strength and virtue of the women around them. It reinforces divisive stereotypes, perpetuating a zero-sum game where one gender must be diminished for the other to shine.
What's more concerning is that this misandrous undercurrent is symptomatic of a broader cultural shift in media. Many modern shows and films seem preoccupied with deconstructing traditional notions of masculinity, often presenting men as toxic, oppressive, or inherently flawed. This not only harms male representation but also limits the depth of female characters, who are often written as flawless, infallible, or unrealistically perfect.
This trend has real-world implications. Media, especially in the form of television and film, plays a crucial role in shaping cultural attitudes. When shows like Curfew repeatedly present men in negative, one-dimensional roles, they contribute to a skewed understanding of gender dynamics. The idea that men must be either the oppressor or the fool seeps into our collective consciousness, reinforcing harmful gender binaries and sowing division. It also alienates male viewers who feel that they are not represented fairly or sympathetically on screen.
In addition to its slow pace, Curfew ultimately suffers from a lack of balance in its gender portrayals. The overemphasis on portraying men as antagonists detracts from what could have been a more compelling exploration of its dystopian world.
If you're a self respecting man, avoid this (in my opinion)
