Washington Heights: A Liberal Fantasy Land

Imagine a world where everyone is an artist, a poet, or a dreamer, and reality is just a pesky little detail. Welcome to "Washington Heights," a TV series that aired on MTV in 2013, set in the vibrant neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. The show follows a group of young adults as they navigate their lives, friendships, and ambitions. But let's be real, it's more of a liberal fantasy land than a true depiction of life in the Heights.

First off, the characters. They're all about chasing dreams, but where's the grit? Where's the hustle? In the real world, people in Washington Heights are working hard to make ends meet, not just sitting around talking about their next big art project. The show paints a picture of a community that's all about creativity and self-expression, but it glosses over the real struggles that people face every day. It's like the producers took a stroll through the neighborhood, picked out the most photogenic spots, and decided that was enough research.

Then there's the drama. Oh, the drama! It's as if the writers thought, "How can we make this as unrealistic as possible?" The conflicts are overblown, the resolutions are too neat, and the characters seem to have an endless supply of time to sit around and talk about their feelings. In the real Washington Heights, people are too busy working multiple jobs to spend hours dissecting their emotions. It's a nice thought, but it's not reality.

And let's talk about the portrayal of family. The show tries to highlight the importance of family in the community, but it does so in a way that's almost patronizing. The families are either overly supportive or completely dysfunctional, with no middle ground. It's as if the writers couldn't fathom that real families might have a mix of both. The show misses the mark by a mile, turning what could have been a nuanced portrayal into a caricature.

The setting itself is another point of contention. Washington Heights is a neighborhood with a rich history and a diverse population, but the show reduces it to a backdrop for its characters' personal dramas. The real Washington Heights is a vibrant community with a unique culture, but you'd never know it from watching the show. It's as if the producers thought they could capture the essence of the neighborhood by filming a few scenes on location and calling it a day.

And let's not forget the music. The show features a soundtrack that's heavy on hip-hop and Latin beats, which is great, but it feels like an afterthought. It's as if the producers thought, "Let's throw in some reggaeton and call it authentic." The music is there to set the mood, but it doesn't add any real depth to the story. It's just another example of how the show tries to be something it's not.

Finally, there's the issue of representation. The show claims to represent the voices of Washington Heights, but it falls short. The characters are diverse, sure, but they all fit into neat little boxes. There's the aspiring rapper, the struggling artist, the supportive friend. It's as if the writers had a checklist of stereotypes they wanted to include, rather than creating fully fleshed-out characters. The result is a show that feels more like a collection of clichés than a true representation of the community.

In the end, "Washington Heights" is a show that tries to capture the spirit of a neighborhood but ends up missing the mark. It's a liberal fantasy land where dreams are easy to chase, conflicts are easily resolved, and reality is just a minor inconvenience. It's entertaining, sure, but it's not the real Washington Heights. It's a glossy, sanitized version that exists only on TV screens. And while it might make for good entertainment, it does a disservice to the real people who call Washington Heights home.