I love My Name is Earl – By Billi

“You know the kind of guy who does nothing but bad things and then wonders why his life sucks? Well, that was me. Every time something good happened to me, something bad was always waiting round the corner: Karma. That’s when I realized that I had to change, so I made a list of everything bad I’ve ever done and one by one I’m gonna make up for all my mistakes. I’m just trying to be a better person. My Name is Earl.”

My Name is Earl has got to be, without contention, my very favourite TV series of all time. I’m not quite sure of when I first started watching it, but I know that I was hooked from the start.

For those of you who haven’t seen Earl yet, first of all shame on you! Secondly make sure you watch it every evening on E4! The basic story is about a man called Earl (obviously) who used to live the life of crime, thieving, lying and generally getting into trouble left right and centre, until one day when he wins $100,000 on the lottery. Unfortunately he is promptly hit by a car and the winning ticket is lost. While lying in his hospital bed Earl has an epiphany; he will cease his life of crime and try to put all of his wrongs right. He makes a list of all his misdemeanours and as soon as he is out of hospital he sets about fixing the lives (and the property) he has damaged. He believes that if he improves his karma, he will be rewarded with a better life. And he is proved right as soon after he completed the first tasks on his list, Earl is rewarded with the return of his lost lottery ticket!

So each of the four seasons give the audience a glimpse into Earl’s life as he travels around the fictional rural county of Camden with his brainless, but loveable brother Randy. With $100,000 in their possession the brothers are about to spend all of their time making right what Earl made wrong. As time goes on Earl’s interest in karma becomes less and less selfish. He begins to develop empathy and a sense of ethics about how he and Randy live their lives. He begins to do good for good’s sake.

I think the main reason that I enjoy watching Earl so much is not simply the fact that each episode is packed with one liners, hilarious scenarios and amazing character’s such as Earl beautiful but crazy ex-wife Joy. It is because you really care about Earl, Randy and their quest. The writers have taken time to manipulate the audience into feeling that they are behind Earl and want him to succeed. He goes to great lengths to strike people off his list, and his sense of what is right and wrong really demonstrate that he is the best kind of person, despite his chequered past.  It really is a metaphor for life. No matter what has happened in your past, everyone has the ability to change their ways, make something of themselves and leave a positive legacy. And that is why I love My Name is Earl.

Thanks for reading my first ever post!

Billi