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Adolescence is a trying time for anyone, but no one has it quite as hard as the teens on prestige TV shows.
Reasons to act out are relative to what is going on at home: dad is a mobster; dad was held captive and is probably a terrorist; dad has a dangerous job that puts you in the crossfire; dad had a very public sex scandal; dad has cancer and is also a drug dealer; parents are spies; or parents have an unplanned baby later in life. (OK, Friday Night Lights’ Julie Taylor is just an asshole).
Under these circumstances, it is understandable why the likes of Meadow and A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos, Dana Brody on Homeland, Kim Bauer on 24, and the rest of this delinquent crew act out—or at the very least, constantly whine about their tribulations. And yet, they are the first to get exasperation and anger directed at them from fans of their respective shows who lose patience with their behavior, no matter the logical reasons behind their indiscretions.