Dramas Keep Showing Us Hapless Men — and Hypercompetent Women

New York Times Magazine ^ | January 14, 2026 | Diego Hadis

[Angelino97]

Consider the hapless man. He’s uncertain, ineffectual, star-crossed. Nothing ever seems to work out for him; he can’t confidently take action to face a crisis. You’d think he would make for a dull story. And yet there he was last year, serving, improbably, as the protagonist in several notable films.

Instead of prestige movie heroes like J. Robert Oppenheimer, we had the unlucky lead who bumbles forward as if confounded by the plot unfolding around him. He’s a man of action, sometimes, but not much sense. He turns to exactly the wrong person for help with an important task. He spends so long numbing himself with drugs and alcohol that he can’t recall the talismanic words that will protect him.

And of course he reckons with the people these films inevitably put beside him: hypercompetent women. They are ever-present — and they are usually so capable, so confidently efficacious, that if they were the story’s focus, the movie would be over in 15 minutes...

All these protagonists are ineffectual bunglers. Once they’ve decided to act — not a given — they seem unmoored by the forces arrayed against them. It’s not just viewers who can see this. Early in “One Battle,” Perfidia’s mother asks Bob how he will take care of her baby granddaughter: “You look so lost,” she tells him.

The women they come across, on the other hand, seem ready for anything. They might see several chess moves ahead of both the protagonists and antagonists. They know how to affect the world of the movie, and they do so with ease — exactly what the actual “hero” of the story is completely unable to do.

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TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS:

[dfwgator]

Been that way since The Honeymooners.

[MinorityRepublican]

So they’re noticing this at the New York Times?

[Freedom4US]

I noticed probably 40 years ago the commercials only portrayed males as bumbling idiots or hapless fathers only needing the wise counsel of their children, etc. How could one not, they have to drive this point home. Going back farther, if you listen to antique radio programs it’s the same with “Father Knows Best” or “The Life of Reilly” etc.

[nathanbedford]

Where is the LANDMAN when you need him?

My hero, Billy Bob, is undaunted by all threats except that which is presented by his Looney ex-wife.

[AZJeep]

Interesting, even NYT finally realized this!

[sjmjax]

So, a woman in a black cocktail dress and high heels taking on 23 men variously armed with knives, clubs, handguns and sub machine guns and effortlessly defeating them without breaking a heel isn’t typical?

[Myrddin]

The BS meme of bungling white male and hypercompetent female (usually a POC) has been ongoing for 50 years. It's the primary reason I discontinued watching TV in the mid 80s. The movie industry has embraced this Bs for the last 25 years. I find one or two movies per year that aren't steeped in this stupidity.

[MNnice]

The democrat party consists of stupid women and weak men.

[aspasia]

[Fungi]

Well said and true. Consider “married with children,” a pathetic sitcom where the father must put with interminable insults and take it like a “man,” never once attempting to dignify his manhood.
Commercials are the same way—the man is the dunce yet why a buffoonish dunce is married to an adorable female is never explained.

[MayflowerMadam]

I guess they’ve never seen Landman or Tulsa King.

Taylor Sheridan writes strong men.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Please share with me/us your list of favorite movies. I’m always looking for decent recommendations. :)

[aspasia]

Mary Poppins

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Lucy was usually the doofus and Ricky was always the cool voice of reason.

But that’s the only example I can think of...

Glad I was raised by strong men, though my Mom and Grandmas were no slouches, either. ;)

[iamgalt]

It’s video games too. The ugly butch “Girl Boss” crap has been like a cancer. The players have finally rebelled and it has cost the developers millions in losses but they have been stubborn they keep churning them out. I think we may see it turn around as the layoffs have started.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You can’t beat the combo of Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews for singing and dancing! :)

I watched ‘The Sound of Music’ (Julie Andrews) a few weeks ago - my local TV station plays it around Christmastime. I cry through the whole movie. Every. Time. Saw it first as a 5 year old kid - it was the very first movie I saw in a movie theater! *HEART*

P.S. Those d@mn Nazis ruin everything! ;)

[mairdie]

Sunset, Barbarian at the Gate - James Garner
Sully, Tom Hanks
Red - Bruce Willis
Galaxy Quest - Alan Rickman
Sherlock Holmes movies - Robert Downey Jr.

[aspasia]

Yeah, well, what did you know? I saw the first few minutes and smelled warmed over Disney.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My Mom’s life-long ‘Imaginary Boyfriend’ is James Garner, LOL! I think she’s watched ‘Murphy’s Romance’ 100 times. ;)

‘Sully’ is from my 25+ years ‘hometown farm’ of Oregon, Wisconsin! He’s all that and a bag of chips!

‘Galaxy Quest’ is BEYOND fun - have watched it many times!

I’ve seen those ‘Sherlock’ movies, though Benedict Cumberbatch is my favorite ‘Sherlock’ so far.

I have never seen ‘Red’ so, THANKS! :)