Why everybody (should) love Raymond

Of all the drama series I’ve watched, this one is very close to my heart. There it is. I’ve made the glorification intention crystal with the very first line.

I saw this series for the first time when I was abroad and was immediately smitten. It was one series that was so different from the rest that I had seen and was so alike to the ones at home. Even though the genre was comedy, the situations involved couldn’t be of more drama and the easy way in which they show the resolution will work only in sitcoms and not in real life. Yet, the intention of the series and the eventual positivity that they want to convey was hard to miss. You’ve a typical joint family setup, even though the parents along with the elder sibling stays in a different house, just opposite to theirs, Raymond, and Debra along with their kids would feel they are all living together as a tightly coupled joint family like the ones they show in Vikaraman and Visu movies, for their neighbors on the opposite house are almost always in their home. It may not be a typical American family and considering Italians are always associated with that word, be it a underworld dons or as avenging relatives, the Barones are blue blooded Americans of Italian origin. May be that is the reason why their family gets into all dysfunctional mode, with the dad trying to be all American and mother donning the Italian ancestral traits, leaving both Raymond and Robert confused and often traumatized in a funny way. The dad character, Frank Barone, would have given Visu of Ammaiyappa mudaliar from Samsaram adhu minsaram a tough run for his twirled mush. His way of showing tough love to his kids, mocking/teasing them always along with his cavalier approach bordering on insult to his wife rock the scenes whenever he is around. There is an episode where his rash driving causes a concern and Debra wants Raymond to take it up with him. Unable to face up to his dad, Ray decides to do the driving whenever Frank comes around to take the kids for an outing. Without it being expressed, Frank gradually understands he is ageing and decides not to risk the lives of his loved ones by opting to be driven to places rather than driving on his own. It was one of the most beautiful episodes that could’ve made an art movie proud, but one should listen to the roaring laughter with which those scenes and situations would’ve been presented. Bagyaraj would’ve been proud. The other episode that is close to my heart involves Marie Barone (the lady who had played that role is a hoot and deserves every and any award presented to her if at all) Debra, Debra’s mom where, Debra feels bad that her mom, who visits them very rarely unlike Ray’s parents, hardly shows any interest in interacting or knowing about Debra or her kids. She complains about it in front of everyone and to her surprise and everyone’s asks out loud why her mom can’t be like Ray’s mom. There is a stunned silence that follows which is met by howlarious laughter, for Debra is a typical marumagal, who would’ve fitted to a T in any of the gazillion tamil drama series, who values her privacy and freedom and sees her MIL as her direct competitor, be it cooking or raising kids or taking care of the house. In fact, she herself is shocked to have said such a thing. The immediate scene that follows sums up the essence of this post. Marie goes to the bedroom where a shell-shocked Debra is sitting with her hands over her head and a clueless Ray, typical male husband who again would’ve walked into any of the daily soaps in tamil and no one would’ve bated an eye, trying to make sense out of it. Marie expresses her happiness and gratitude in as little words possible and gives her a tight hug with her first response being, Debra was rude to her mother!! Even though she feels happy that her DIL think so highly of her, she does the right thing by stating the obvious and even mentions that her mother is not mother-ish, like them both. An utterly gobsmacked Debra realizes that her version of how a mother should be, is based on how Marie is treating her family, even though that is the very bone of contention across all the seasons. Even Ray, Richard and Frank are confused why Debra thinks like that for they have their own reasons why their family is a rack full of crack pots. The sequence where Debra wants Ray to talk to her mom is another beautiful scene depicting real world challenges faced by guys while dealing with their in-laws. Ray finds it weird to address his MIL as mom or by her name, unlike Debra who doesn’t have any problem with that. When left alone, he is clueless as to what to speak with her and so is Debra’s mom and they circle about topics without knowing how to connect. I guess this is one sequence that is universally true. 

I had written a short section on this series when I saw it first and wanted to do a full fledged one to do justice to this lovely serial. I really wish someone from India buys the rights and tries to make something lighthearted and relatable for our audience. On the other hand, it may not find much audience here for it is nothing new for us. What may be a fancy element for them could be commonplace here. But considering that other serials that are ruling the primetime are not competing for unique theme of the year, this one is worth a try. With a good script writer who has a funny bone, there is a winner right there.