Why is the violent man + child duo so popular?

Why does this dynamic keep hitting so hard, even when we’ve seen it a hundred times?
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Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us
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From The Mandalorian to The Last of Us, the “tough guy protecting a kid” formula shows up everywhere. But why does this dynamic keep hitting so hard, even when we’ve seen it a hundred times? In this episode of How it Hits, we explore the emotional pull and cultural roots of one of TV and film’s most enduring tropes.

Topics HBO Streaming


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