If you only like writers who depict people acting in ways that most people would act, then I suspect that you are likely to see some very boring entertainment. It seems to me that much of good entertain- ment consists of depictions of characters acting in extraordinary ways.
The trick is to make the extraordinaary behavior believeable by developing the character in such a way that the behavior is not sur-
prising, for that actor.
Specifically, you complain about the unreality of Deena not being swept off her feet by the rich guy. But the basis for her behavior is established earlier in the series. In the "Moving Day" episode of the first season, Dave and Deena are shown in intimate conversation. Dave suggests that Deena deserves a finer house. She replies that she loves their house, and goes on to describe how happy she was on their third anniversary. They were down to their last 20 bucks, so they just stayed home and ordered pizza. She concludes by telling Dave that he "... married a very low rent chick." It is hardly surprising, then, that Deena would not be swept off her feet just because her date was wealthy.
Further, in the "True Confessions" episode, when Dave asks for ad-
vice about what to do on a date, Deena tells him to keep it simple. She tells him that girls don't like it when guys do a lot of crazy stuff. The girl she is describing is, of course, herself. And the kind of crazy stuff she has in mind anticipates what the rich guy will subsequently do on their date. Her discomfort with his over the top antics is clear when she says disdainfully, "I thought we were just going out to dinner."
Finally, when they get on the plane, the rich guy comes out with what is surely the lamest line in the series. He says, "See, I'm not only rich, but I'm fun." If you think the Deena character is likely to be attracted to a man who can utter such a phrase, then you and I have a
very different understanding of Deeena.