HBO's
Oz is far and away my favorite show on television, but after seeing an episode like this week's, I can understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. The final scene involving Robson and Said's "weakest" follower was just gruesome. Most of the recurring "evil" characters on this show occasionally reveal some side of their personality that tells you there's an ounce of humanity left in them. Schillinger, I think, is one of those characters, someone who acts on totally misguided views, but upon reflection, can at least sometimes empathize with the people he creates so much misery for. Robson, on the other hand, is what you'd imagine a man with no conscience to be like. When he inflicts pain on others, it's apparent that his lack of remorse is due to something other than just some twisted justification from a corrupted belief system. He's cold and callous because he enjoys it. I used to be a little disturbed by the fact that
Oz made it so easy to identify with its deeply flawed characters. I now find it even more disturbing that I cannot relate to the purely evil ones on any level at all. It's disheartening enough to recognize that there are Schillingers in this world. I don't even want to awknowledge the possibilty that there are Robsons.
