Type #7 The Thrill Seeker
Or the reckless lunatic, depending on how you look at it
Typically called ‘The Enthusiast’ in the Enneagram, I’m calling this type The Thrill Seeker. Why? it’s always good to remember one thing about sitcom characters: what they want. This character wants thrills. They want experiences. They want adventure. They bring fun and excitement and will be the wildcard. They experience serious FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
Flipping It
In all of these character studies, we’re not just looking at deep-seated desires by fears. Let’s flip it. What is that the Thrill Seekers trying avoid? What are they afraid of? Boredom. Pain. Routine. This can lead them to make impulsive decisions which would seem reckless or dumb to other characters – but can have comic consequences for everyone. They may also be a stroke of genius.
The most obvious sitcom Thrill seeker is Joey Tribbiani in Friends who is constantly led by his appetites for food, fun, and flirting. His job, as an actor, is a good choice, since it embodies a transient lifestyle, and where no two jobs are the same.
Joey also goes about his work in a chaotic way, forgetting things or blagging the ability to speak French, for example. He is generally unreliable, causing frustration for the ‘grown ups’ like Ross. But, he is available, which means he can be there for people. Joey gets interesting as he grows older and starts to get more serious about life – and his friends are growing up and moving on around him.
Next up is Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is impulsive and childish in his desperation for adventure, especially if it involves being like a cop he’s seen on TV or, even better, fellow member of the NYPD, John McClane from Die Hard. Unlike his girlfriend, Amy, he hates paperwork and has no ambition to rise through the ranks. For him, the streets of Brooklyn are a playground.
Brooklyn 99 is infused with this playful vibe, especially when there elaborate episodes when crime is forgotten entirely and they all compete in arbitrary competitions.
Another thrill seeker is Andy Dwyer from Parks and Recreation. He begins the series as a man-child, but we enjoy seeing him trying to grow up and take responsibility for himself – and April.
A female thrill seeker could be Hayley Dunphy in Morden Family who does not think about the future, and kicks against having to take responsibility for herself, much to the irritation of her responsible sister. If you can think of any other female Thrill Seekers, leave a comment below!
Back to the Restaurant
Let’s get back to our restaurant sitcom being created for training purposes. This time, we might be dropping a bombshell. Let’s make the owner, let’s call her Jennifer, a Thrill Seeker. In some ways, this makes her the worst possible person to own and run a restaurant, which is boring, repetitive and full of regulations. So, comedically, we’re off to a flying start. A character is set up to fail – and wants something they probably can’t have.
But Jennifer understands what diners are looking for. Well, some of them: fun, thrills and experiences. She’s forever coming up with new dishes – which the chef can’t cope with – and new cocktails, which might be harmful in certain cases. She’s not afraid to try theme nights and special celebrations.
Her backstory could be that she was an actress who is no longer getting the parts, which tend not to be written for women of her age. But she’s not bitter about it. She wants a new challenge. Let’s start a restaurant! Some of her best experiences in her life have been in restaurants. She wants that for others – and a playground for herself. And her devoted husband will do all he can to make this a reality for her.
Rival restaurants don’t like Jennifer, because she’s always doing something new. It’s like she’s cheating – but in fact, her rivals are just too gutless or playing it safe. It depends on who you ask. Jennifer isn’t dumb. She knows that most restaurants fail, sooner or later. Most fail sooner. Well, Jennifer is not going to die wondering. And there comes a time when you’re in so much debt, it’s the bank’s problem, not yours! If Jennifer is going to go down, it’s going to be with a bang, a party, live music and some great cocktails.
Next time, Type 8: The Control Freak - and a walk in the woods goes horribly wrong. Don’t miss out on that. Subscribe (it’s free) if you don’t already:
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Okay, this really is the last thing. I write another blog called Cary’s Almanac in which I write about the Christian calendar, the Bible, history and creation. I only mention it because I just wrote about pitching The Baptism of Jesus as if it were a sitcom, asking the questions ‘why this?’ and ‘why now?’.
For me the ULTIMATE thrill seeker who just happens to be female as well is Ilana Wexler on Broad City. There's an episode where she leaves party after party trying to find the 10/10 experience. She is my hero and my inspiration (on a more muted level!)