Renegade Hero or Faux Rogue

This book explores the presence of the anti-hero in mainstream dramatic serial television. It offers critical examinations of Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, True Blood, Breaking Bad, and Boardwalk Empire. What purpose might such unusual protagonists serve in today''s culture and what do their tales tell about U.S. political and economic issues from 2008 to 2012?

The author discovers how the charact...