Hey Buddy

Not sure who the subjects of the first buddy story were. Adam and Eve? More like a romcom . Cain and Abel (kind of a rough ending, so no)? Hamilton and Burr (sort of)? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Wyatt Erp and Doc Holiday, Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin, Sacco and Vanzetti (actually, forget them)? I guess I can see that, if I squint a little.

I guess the point-if you want to call it that-is that yes, these stories, a couple of friends, or non-friends, or rivals, or acquaintances who hate each other at first before realizing how they're actually friends, have been around forever, in different genres, different formats, different eras, and as readers/viewers (even listeners-more on that in a minute) we keep coming back for more.

Why is that?

Is it because these pairings, work? Well, they often do. Is it because they're enduring? Many times yes, although Martin and Lewis, Simon and Garfunkel, and sadly, even Hall and Oates, would probably differ (well, no, not probably, more like definitely). Is it because these pairings, these duos, these buddies-is it because we see ourselves in them?

I think that's one reason.

You can analyze pairs of fictional and real buddies all you want-you'll find why you were drawn to them, why you appreciated them, why you kept going back for more, why you were slightly bummed when they split apart (full disclosure: "You Make my Dreams Come True" will get cranked up to 11 whenever I hear it, and then I'll probably play it again). Whatever the motive, whatever the medium, we seem to like when two people pair up, work together, solve a crime, play a song. It works on many different levels.

But the second reason I think it works? We see ourselves in them because we are basically told our whole lives to have a partner. Of course, many people just assume that's the spouse/life partner/whatever you prefer that our society, our culture, points us to. But isn't that just part of it?

We work together, play together, create together, because it's efficient, it's fun, it's effective. Businesses can be built on partnerships and can thrive or implode and even both. But while we're pointed in the direction of being one of two in relationships of different types, and there's of course nothing wrong with being an individual, we like to see buddies work together, fight, argue, create, succeed together. We like it because it's relatable, it's aspirational, and it's fun. I may be wrong. I may be crazy.  

I think I'll go ask Jeff.