It's also: How does someone conceive of comeuppance? Most characters in these kinds of stories are indeed miserable. That's a kind of karmic justice. But the material reality of their lives remains unchanged (or they get even richer!) and they remain out of reach of the long arm of the law

March 13, 2026 - 16:20 UTC

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I’m in the camp where comeuppance means criminal conviction or loss of wealth and status.

Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton is miserable from her first scene through her last. Walter White alienates everyone he could possibly care about. But it’s not enough - I want documentable consequences!
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Tony’s enablers included even a therapist!
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