It’s surprising how much appeal the character Mr. Bean has.
As Rowan Atkinson noted, the persona he creates for Mr. Bean is basically “a child in a grown man's body," -- of course, Bean can act like a selfish child as well as a loveable one.
Somehow, this idea works. The original "Mr. Bean" sitcom won multiple awards and was followed by various spin-offs, including two movies. While Rowan Atkinson’s played many characters since then, Mr. Bean keeps coming back for wild applause.
What I didn’t realize until recently is how many of Mr. Bean’s silly mistakes are pretty relatable if you’re a young adult. What do you do once you’re out of your parent’s house but still not used to being responsible for everything? How do you handle everyday stresses and problems (such as painting a room) -- especially if you’re someone, like Mr. Bean, who doesn’t want to grow up just yet?
Here are three episodes from the original show that any college student (any young adults really) can relate to:
1. “Mr. Bean”
In the show’s first episode, we see Mr. Bean goes to take a college exam, then realizes he hasn’t studied properly. Sound familiar?
Of course, Bean improvises in his ridiculous fashion, doing things many of us at least wanted to try in those situations.
2. "Mr. Bean Goes to Town"
Here we see Mr. Bean install a TV set (apparently his first one) without any help. Of course, he doesn't read the instructions.
Watching him try one thing and then another to make it work oddly parallels most of our experiences moving into a dorm room or apartment. Remember how hard it was the first time you had to assemble something furniture without parental help?
Later Bean goes on an awkward date – something many of us can relate to as we figure out how romance works in the complex, grown-up world.
3. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean”
Ah, the holidays -- we have so much to do, and yet we all want to get back to that joy we found in them as kids.
Bean goes through all the hectic details -- shopping, getting a tree, cooking Christmas dinner -- and tries to find time to still enjoy the season. As happens to most of us, some things don't work out as planned.
