As a child of the 1980s, it felt a little different. No, it’s not just nostalgia.
I am a product of the Key Generation, those of us who returned from school to empty houses to deal with homework, housework, and dinner preparations that our parents left us to deal with.
I’m a proud Gen Xer, born into a world that didn’t buffer or coddle us.
We faced a variety of challenges, from dealing with school bullies and dodgeball scrapes to growing up quickly in a household where a single parent often worked shifts to make ends meet.
I learned resilience the hard way—through personal trials and perseverance. My mom worked nights and went to school during the day, determined to better herself and create a better life for us, even if it meant time was always tight.
When I was a kid, I saw a lot: domestic abuse, hard life lessons, and yes, even racism up close.
My grandparents were Mexican, dark-skinned, and proud (my grandfather was a World War II hero and Purple Heart recipient), and I was a blond, green-eyed little girl who felt like an outsider in both worlds.
But all of these moments, from painful to empowering, shaped me. I survived, came out stronger, and learned that life doesn’t wait for you to feel “ready.”
These experiences have made me who I am today – able to cope with some of life’s toughest shocks, such as watching my husband die suddenly and raising a five-year-old son on my own.
Why? Because when you have courage, you can handle it and move on. That’s what our generation did.
the television that raised us
When I was growing up, television was more than just background noise; It’s part of our DNA.
We don’t have endless streaming options or curated content designed to make us feel “seen.”
Instead, we have heroes like Hannibal from “Dragon Strikers” and McKnight and McKeever from “Knight Rider,” who teach us how to take things in stride, use available resources, and solve problems quickly.
These guys are not waiting for rescue; They are taking action and teaching us to do the same.
Watching MacGyver (the original) create life-saving gadgets out of duct tape and paper clips, we know that sometimes being resourceful is all you need.
Life’s problems are not solved by the latest technology or endless options, but by being creative and acting fast.
Nowadays, you can easily Google your problem or ask for help with just a click, but back then, you had to figure it out yourself.
Watching MacGyver, we learn that with the will and the right tools (even if it’s just a Swiss Army knife), you can make things happen.
And there are icons like Cagney and Lacey, two strong women who took on the tough world of police work with determination and tenacity.
In a time when women were still fighting for their place in the workforce, they were rock solid, handling everything from dangerous cases to personal challenges.
Watching them perform lets us know that anything is possible if we have the courage to move forward.
Cagney and Lacey teach us that resilience isn’t just a man’s thing, it’s a mindset we can all embrace.
Characters like Draconian’s Hannibal take a different approach, bringing tough love and grit to every mission.
They didn’t wait for things to be perfect, didn’t ask for permission, and certainly didn’t expect a safety net. They rise to the occasion with courage, a cigar and a wink.
This is a generation that doesn’t complain, doesn’t make excuses, and doesn’t demand perfection.
They teach us to go out there, do some dirty stuff, and make things work – even if it means breaking a few rules.
Then there’s Family Ties, which impressed us with its blend of humor and real-life issues in a fresh and resonant way.
Alex P. Keaton’s unabashed ambition and drive perfectly embodied the individualistic spirit and emerging “yuppie” culture of the 1980s.
The Keatons’ free-thinking parents and hardworking children show us the balance between independence and family support.
They’re not a perfect family by any means, but they love each other through every challenge, showing us that family dynamics can be complicated but still work.
Take responsibility and move on
As we see on TV, our heroes don’t need to rely on support groups or pour their souls out to therapists (not to knock it, but that wasn’t part of the culture at the time).
Instead, they carry their own baggage, solve the problems that arise, and move on without looking back.
Michael Knight doesn’t have a team of therapists analyzing his every move – he has KITT, and they work together to solve any problem they encounter, without any help.
It’s not about suppressing emotions, it’s about learning to face them, process them and move on.
Watching these characters, we learn that life doesn’t slow down for us and sometimes, you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.
Fast forward to today, and it’s no surprise these lessons resonate even more.
Rewatching these shows, I find the simplicity of their approach refreshing. No over-analysis, no lengthy debates about motivations—just action.
These characters accept life unapologetically, teaching us to trust our instincts and solve problems rather than dwell on them.
In a world of self-doubt and indecision, these forthright, decisive characters feel like a breath of fresh air.
Lasting: Why ’80s TV heroes remain role models
Television has changed, and so have the heroes it puts on our screens.
Today, we’re more likely to see characters grapple with complex emotional layers, grapple with trauma, and even undergo therapy, which is undoubtedly important.
But what about characters from the 1980s? They are here to get things done, not to dwell on the “why.”
When you watch “Dragon” or “Knight Rider,” you get the message that life is about finding a way forward, not waiting for perfect conditions.
These characters didn’t ask for permission, and they didn’t waste time worrying about gray areas. They made a decision, faced the consequences, and moved on.
In the end, these characters teach us something valuable – when you’ve been through a lot, you don’t wait for permission to live your life.
You take action, make the hard choices, and don’t overthink the “what ifs.”
There’s something powerful about this clarity, and perhaps that’s why these characters hold such a special place in our hearts.
They remind us of a time when things were simpler, tougher, and more resilient.
These programs cultivate our courage, problem-solving skills and good self-reliance.
They may not be today’s flashy antiheroes, but they are role models in their own right – as enduring as the generation that grew up watching them.
Who is your favorite TV hero from the ’80s? Leave your picks in the comments and let us hear how these classic characters have shaped you.
