Anton Chekhov said it best in his letter to fellow writer, Alexander Tikhonov: “All I wanted was to say honestly to people: ‘Have a look at yourselves and see how bad and dreary your lives are!’ The important thing is that people should realize that, for when they do, they will most certainly create another and better life for themselves. I will not live to see it, but I know that it will be quite different, quite unlike our present life. And so long as this different life does not exist, I shall go on saying to people again and again: ’Please, understand that your life is bad and dreary!’"
While first we must be entertaining. That is our job. If we can be funny, even better. But where the rubber meets the road, we are holding up the mirror to nature (you know the quote—we all know the quote). And in the telling. If we can help someone—through laughter, escape, intrigue, even spectacle, portraying true human relationships warts and all—rekindle their own desire to change their lives for the better—it was all worth it.