Unmasking the True Villain: The Surprising Revelation about Jerry Seinfeld's Arch-Nemesis
Unmasking Seinfeld's true antagonist, this article reveals why Jerry's disdain for Newman was unfounded Explore the unexpected reasons behind Newman's misunderstood character and why he was the show's unsung hero Discover a new perspective on this iconic sitcom rivalry
Summary
It was understandable that Newman felt down about his job as a mailman, especially since he had never desired it in the first place and Jerry had a thriving career as a comedian. Objectively speaking, Newman's job was less satisfying.
Newman's mischievous behavior was typically small-scale, in contrast to Jerry's dubious actions, thereby rendering his minor pranks pardonable in comparison to Jerry's more egregious conduct.
Jerry frequently surpassed Newman in terms of wrongdoing, as he resorted to drugging a woman and stealing from an elderly lady. The consequences of Jerry's actions were more severe, while Newman's deeds were driven by a sense of mischief and caused less harm.
Newman, often portrayed as the villain on Seinfeld, might not be any worse than Jerry or Kramer and could even be considered a better person than them. Wayne Knight's portrayal of Newman, a classic sitcom antagonist, is highly praised as one of Seinfeld's top supporting characters, despite not appearing until season 3. Knight's comedic chemistry with Seinfeld, particularly in Jerry's ongoing battle of wits with his bitter mail carrier, has left a lasting impression on the show's cultural impact.
However, there is a possibility that Newman is misunderstood. Although all of Seinfeld's characters have questionable morals, Newman is consistently portrayed as the show's villain due to his longstanding feud with Jerry. They occasionally find themselves reluctantly working together, but for the majority of the series, they are nemeses. While it is accurate to label Newman as Jerry's archenemy, it is Jerry himself who truly serves as Seinfeld's main villain.
8 Newman’s Job Was Way Worse Than Jerry’s Career
7 Newman Wasn't As Bad As Jerry Believed
: Undeniably, Newman's incessant grumbling about his role as a mailman became rather bothersome, thereby explaining why the majority of Seinfeld's main characters were disinclined to spend time with him. Nonetheless, it is reasonable to empathize with his grievances, considering that Jerry thrived as a successful stand-up comedian while Newman felt trapped in a dead-end job. The unfulfilling nature of Newman's occupation was not due to the inherent awfulness of being a mailman, but rather because he personally never aspired to have the job he ended up with. Consequently, his despondency was comprehensible.
While Newman's dog-napping incident is widely known and has tarnished his reputation, it is important to note that it is an exception among his other actions. Unlike a pure villain, Newman's mischievous acts were mostly born out of passion, rather than malicious intent. One such example is when he cleverly persuaded Jerry to pay a small fine in season 8, episode 5, titled "The Package." In light of Jerry's own questionable behavior, this playful prank could easily be pardoned.
6 Jerry Was Often Worse Than Newman
Jerry's actions were not without controversy. In one instance, he drugged a woman, although it was only to indulge in her vintage toy collection. Additionally, he once took a loaf of bread from an elderly woman. While aiding George, Seinfeld's antihero, in this act, it was undoubtedly a more severe offense than anything Newman, Jerry's nemesis, did throughout the show. Jerry's missteps didn't end there; he accidentally caused his neighbor to be deported. Although he attempted to rectify this mistake, his failure demonstrated that he wasn't necessarily more considerate of others' well-being than Newman. If anything, Jerry's actions often had more significant repercussions, making him arguably worse than his rival.
5 Ramon’s Near-Death Experience Was Jerry’s Fault Too
In season 7, episode 8 of Seinfeld titled "The Pool Guy," Ramon, a minor supporting character, persistently pursued Jerry's friendship despite Jerry's polite rejection. This eventually led to a physical altercation in the pool involving Newman, Ramon, and Jerry. Amidst the chaos, Ramon was knocked unconscious. Neither Newman nor Jerry were willing to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, making them equally responsible. Fortunately, a bystander came to Ramon's rescue and saved his life. Nevertheless, this incident highlighted yet another occasion where Newman proved to be no better than Seinfeld's supposed hero, Jerry.
4 Kramer Dropped Newman For Jerry
3 Newman’s Mistakes Weren’t All His Fault
In Seinfeld’s two-part special season 7, episodes 21 and 22, titled "The Bottle Deposit," Kramer abandons Newman in the middle of nowhere to chase after a thief who stole Jerry's car. This blatant act clearly demonstrates Kramer's prioritization of Jerry over Newman and serves as valid evidence showcasing the justified anger of the villain towards the title character. While viewers invested in Jerry's storyline may have found Kramer's actions reasonable, his disregard for Newman highlights the logical nature of Newman's rivalry with Jerry.
Newman once unwittingly gave Jerry fleas, but it was not a deliberate act of malice. In fact, Newman was unaware that he had fleas to begin with. Throughout Seinfeld's duration, numerous disgusting and unpleasant incidents occurred, which wrongly portrayed Newman as a villain. In reality, these incidents were simply a reflection of the chaotic nature of his life. If anything, the fact that a grown adult like Newman could inexplicably contract fleas demonstrated his desperate need for a supportive group of friends, much like the central characters in Seinfeld.
2 Newman’s First Seinfeld Slight Was Justified
Way back in Newman’s first Seinfeld appearance, the series delved into the origins of Jerry’s issues with Wayne Knight's character. In season 3, episode 15, titled "The Suicide," Jerry found himself facing a moral dilemma when the girlfriend of a coma patient expressed her attraction towards him. In a twist of events, Jerry engaged in an affair with her, leading Newman to eventually reveal the truth to the patient upon his awakening. While Newman's actions were fueled by spite, exposing the relationship between Jerry and the patient's girlfriend was not necessarily immoral. Despite this, Newman became portrayed as the antagonist in the story.
1 Jerry's Hatred of Newman Was Never Really Justified
From the beginning, Jerry had a deep mistrust of Newman, while Newman simply desired to be part of Jerry's friend group. Although Jerry's harassment of Newman was not justified, it is also true that Jerry's animosity towards him was not warranted. In fact, this is something that Jerry Seinfeld himself has acknowledged [via CBS News]. While the Seinfeld storyline portrayed a constant feud between Jerry and Newman, in reality, there wasn't much that truly separated the two characters. Both Jerry and Newman often exhibited entitlement and manipulated the truth to serve their own purposes. They both frequently engaged in failed illegal schemes that, while innocent in their lack of success, were nonetheless numerous.
Jerry and Newman both considered themselves to be the protagonists of their own narratives, resulting in a perception of being unjustly treated by each other. As the show was named Seinfeld, viewers predominantly saw Newman from Jerry's viewpoint and consequently formed the opinion that Newman was a bothersome character. However, when objectively analyzed, Newman simply had a less enjoyable job, fewer friends, a less fulfilling romantic life, and fewer criminal activities compared to Jerry. Looking at it this way, it becomes difficult to refute the notion that the primary antagonist of Seinfeld was not necessarily any worse than its protagonist.
