Rewatching Seinfeld made me see Elaine differently — she might be the most honest character on TV

Seinfeld, aired for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998, is considered one of the best sitcoms to date. Starring Jerry Seinfeld in the lead role as a fictionalized version of himself, the show revolves around his personal life and three of his friends. One of these friends is his ex-girlfriend, Elaine Benes, portrayed brilliantly by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

After the pilot episode, The Seinfeld Chronicles fell flat during a screening in front of the NBC execs, and they ordered Seinfeld and Larry David to add a strong female character. Consequently, Elaine was brought to life in the second episode.

Disclaimer: The following article contains the writer's opinions and spoilers for Seinfeld. Reader's discretion is advised.

While watching the show for the first time, Elaine's wit and her boundary-pushing confidence are traits that catch the audience's attention. However, rewatching it changed my perspective of Elaine, as I now feel that she might just be one of the most honest TV characters ever.

Seinfeld's Elaine redefines the concept of femininity

In an era when female characters in sitcoms were wives, mothers, or just supporting characters in the predominantly male-driven narratives, Elaine stood out as someone who was unapologetically herself. She did not attempt to fit into any archetype.

Seinfeld has been criticized for its lack of diversity and cynical worldview, but Elaine's individuality definitely added to the show's charm.

Unlike other female characters of that period who were written as the voice of reason or the moral compass, Elaine was allowed to be as neurotic, impulsive, and morally ambiguous as her male counterparts, Jerry, Kramer, and George.

Elaine never tried to fix her male friends or challenge them to change. Instead, she participated in the dysfunction. She had no hesitation whatsoever about ending relationships with her boyfriends over silly reasons.

Her sexual independence and confidence in her decisions challenged societal expectations for women. Her honesty about what she wanted or what she didn't made her a rarity.

I find Elaine's brutal honesty rare, but relatable

Elaine was a career-driven woman and had a series of jobs throughout the series. She stood up boldly against injustice every time one of her bosses tried to undermine her.

In fact, she even pushed back against her friends and her boyfriends. She spoke her mind without a filter, asserting her opinions clearly.

Elaine never tried to hide her honesty behind the veneer of virtue. She was honest in the way real people are: inconsistent, impulsive, and sometimes downright cruel.

Although her moral clarity could often be self-serving, it makes her feel more grounded than the male characters. She is honest, even if it is hurtful or uncomfortable, setting her apart from most sitcom characters, let alone the female ones.

I have long related to the flawed female leads of shows like Fleabag and The Morning Show.

During my recent rewatch of Seinfeld, I realized that Elaine is the early prototype of female characters who do not fit in a box, do not apologize for being themselves, and certainly don't try to please anyone with dishonesty.

Her honesty, emotional messiness, and lack of self-censorship make her one of the most realistic characters on TV and possibly also one of the most honest ones.

Seinfeld is available to stream on Netflix.