What does it say about us, that we love to watch the dysfunctional, the destructive, and the downright malevolent, ahead of the virtuous and the sweet? Fortunately, it says very little.

There is a school of thought that we need good role models on TV, that by setting a good example our small-screen heroes can help us be better people.

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Given the demonstrated predilection of the public for mayhem, we can count ourselves fortunate that this school of thought is rubbish. People aren't shaped by television: television is shaped by people. We don't need TV that teaches us to be better people, we need TV that teaches us what good TV is, so we can keep making it. That's why, although I'd love my kids to grow up like Daria, I'm not seeking to improve them by their watching habits – I'd rather show them Seinfeld, Black Books and Hannibal and show them how brilliant television can be.

If they end up violent criminals, that'll be on me, not Netflix.