Characters
- As
befitting the patriarchal society we live in, the majority of central
characters are male. Exceptions
e.g. – Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect; Cagney and Lacey; Sara Lund in The
Killing.
- Majority
of cast members are male. Homicide: Life on the Street = one female
detective compared with seven male.
- Central
character is usually white Euro/American.
Some shows have countered this.
Homicide = three Black detectives, including the lieutenant of the
squad and the show’s main character – reflects the racial diversity of the
area (Baltimore). Luther = UK
detective show with a Black protagonist.
- Some
shows feature one central character e.g. Wallander, Morse, Luther; some
have pairs of detectives = Cagney and Lacey, Starsky and Hutch; others
have an ensemble cast where one character is usually dominant = Homicide:
Life on the Street; The Wire; the versions of CSI;
Whitechapel
- Even
where the focus is on one or two detectives, there is usually a small cast
of supporting characters in the squad to back up the protagonists or cause
them irritation – Spiral, for example.
- The
lead character is often a maverick, reluctant to abide by the rules so
there will be conflict with his bosses as well as with the criminals. Spiral and Wallander, for example. You
can also see this in ensemble shows that have a notably stronger character
that many stories revolve around – McNulty in The Wire; Frank Pembleton in
Homicide. They are often marked out
by their more informal dress or, perhaps, unshaven appearance; they may
have family/relationship or drink problems – or both (McNulty in The
Wire).
- Criminals
– some shows focus on the criminals (Hustle, Inside Job, or The Sopranos,
for example) sympathy and, therefore, audience interest is maintained by
making the criminals engaging or pitting the odds against them. The Sopranos (created by David Chase,
who had cut his teeth as a writer on the private detective series, The
Rockford Files in the 1970s), for example, is about a family man
undergoing analysis who happens to be a ruthless mafia boss who has to
deal not only with the law but also with other Mafia families.
- Supporting
characters – these may be partners or members (sometimes estranged) of the
family of the leading characters; people in related professions that the
lead characters have to deal with (the legal profession, for example);
criminals; informants; other policemen/detectives/forensic scientists. The
private detective show, The Rockford Files had the lead character, Jim
Rockford, an ex-(but not guilty) con who lived alone, but his supporting
cast consisted of his father, who was there to be helpful, but also to be
an irritant for comic value; an informant more interested in saving his
own skin; a female lawyer, who, at times, was his girlfriend and who was
adept at getting him released from jail; a friendly police detective; the
detective’s hostile superior (to ensure regular conflict).
- Corrupt
policemen or lawyers feature in many shows, but the American show, The
Shield, focussed on a corrupt team of officers led by their corrupt
boss. Although they went to any
lengths to put criminals behind bars, they were involved in crime themselves
and went to any lengths (including murder) to protect their interests.