Dear Mrs Gregory, My name is Lilly Thomas, I am writing to you today to respond to your question on What Makes Drama Heroes So Great? Thank you for taking the time to message me and ask for my view on the point.

I believe all TV crime drama heroes are conveyed in their actions, costume, appearance and dialogue. Take Sherlock Holmes for instance. Sherlock is a very intelligent man, an individual detective who is more knowledgeable than the police, and therefore tackles on the more challenging cases. His attitude towards the police reflects on the kind of characteristics he has. He pushes the police aside, with a lack of respect and a very demanding personality this connotes Sherlock is confident and could be looked upon as a ‘show-off’, however the police accept this as Holmes is one who you can count on to solve the most mysterious of cases. This makes Sherlock a very respectable person whose confidence and cockiness is almost comical. In Season two ‘The Hounds of Baskerville’ whilst introducing the new case, Sherlock begins his ‘observing’ where he is able to tell exactly what the character has been doing by stains and dust placed on them. Holmes’ partner Dr. Watson then replies to Sherlock, “oh, do stop showing off” and Sherlock replies with, “Showing Off is what I do”. His observation and instinct is extremely impressive and never fails to shock the audience, this makes Sherlock a great hero for the fact his knowledge and impressive observing is so unbelievable. Sherlock is always wrapped up in a large coat, and a scarf. His costume makes him look like a much consumed male; this reflects in his personality, as Holmes is part of the stereotypical detective categories that describes detectives as being consumed in their work and therefore has no time for friends or romance. His lack of communication skills are shown and represented by his failure at caring about his partner in the business Dr. Watson. In the episode ‘The Hounds of Baskerville’ Watson is left feeling hurt and lost when Sherlock sternly reveals he ‘has no friends.’ Sherlock likes to think of himself as being a solo working man, where Watson secretly knows Sherlock is just used to being alone, and refuses to let anyone too close to him, almost as though he’s in denial. I think Sherlock’s softer side is represented in this episode as when Watson walks out on Sherlock, he is left feeling emotion, which he isn’t used to feeling. He takes the time to search and find Watson before he leaves and exclaim he does care for Watson and promises to stop belittling him. They are then reunited, and Sherlock ALMOST smiles, which is rare for his character to do without being sarcastic. I think this side brings out the best in Sherlock and makes him a great hero because even though he refuses to admit he needs any help, his realisation is still present that secretly he knows he likes having his friend Watson aside him. Sherlock’s dialogue I believe is linked towards the pleasure he gives to the audience. Holmes is a very sarcastic character, and the audience find this comical. His dialogue towards his partner Watson is funny for the fact Sherlock knows he is smarter, and more important therefore he never lets Watson forget it, and is constantly putting him down. This becomes comical because of his snappy sarcastic comments he emplaces on Dr. Watson and how Watson is so used to these that he just reacts with a role of the eyes. Even in the first episode of the series, when the characters are first introduced to the audience and to each other, Sherlock is already commenting on how pathetic he thinks Watson is. Sherlock Holmes: “It’s obvious, isn’t it?”John Watson: “It’s not obvious to me.”Sherlock Holmes: “Dear God. What is it like in your funny little brains? It must be so boring.” The audience have only just been introduced to Sherlock and already they know his sarcastic comments will be continuous and the audience thrive off the comedy he gives the show. Also Sherlock is in the female gaze, female audience may find him attractive and widens the

audience as people want to watch him in the series as they think Benedict Cumberbatch is good looking and therefore, with his looks and his comical characteristics he has built up a following of fans. The ideologies conveyed by the hero are accepted by the audience. Sherlock’s complex mind is part of the character he plays and it is all part of what makes him such a good hero. His knowledge and impressive techniques impress the audience and I think all his confusing methods enhance the audience. He is a great TV crime drama detective hero.

A contrasting hero would be the amateur detective from Murder She Wrote. Jessica Fletcher is a female detective whose kind qualities and caring heart combined with her underestimated knowledge make the perfect crime drama hero. Unlike Sherlock, Fletcher is very respectable towards the police, she approaches them with a warm manner and takes the time to work with them. This attracts an older audience who prefer a softer approach to crime solving, unlike Sherlock who is very opinionated and confusing. Despite being good-hearted and respectful, Fletchers eaves-dropping tactics are very handy when it comes to crime solving. Her actions towards sneakily listening in on other peoples conversations show she has good listening skills, however eaves dropping is also connoted as being rude, especially to an elderly audience, but I believe people still warm to it as she is only has the best intentions for the results she may get out of it. Since Fletcher could be seen as quite a gossipy character considering she is listening to other peoples conversations, stereotypically this may please an elderly audience as an elderly stereotype is that the older generation are quite gossipy themselves. Fletchers costumes are always very bright and bubbly, yet old fashioned. The colours connote quite a bright an observant character, with a warm side. And the old fashioned side connotes her age. However, Fletches does dress smartly and therefore this connotes she does take her job very seriously, despite her lack of experience, age and the fact being a detective hasn’t been her profession. The smart costumes link to other TV crime heroes such a Detective Tom Barnaby and Detective Sherlock Holmes, who all dress smartly in suits connoting their dedication to their work and how seriously they take their jobs. Fletcher is often looked down on in the series because of her age and lack of experience, however in the end she is always proved more superior to others, I think this pleases the elderly audience as many people underestimate the wisdom and knowledge they have over the younger and naive generation today. The police believe they overpower Jessica Fletcher because she is an amateur. In the episode ‘Celtic Riddle’ the police laugh at her ideas and question if she is on medication. “Is she on medication?!” Because the enjoys writing about the crimes, they find her techniques silly and pathetic, however at the end she makes a mockery of them all when she reveals the killer, making the force look naive and judgemental. I think Jessica Fletcher is a great TV crime drama hero because of how even though other detectives like to think they are better than her, her methods always prove them wrong. Despite her age and lack of experience. Also, unlike Sherlock and Tom Barnaby, Fletcher has no sidekick, she works the cases out all on her own, based on the information people are willing to give her, rather than those who are close to her.

The rural TV crime drama of Midsomer Murders has, in my opinion, one of the best crime drama heroes of all time. Detective Tom Barnaby. Barnaby is an experienced detective with a degree in psychology. Barnaby is one of the few detective who maintains a social and romantic lifestyle, along with loving his career. Usually, detectives such a Sherlock say they are “married to their work” and therefore have no time for friends or love or any social of

any kind. However Barnaby lives in a large country cottage with his wife Sarah, and despite a rocky start, his sidekick Benjamin Jones and himself maintain a solid friendship throughout the crime solving. In an episode called ‘Death in Chorus’, Barnaby tell Jones, his thoughts on people in love; DC Ben Jones: Crime of passion? DCI Tom Barnaby: Well, people in love do, do desperate things. – In this quote he tells his sidekick his thoughts on love, showing he is or was in love, unlike Detective Sherlock. Barnaby works for Causton CID; he is a ‘genius in the field of crime investigation’ and is a highly experienced and methodical detective. He is prone to taking his time in investigations, however despite his slow and steady nature; he is observant and perceptive, detecting the smallest clues which help him solve some very disgusting and gruesome cases in the county of Midsomer. In many episodes, Tom is known to have reached a conclusion much earlier as whom the identity of the murderer is, but he only reveals it later when he has gathered enough evidence. During season twelve, in an episode called ‘Secrets and Spies’ Barnaby reveals to his wife and his colleagues that he had previously worked for MI6 – The Secret Intelligence Service. This connotes how smart his character really is, and how he has kept such a large secret from everyone for nearly the majority of the TV show, shows his secrecy skills and subtleness is a skill he is good at. Barnaby is always dressed extremely smart, this connotes he takes his job very seriously, and the ideology of the smart detective, and how the stereotypes of all these difference clues carried around in their pockets. His knowledge and ability to take each clue and paint out the evidence to the audience, creates a positive response from the following of the TV show. Elderly people like to see how a couple can last in a marriage, just like Barnaby and his wife, who have been married a long time. Also, because he is older than his sidekick, he is also wiser, which pleases the elderly audience as people underestimate how wise they may be. The audience accepts his slow methods, as I think it makes the whole crime saving, far more satisfactory, as even though the audience are handed all these clues by Barnaby, there is always some sort of twist, something which we can never pick up like the Barnaby can. He has quite a straightforward personality, avoiding malice and sarcasm, however his complex mind in the way he is able to solve the most challenging and gruesome crimes, never fails to please the audience.

These are my thoughts on why TV crime drama heroes are so great, thank-you for taking the time to read and consider them.

Sincerely,Lilly Thomas.