1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.