I love taking photos of steam, though I don’t do it very often. Isn’t it neat?
Don and I were chatting this morning about one of our pet peeves. This has dominated our conversations lately because we’ve been watching Hinterland on Netflix and we’ve seen what we call the “Law & Order Device” rear its ridiculous head on this otherwise lovely show from Wales.
Tell me: if the police came to your door, or walked onto your property, and flashed a badge, would you answer their first question and then walk away from them in the middle of the interview, continuing with whatever you were doing?
No, you wouldn’t. Nor would about 98% of the public.
And if you did do that for some reason, wouldn’t you expect the police to tell you to “Stop, sit down, and answer our questions or you can answer them down at the station?”
Of course you would.
Yet, Law & Order and other shows use this artificial plot device wherein the person being questioned continually walks away because whatever they’re doing is so important that they can’t stop, or answers rudely, or, in the case of one of the many roles Don has played on Law & Order, slams the door in the detectives’ face. (Are you kidding me? Don and I laughed our tushes off when he filmed that scene.)
It’s a contrivance to give some blocking to a scene, to generate some interest in a routine interview. The writers think it makes it more interesting but the thing is, what’s really interesting is the interview itself – what the answers will be to the detectives’ questions.
But everyone has to have an ‘attitude.’
Hinterland does this with almost every interview and it drives us nuts. Everyone they question is in the middle of some task; sanding a boat, chopping wood, working on a fence, washing glasses in a bar, and NONE of them stop for more than a second in spite of seeing the detectives flash their badges. They’re rude, they ignore the detectives, and quite often, they simply walk away. And the detectives just stand there and accept it.
That’s not real life, of course, and you may argue that it’s fiction. Yes, it is. But it isn’t believable fiction and for us, every time this happens, which in the case of Hinterland is several times during the course of one episode, we are pulled out of the action because we can’t believe what we’re seeing.
Is everyone in this little town and the surrounding communities rude? Does everyone have a chip on their shoulder? Are they all so busy with sanding, scraping, and chopping wood that they can’t stop? Is there some sort of deadline that they must meet – does the wood have to be stacked in the next 15 minutes?
If the police pulled into our driveway and flashed their badges while I was in the middle of gardening, would I even think of walking away from them in the middle of their questions to grab a fresh bag of mulch and wheel my wheelbarrow away from them to another part of the yard, all the while giving surly one word answers? That would be a NO.
As a rule, we think British television series like this are better than the equivalent in the States, so we’re disappointed that this one has fallen prey to what feels like a distinctly American plot device. We like the series, don’t get me wrong, but it would have been much better without the Law & Order Device.
There’s also lots of soulful staring off into space and I can’t tell you how many times we have shouted at the television, “DO something!” There is seldom any variation in pace. But that’s another post.
I guess it’s good that we’re engaged, right? That we shout at the television set in exasperation? The actors are excellent, we love the setting, and continue to watch it. We’ll finish out the series in a couple of days.
But if one more character pulls this crap, I’m going to scream – and I fear Don will join me. You might want to cover your ears tonight. xo
Happy Thursday.
I often find the same thing in books. I think to myself, people don’t behave that way, or, that would never happen that way. I know we have to have “willing suspension of disbelief”, but I find it difficult to get back into the book after that.
Exactly! Thanks Melanie.
This is hilarious Claudia because my husband and I were just having the exact same conversation last night. We’ve been catching up on seasons of “Midsummer Murders” which is set in a fictional set of villages in the English countryside and is on Netflix. The characters do the same thing. Either ignore the detectives altogether or walk away in the middle of the interview. Dennis and I look at each other dumb-founded each time it happens. Otherwise the plots are always full of twists and turns and we rarely figure out “who did it” before the end of the show which is highly unusual so we enjoy the shows. But this interrupts the flow of the plot every time.
I just can’t believe that both of us were having the same frustrations yesterday evening.
Blessings,
Betsy
Great minds, Betsy…
Love this.
We dvr the original L & O series and Criminal Intent and I think they’re great. I love to watchJack McCoy nail people. We also watched Hinterland and , to me, that was just plain boring. Talk about a sullen main character. I did not care what happened to any of them. Lenny Briscoe was the best. We loved Jerry Orbach. He was a gem.
Well, you’re right. The main character is sullen and I often want to slap him! But I still find it more interesting than Law & Order, which is very formulaic (just my personal opinion.) The earliest episodes were the best.
Don worked with Jerry Orbach on that show and got to hang out with him on set. He says it was one of the best experiences he’s had on television. He’s also a friend of Jerry’s son, Chris.
I watched Hinterland two years ago. I liked that it was so atmospheric. And I also loved the looks Matthias and Mared gave each other. I guess I never paid attention to what you are saying but you’re right. In real life, that would never happen.
No, it wouldn’t. It won’t keep me from finishing the series, though. I like it.
i understand …
i like vincent d’onofrio as an actor just fine, but i had to quit watching “law and order: criminal intent” because, despite there being a whole team of detectives and other people to help, it seemed (at least in the episodes i saw) like his character solved every single crime and always and only by recalling some teeny bit of arcane trivia that was stuck in his brain. maybe that’s a writer’s device? or maybe it’s poor development for the other characters? or part of vincent d’onofrio’s star contract? i don’t know … but it happened enough that i had to stop watching that show. and now tell you about it (ha).
good thing there’s lots of different things a person can watch on tv … or do instead of watching tv!
hope you are having a good day.
kathy in iowa
meant to add a ps: no insult intended to “law and order: criminal intent” cast, crew, writers and fans!
kathy in iowa (who’s had some articles published, but nothing that would get on tv!)
No insult was even intimated, Kathy. It’s a popular show but it does fit a specific template, which I find limits what it can do. But that’s the way Dick Wolf devised it.
I agree with you, Kathy. The Criminal Intent series is my least favorite. I do like the later ones when they had other actors in the detective roles.
Yes. And we had to watch his offbeat process, which was a bit self-indulgent. I like him as well, but it became all about D’Onofrio’s quirks. I felt the same way, Kathy. Thank you!
I remember watching the bilingual series a few years ago and to be honest I think I found it a bit grey and gloomy. Maybe it was the time of year that they filmed as Wales is a beautiful country.
There’s a new Harlan Coben thriller called The Stranger starting on Netflix today, which I’m keen to see as last Spring I was meeting my friend for a coffee in town and there was a Netflix film crew across the road. The actors were looking at a large animal lying in the road and we couldn’t figure out what it was meant to be. The waitress told us it was a llama!
Next day at work, my boss told me the crew were filming on the library’s front entrance steps, early morning before we opened. They had prior permission. It was bitterly cold so he brought them inside between takes. They said the library would be portrayed as a town hall. Hopefully these scenes won’t have ended up on the cutting room floor!
Happy Thursday
I was trying to condense my post and have sent both edits. Just ignore the last paragraph or remove it if you’re able. Sorry😀 xx
I already removed it, Dee Dee. I could see it was an error! xo
It is very grey and gloomy though it’s been a bit sunnier of late!
I’ll keep my eye out for the Coben movie. I like his writing a great deal. How neat that it was filmed in your town!
I’ve never seen Law and Order, but it’s a device I’ve encountered on virtually every British mystery show I’ve watched. It drives us crazy too, because it’s utterly nonsensical, and we often comment on it. Nonsense aside, we loved Hinterland.
I’ve noticed it less in other British shows that we like. I think good writing (and directing) doesn’t need to resort to that device. But no doubt, it’s a trend.
Thanks, Margaret!
I started watching Hinterland and thought the first episode was quite good, although I did have flashbacks to a childhood of teeth being pulled without anaesthetic. After that, I lost interest as it seemed to me to be formulaic. I quite like watching crime/courtroom series, although I’m sometimes tempted to shout at the screen “it doesn’t work that way”. Every so often we get a client whose first concern is the “reading of the will” – doesn’t work that way here. I blame reruns of Murder, She Wrote.
The exceptions are the series that aren’t formulaic. They’re out there but they’re not nearly as prevalent.
I was never a fan of Murder, She Wrote – I got bored with it pretty quickly! Thanks, Barbara.
Personally the same scenes always elicit an eye roll on my part and I must remind myself I’m dealing with mere entertainment. But the facts are a bit different than assumed. There is a line in police questioning between “consensual encounter”
and “investigatory stop”. Sadly, current society continues to push for an attitude of disrespect for the police that actually causes behavior (technically legal) that seems unfathomable to a good citizen.
Thank you!
AMEN Claudia! and here’s a thought…
maybe in some small psychologically odd way… this rudeness (a plot ploy or whatever it is)
is possibly or seemingly part of what’s become so wrong with the entire attitude of the whole country? no time to be courteous. no time to be attentive (ME and my cell phone come FIRST)
and no respect for anything or anybody… much less the LAW!!!
sorry. soapbox back in my closet now.
aren’t you glad I don’t comment any more than I do? !!! LOLOL!
You’re welcome to your soapbox here, Tammy! Thanks.
I’ll bet I’ve seen Don on Law and Order — I think I saw every one of them! And you are spot on — that’s a ridiculous staging device. People just wouldn’t do it — or rather, they MIGHT but the cops would most certainly try to stop them. I actually just read of that movement in a recent mystery too. Pretty much, that’s all I have to say and walk away. They didn’t go after him either, but then, there probably wasn’t quite so much reason!
I’m sure you have. He gets stopped on the street or in public places because people saw him on that show or any number of other shows he’s done. He’s been doing television since Three’s Company days!
If the police stopped me or came to my house, my heart would be pounding! I wouldn’t have time to be rude! Thanks, Jeanie.
I don’t like it when a show pulls me out of the “fantasy” by the characters reacting unrealistically. (I also hate it when my husband says, in the middle of a show, “Hey, isn’t that the guy from…” – but that’s another story.) – unless it is purposeful – to show a character’s specific trait or that he’s covering up something. In my career, I taught literature and one thing I taught was for students to be aware of something unusual because that would probably be important to the plot. With a lot of these shows, you wouldn’t be able to do that because there is too much that is unrealistic.
My husband says “What’s the name of that actress/actor?” and I have to shush him!
I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts on this, Jane!
It seems a lot like another trial/ investigation going on in “real life”. “I just won’t answer it. It is a hoax. Go away”……… sadly the good guys seem to do that. Just walk away, allowing the idiots to take charge. ugh.
Love the picture of the steam. We are on our NINTH DAY with no sun. It is getting rather painful. I am thinking that by Sunday, when it is supposed to appear, we will likely need to close the blinds and curtains to shield our eyes from the brightness!! Have a good remainder of your day.
Yes, it parallels a trial we’re watching at the moment, doesn’t it?
I’m so sorry you’ve had no sun. I was just saying to Don what a difference some sun makes! Just wear sunglasses on Sunday until your eyes adjust – like coming out of a cave into daylight! Thanks, Chris!
A Promise: To chase the grey away no matter your location, think of
the marvelous James Ingram who passed one year ago yesterday. Listen to the song
“Beneath The Snow” from his album “Stand (In The Light), track 5, a simple search on
YouTube. 3 minutes & 57 seconds that will recharge your spirit and assure you the
sun is seeking to shine on your face again.
I am a huge fan of James Ingram. I will definitely listen to the song. Thank you!
I laughed out loud when I read your post–I had exactly the same thought earlier this week while I was knitting and watching the last season of Inspector Lewis on Amazon. Ditto for Shetland and Hinterland. I loved all 3 series , all were very clever, atmospheric and well acted ( full confession though, after a few episodes of Shetland, the Main actor reminded me of a very very sad Spaniel ) but holey moley , it’s hard to believe that most people would act rudely to police professionals. After all, as tax payers, don’t we hire police for the greater good and safety of all of us? As always, I enjoy reading your blog everyday, thanks for the chuckle.
Don’t you think the main character in Hinterland is also like a sad spaniel?
I simply can’t believe most people would act rudely, and if they did, it would only be because they were very, very nervous! Thanks, Teresa.
You two are hilarious!!! I agree.
Thanks, Cindy!
We get Britbox and Acorn TV so we watch a lot of British detective shows together, my husband and I. We are always commenting on the same things you are talking about. I am glad we are not alone. I liked Tammy’s comments especially.
Apparently, we are not at all alone! The comments here are right on the button. Thanks, Beverly!
If I were to be stopped and question by the police. I would be so nervous I could not walk away. I would answer their questions and be polite. Hopefully it would end soon.
Marilyn
Exactly! Thanks, Marilyn.
People are definitely rude to police officers in the UK.
From what I would call politely rude,
“My taxes pay your wages”
To just swearing at them.
Even in houses where people politely listen you often have to get them to turn the TV off so they can hear you.
Obviously there is also the making of tea which can happen a fair bit.
( As a social worker I went out with the police a fair bit)
Thanks, Rue! I would have thought the British were more polite than Americans, but I guess that’s not the case!
I’ve read the comments on the actors names. Who is this? Where have I seen him?
In Switzerland there aren’t as many “famous” actors. So in every Swiss movie there are about the same actors it seems. Sometimes the good guy is the bad guy and the other way round. It’s confusing. But of course it is also challenging and interesting to see how they perform in different roles.
We are watching a show called “Der Bestatter” (the undertaker). There are also many unrealistic szenes, but the show is still great. A lot to think and talk about. I’m not sure how Germans think about the show though. They need subtitles, that’s for sure. ;-)
Happy tv times!
Regula
Thank you, Regula! Good to hear more about Swiss television and movies!
One thing I love about the British detective shows is the person the police are questioning always asks if they would like tea or coffee. Or if they would like a drink (alcohol). I am always amazed. If the police wanted to question me I would be so nervous I would forget to ask them if they would like something to drink. Tea, water, lemonade, etc. Then after they left, I would be so embarrassed I didn’t ask them!
Me too, Tana!
I visit people’s houses now in the USA and am still a little taken aback that I am not offered a cup of tea!
I think it is a stress response in the UK.
I imagine it is! Thanks, Rue.