How to Be a Profiler on TV (shows and movies)
Traditionally, this would be limited to cops and psychologists, but lately they are turning to other people who notice stuff for a living… librarians, teachers, archaeologists, journalists,… even clergy.
Some of them use the same type of reasoning as Sherlock Holmes. Which was great back in the day of Conan Doyle, but not so much now. We reason better now.
Mostly it’s a case of looking for who was around at the time and who had motive. But that can be quite a quest. It has to be easier if you know the rules, like cops and psychologists do. Then your search is short listed.
Until it’s not? Because there is always that guy… you know. The nut who has no motive. Or the one who knows someone who has a motive and sets up that person for the crime so they can get away with it. And yes sometimes happenstance is a thing. Someone felt murderous, were on walkabout and there was a perfect storm of access and deniability when they were isolated enough they never got caught. But mostly people live within the rules, I mean for murderous, rapacious thugs and all 😛
Profiling goes beyond the evidence to look at human nature and it’s patterns. While traditional profilers are looking for boot tracks and fingerprints, license numbers and car types, the non-traditional ones are looking for a story that fits the crime. And who had access.
I like both types of shows, but sometimes I think the traditional ones have told the same tales so often on TV that they’ve become repetitive and boring. They either have to go bigger and pick up themes like terrorism or grand conspiracies. OR go supernatural.
And that is when I know the writers have lost the plot. lol
Most people just don’t get caught up in these things and you are left knowing that’ll never happen off TV. But to me, part of the fun of watching dramas on TV is getting a chill of “if that were me…”. Don’t you think? And it kind of sucks when you cannot fit yourself into the story or the character.
Most of the TV shows for this season have started now. And we’re able to discuss our faves. Do you have one or two shows where someone profiles to catch criminals?
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