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  3. Why do so many shows end up being cop shows?

Why do so many shows end up being cop shows?

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  • Che BananaT Che Banana

    Fallout.

    Definitely not Copaganda.

    R This user is from outside of this forum
    R This user is from outside of this forum
    redacted@lemmy.zip
    wrote last edited by
    #3

    Came here to rec it. Really enjoying it, and goggins is superb in it

    1 Reply Last reply
    3
    • nocturneN nocturne

      I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

      I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

      While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

      Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

      R This user is from outside of this forum
      R This user is from outside of this forum
      reddig33@lemmy.world
      wrote last edited by reddig33@lemmy.world
      #4

      The Cop/Doctor/Lawyer show cycle just goes on and on. They’re known as “procedurals” and have been around forever. For some reason they’re very popular (NCIS has been on for 23 years!).

      Every now and then you get an interesting riff like comedy (Car 54) or edgy (Miami Vice, NYPD Blue) or soapy (LA Law, Grays Anatomy). But usually they are just dry/drab (Dragnet and Dick Wolf).

      Westerns went through the same kind of churn.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_drama

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_procedural

      nocturneN mimicjar@lemmy.worldM 2 Replies Last reply
      13
      • nocturneN nocturne

        I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

        I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

        While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

        Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

        F This user is from outside of this forum
        F This user is from outside of this forum
        finjaminpoach@lemmy.world
        wrote last edited by
        #5

        I was recently taken aback by just how many cop shows there are, particularly detective shows. Surely if you've seen about 3 then you've seen them all.

        When i see a lot of media in just one genre it tends to feel like they've just applied a new coat of paint to the same formula - never truer than cop shows, where it's like:

        • What if the detective is a psychic?
        • What if the detective is pretending to be psychic?
        • What if the detective is a con artist?
        • What if the detective is a psychic con artist?
        • What if the detective is a pretending-to-be-psychic con artist?
        • What if sherlock holmes had savant syndrome?
        • What if Sherlock holmes was married to an asian lady?
        • What if the detective is a cute single mom super genius?

        Not to mention a lot of supernatural shows (e.g buffy) end up feeling like cop shows.

        F nocturneN F 3 Replies Last reply
        14
        • F finjaminpoach@lemmy.world

          I was recently taken aback by just how many cop shows there are, particularly detective shows. Surely if you've seen about 3 then you've seen them all.

          When i see a lot of media in just one genre it tends to feel like they've just applied a new coat of paint to the same formula - never truer than cop shows, where it's like:

          • What if the detective is a psychic?
          • What if the detective is pretending to be psychic?
          • What if the detective is a con artist?
          • What if the detective is a psychic con artist?
          • What if the detective is a pretending-to-be-psychic con artist?
          • What if sherlock holmes had savant syndrome?
          • What if Sherlock holmes was married to an asian lady?
          • What if the detective is a cute single mom super genius?

          Not to mention a lot of supernatural shows (e.g buffy) end up feeling like cop shows.

          F This user is from outside of this forum
          F This user is from outside of this forum
          finjaminpoach@lemmy.world
          wrote last edited by finjaminpoach@lemmy.world
          #6

          Cop shows are actually fun to watch, though, whereas medical procedurals are really dull. Hospitals just put me to sleep a little bit. Badum tsh. Lawyer stuff is swell but i prefer them in movies to shows.

          1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • Che BananaT Che Banana

            Fallout.

            Definitely not Copaganda.

            nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
            nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
            nocturne
            wrote last edited by
            #7

            I did watch the first season. Times to start the second.

            1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • F finjaminpoach@lemmy.world

              I was recently taken aback by just how many cop shows there are, particularly detective shows. Surely if you've seen about 3 then you've seen them all.

              When i see a lot of media in just one genre it tends to feel like they've just applied a new coat of paint to the same formula - never truer than cop shows, where it's like:

              • What if the detective is a psychic?
              • What if the detective is pretending to be psychic?
              • What if the detective is a con artist?
              • What if the detective is a psychic con artist?
              • What if the detective is a pretending-to-be-psychic con artist?
              • What if sherlock holmes had savant syndrome?
              • What if Sherlock holmes was married to an asian lady?
              • What if the detective is a cute single mom super genius?

              Not to mention a lot of supernatural shows (e.g buffy) end up feeling like cop shows.

              nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
              nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
              nocturne
              wrote last edited by
              #8

              I am not 100% against cop shows, some are great. The X-Files, Orphan Black (which I think was more a show that had some cops in it), Slow Horses. But I am totally full on my cop quota right now.

              1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • R reddig33@lemmy.world

                The Cop/Doctor/Lawyer show cycle just goes on and on. They’re known as “procedurals” and have been around forever. For some reason they’re very popular (NCIS has been on for 23 years!).

                Every now and then you get an interesting riff like comedy (Car 54) or edgy (Miami Vice, NYPD Blue) or soapy (LA Law, Grays Anatomy). But usually they are just dry/drab (Dragnet and Dick Wolf).

                Westerns went through the same kind of churn.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_drama

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_procedural

                nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
                nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
                nocturne
                wrote last edited by
                #9

                I would love a good western that was not cop related (Bass Reaves was good, but he was a cop). I have been enjoying the Abandons, but it was cancelled and I cannot watch Netflix at work.

                1 Reply Last reply
                3
                • nocturneN nocturne

                  I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                  I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                  While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                  Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                  Y This user is from outside of this forum
                  Y This user is from outside of this forum
                  yiddishmcsquidish@lemmy.today
                  wrote last edited by
                  #10

                  The bourgeoisie are noticing the tides shift. And are pumping out propaganda.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  2
                  • nocturneN nocturne

                    I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                    I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                    While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                    Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                    A This user is from outside of this forum
                    A This user is from outside of this forum
                    atrielienz@lemmy.world
                    wrote last edited by
                    #11

                    People like the murder mystery genre, and enjoy media that lets them figure things out.

                    Some people use that to proliferate cop propaganda.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    8
                    • nocturneN nocturne

                      I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                      I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                      While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                      Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                      OmegaO This user is from outside of this forum
                      OmegaO This user is from outside of this forum
                      Omega
                      wrote last edited by
                      #12

                      On Prime? Fallout, Invincible, The Boys. Those are the big ones that I watch on there.

                      I guess super heroes could be considered cop adjacent. Even in The Boys, they're out to stop the "bag guys".

                      Jean-Claude Van Johnson was fun. But I guess secret agent is kind of cop adjacent too.

                      The Good Place is on there.

                      Good Omens is good. Does solving mysteries count as cop?

                      The first 8 seasons of Red vs Blue (I'm literally scrolling and calling out shows I recognize now)

                      nocturneN 1 Reply Last reply
                      2
                      • R reddig33@lemmy.world

                        The Cop/Doctor/Lawyer show cycle just goes on and on. They’re known as “procedurals” and have been around forever. For some reason they’re very popular (NCIS has been on for 23 years!).

                        Every now and then you get an interesting riff like comedy (Car 54) or edgy (Miami Vice, NYPD Blue) or soapy (LA Law, Grays Anatomy). But usually they are just dry/drab (Dragnet and Dick Wolf).

                        Westerns went through the same kind of churn.

                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_drama

                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_procedural

                        mimicjar@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
                        mimicjar@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
                        mimicjar@lemmy.world
                        wrote last edited by
                        #13

                        To add these types of shows also have an infinite possibility of problems that characters can deal with.

                        Crimes be happening.

                        Disease be happening.

                        Laws be happening, see also crimes be happening.

                        Every week something is happening.

                        C 1 Reply Last reply
                        2
                        • OmegaO Omega

                          On Prime? Fallout, Invincible, The Boys. Those are the big ones that I watch on there.

                          I guess super heroes could be considered cop adjacent. Even in The Boys, they're out to stop the "bag guys".

                          Jean-Claude Van Johnson was fun. But I guess secret agent is kind of cop adjacent too.

                          The Good Place is on there.

                          Good Omens is good. Does solving mysteries count as cop?

                          The first 8 seasons of Red vs Blue (I'm literally scrolling and calling out shows I recognize now)

                          nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
                          nocturneN This user is from outside of this forum
                          nocturne
                          wrote last edited by
                          #14

                          I think I have watched all of good omens, loved that. I lost interest in the boys between seasons 2 and 3. I was great for a while. Same thing with invincible. I may give them both a try again.

                          OmegaO 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • mimicjar@lemmy.worldM mimicjar@lemmy.world

                            To add these types of shows also have an infinite possibility of problems that characters can deal with.

                            Crimes be happening.

                            Disease be happening.

                            Laws be happening, see also crimes be happening.

                            Every week something is happening.

                            C This user is from outside of this forum
                            C This user is from outside of this forum
                            chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
                            wrote last edited by
                            #15

                            Yes, and the procedural nature of the show makes for easier writing. When the basic plot of the show is one of a handful of formulas, all you need to worry about are the details. Technically-inclined writers can just crank that stuff out quickly!

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • nocturneN nocturne

                              I think I have watched all of good omens, loved that. I lost interest in the boys between seasons 2 and 3. I was great for a while. Same thing with invincible. I may give them both a try again.

                              OmegaO This user is from outside of this forum
                              OmegaO This user is from outside of this forum
                              Omega
                              wrote last edited by
                              #16

                              I love Invincible. The Boys I find fun, but shallow. I don't think I'd recommend it if you weren't into it 2 seasons in.

                              If you haven't watched The Boys: Diabolical, I highly recommend it. IMO it's way better than the main show. Every episode is a different story with different animation. Some are canon to the show, one is canon to the comic, and others are neither.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • nocturneN nocturne

                                I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                A This user is from outside of this forum
                                A This user is from outside of this forum
                                YappyMonotheist
                                wrote last edited by argumentativemonotheist@lemmy.world
                                #17

                                Besides propaganda, I don't know why exactly. Maybe it's a mixture of the detective mystery story plus that "might makes right" vibe as the detective usually doesn't "play by the rules" and he's a badass and Americans love that shit? Maybe the fantasy of having people with power also be moral and work for the greater good is just too appealing? A huge chunk of the world watches telenovelas the way that Western folk watch these shows, I think it says something about both groups, really.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • nocturneN nocturne

                                  I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                  I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                  While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                  Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                  F This user is from outside of this forum
                                  F This user is from outside of this forum
                                  formfiller@lemmy.world
                                  wrote last edited by formfiller@lemmy.world
                                  #18

                                  Because we live in an authoritarian police state

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  3
                                  • nocturneN nocturne

                                    I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                    I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                    While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                    Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                    C This user is from outside of this forum
                                    C This user is from outside of this forum
                                    coreray00
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #19

                                    https://jacobin.com/2022/07/copaganda-police-propaganda-public-relations-pr-communications

                                    https://deadline.com/2008/08/why-is-lapd-trying-to-fix-a-hollywood-location-system-that-aint-broke-6725/

                                    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/hollywood-police-a-deep-complicated-now-strained-relationship-1301211/

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    2
                                    • nocturneN nocturne

                                      I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                      I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                      While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                      Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                      R This user is from outside of this forum
                                      R This user is from outside of this forum
                                      rockandsock@lemmy.world
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #20

                                      It's easy to write relatively compelling drama (life and death stakes), mystery (who did the thing) and excitement (chases and fights) for cop shows.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      2
                                      • nocturneN nocturne

                                        I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                        I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                        While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                        Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                        O This user is from outside of this forum
                                        O This user is from outside of this forum
                                        ohulancutash@feddit.uk
                                        wrote last edited by ohulancutash@feddit.uk
                                        #21

                                        The strong story engine.

                                        • The problem comes to the main characters. No messing about looking for trouble. They walk or wheel through the door right after the cold open, which has scope for wow right at the top with bangs and screams and much gushing of fluids.
                                        • The answer is problem solving. Simple enough for a casual audience to keep up. They can try to solve it themselves.
                                        • Stakes. This could mean death! Much wow tension.
                                        • Stressors on main characters, creating conflict. And in the lower rent shows, sexy times.
                                        • Clear and decisive resolution. Cured or corpsed.

                                        Same sort of thing for police procedurals.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        8
                                        • nocturneN nocturne

                                          I was looking for a new TV show to watch on prime and started Colony, and half way through the first episode it is revealed it is a cop show. It looks like there is an anti cop element to it, but I am tired of cop shows at all.

                                          I started to watch Blindspot a while back, but that was an FBI show.

                                          While scrolling Hulu the other day I saw a show with Sweet Dee from Always Sunny... Yup another cop show.

                                          Any good, not cop, shows on Prime?

                                          S This user is from outside of this forum
                                          S This user is from outside of this forum
                                          scmstr@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #22

                                          There was a statistic I saw a while back that compared conservative areas to liberal areas and while liberals are watching all manner of shows, conservatives are watching cop shows.

                                          Like it would be Wednesday, doctor who, anime, yfmd, squid game, attorney woo, Firefly, star trek, stranger things, owl house, snl, daily show, Stargate, hacker, fallout gattaka, power rangers, Steven universe, adventure time, game of thrones, Chernobyl, the office, friends, parks and rec, community, key and Peele, house, buffy, and it's always sunny

                                          Vs sports and a couple cop shows

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