A Doyle-thing to think about...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

There's something I've been wondering for a while, off and on, every time I read a fic that reminds me of it, and I'd love to hear what other people think about this. Can anyone tell me:

What is it about canon Doyle that has made fanfic writers portray him as:

a) incredibly selfish

b) incredibly tight with money

I'm really really curious - anyone got any ideas? Are there particular moments that stand out, where he behaves like that? Why do they stand out? Or is it some more general thing? How many people would agree with that portrayal?

It's not that I can't see what might make an author write Doyle like this, it's just that I can't see why he's so often portrayed that way. Whatcha think?

Comments

[squeeful.livejournal.com]

Mmhm, I don't think you're supposed to take him literally in those instances; they always read to me as dry sarcasm.

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I assume he gambles because most single guys I know -- myself included -- do. Did. Not in a my-house-is-at-stake way, but as harmless amusement. Fights, football, even the ponies, yeah.

Another one of those things that usually goes by the wayside once you settle down.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see that's actually what I mean - even if he did bet 50p on the race (which was admittedly alot more back then than it is now!) - it was just a harmless amusement that he didn't really care about, it was spoken about lightly, not in a complaining kind of way at all. So that whole scene, to me, wasn't about him being mean with money, so much as playing off a pastime that they both shared a vague, non-serious interest in, and teasing Bodie with it...

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

So that whole scene, to me, wasn't about him being mean with money, so much as playing off a pastime that they both shared a vague, non-serious interest in, and teasing Bodie with it...

Yeah, that's what I mean. Is/em> Doyle really shown as truly skinflint in certain fics? I don't think I've ever picked that up as a serious theme. I just assumed it was meant in the spirit of the episodes -- funny, quirky.

The selfishness -- that does show up in fics. I have actually read that, but apparently we're all in agreement that it's not canon-based. Or at least...the people on this discussion board don't seem to see it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hate it when the discussion concertinas like this! Especially cos it usually means lots of interesting posts, it's just fiddly!

don't think I've ever picked that up as a serious theme
Oh, I've seen it in lots of fics, that's why I asked the question in the first place!

Or at least...the people on this discussion board don't seem to see it
Well, as I've mentioned in one or two places, I can see bits and bobs of eps where Doyle's behaviour could be interpreted that way - in Fugitive, for example, he seems very cold about Bodie's captivity, for a long time - but it's clearly captured the imagination of some people, and seemed right to them, and I'd've loved to hear what they thought about it all!

Then again there's also the phenomenon of people writing Pros who've never actually seen an episode, they're writing it based on the selection of fanfic that they've read, which could be anything...