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

[paris7am.livejournal.com]

Sneaking in the back of the discussion here...

So many excellent and thought provoking ideas stated in this thread! I don't know that I can add much to them except to mention a few things the discussion jogged in my memory.

This is just an aside, but could some of Doyle's characterization be a facade added on from the public persona of Martin Shaw? There was that bit of rumour that he was stopping re-runs of the show because of royalties? I think that several of these rumours imply that MS is -eek, what are the words?!- confident in himself and in looking out for his own best interests? A bit separate from the others? I don't know - it's not as though Lewis Collin's persona was clean, either - maybe we see slippage there too! I'm dabbling in gossip and innuendo, which feels wrong, but there does seem to be a bias against MS that comes up in the press every so often. I think that the slippage is easy to do - so much of what we love about the characters *seems* to be ad libbing, or spontaneous interaction, which makes us feel as though it's part of *them* as well as part of the characters.

And inane example, #29 - the time when Bodie sends flowers and Doyle sends the telegram. Not so much an example of thriftiness as an example of styles, perhaps? The idea (particularly in the first episodes) that comes across in their attire - of Bodie as flamboyant, extravagant, posh? (possibly trying to camouflage things?) while Doyle is workmanlike, casual, (gorgeous!), up front and more serious. But how did I get into interpretation of character through fashion choice? What next? patterns in spent bullet casings? lol...

I know that I will keep this question in mind when I watch and read, now.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh do sneak in, the more the merrier! (I think I need that thread-unpacker that someone once posted a link to - can I find it now? No...!)

That's a good thought about MS, perhaps it is sometimes people conflating their opinion of the actor (being reluctant to give out autographs, and generally do the "celebrity" thing, for example) with the character... Whereas LC seems to have come across as ever-generous to his fans (though he's also talked about them in articles etc as something he doesn't really want to deal with, but that doesn't seem to have been picked up as much!)

The telegramme - I think telegrammes were actually kind of expensive back then, but I agree it's not at all the traditional way of apologising to a girlfriend! Then again, maybe that's why he did it - I always assume there was some sort of private joke behind that too, cos otherwise it's just a bit weird! Maybe I should ask about that on one of the lists?!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Can we have a new page please, Miss?

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

This is just an aside, but could some of Doyle's characterization be a facade added on from the public persona of Martin Shaw?

I think that's more than possible. That their real life characters occasionally overlap their onscreen personnas -- especially for UK writers (because here in the States LC & MS are not terribly well-known -- well, and neither is Pros!)

And inane example, #29 - the time when Bodie sends flowers and Doyle sends the telegram. Not so much an example of thriftiness as an example of styles, perhaps?

Yeah, I don't think Doyle is supposed to appear price-conscious. In the initial episodes especially there seems to be the running gag that he's not as smooth with the ladies as Bodie, that he's willing (daft enough?) to take Bodie's advice -- for example -- on how to win over the new agent practicing her kata.

What next? patterns in spent bullet casings? lol...

I like it!