...hmmm, tricky
.
I don't have one favorite above the rest. There are just some characters that have had me caring about what they face in each ep and how they handle it, and above all, it's the chemistry and interaction
between all these characters that has had me coming back week after week, year after year.
So, in no particular order, a stream of consciousness ramble. I like muchly:
SID! cos in every ep he shows up in, I perk up and go "SID!" :lol: I like his interaction with all the others, I love that he's memorable and unique, especially given how infrequently we see him, I love that he can do the empathetic, the serious and the humorous, often within the same scene, and I love that he makes a character who interacts with the deceased for a living, and therefore greatly used as a function/exposition character, all the more fun.
Flack. Cos he's snarky
. Cos he's developed an aspect of "still waters run deep" type characterization. Another character that you always suspect there's a great deal more to, no matter how much or how little he's given to play. And also interacts with everyone well, no matter who he's paired with, no matter who he's interrogating. Plus, he's the only one on the roster who has achieved significant hang time via a flying jump
.
Adam. Cos he Must. Fight. Crime. :rommie: And is another character, like Sid, who earned his slot in the roster, and who brings great humor and occasionally great pathos to whatever his expositionary episodic function is. That's not just with regards to plot and story, but giving other characters something and someone to play off of, showing off their personalities as well.
Jo
. Cos she's a warm, fun, intelligent, insightful, mischievous, deeply feeling character with a bit of a chaotic near-to-flaky side who's very entertaining to watch. Cos she can play both good cop and bad cop. Cos she makes un-smiley sticky-tabs. Cos she's not perfect. Cos she's brought some new life and enabled some new dynamics for the rest of the characters to explore. Cos, in partnership with the writers, Sw, and the rest of the cast, she's been part of a very successful transition of major characters within difficult timing. Cos she pokes all characters, and, like Adam, enables them to show off their personalities in contrast with her own.
Mac
. Sometimes feels a rather unpopular position, given how polarizing he often is
, but I do like him. Because he's challenging enough that I
don't always like everything that he does or says. Because there are layers, even if tapped less than in previous seasons. Because he is the ultimate straight man, which does enable the other characters to fly a little more loosely. Because, no matter the smoldering intensity and seriousness, there's still some humor and empathy that shines thru, and is all the more potent for the contrast. Because, if challenged, he will (on rare occasion) bend and acknowledge he is not always right. Because he does seem to be on the outside looking in at times, and that's relatable. Because he'll shout at anyone, above or below his station. Because the simmering and/or unspoken moments carry as much weight as shouting. Because he looks out for his people. Notwithstanding, GS' involvement is one of the reasons that I took note of the show at all while still in development way back when.
I also liked Aiden immensely. She was a junior member of the team learning the ropes in S1, and also had great interaction with the others, especially Danny, Mac, and Flack. As opposed to Haylen or whatever he name was, Aiden, and Danny, were both very engaging as characters working their way up and learning the ropes and pushing the boundaries. Aiden's humor and snark were also appreciated.
As with Mac, I like and felt similarly challenged by both Danny and Stella, but increasingly felt in progressive seasons that each started to suffer (more than the others) for what was written for them. I think I found each more engaging in their earlier seasons. Danny's certainly not quite the same as he once was, and I don't think I could fully call it an evolution. Opportunities he has been given have been shortchanged (10%), and the variety of material he used to be given feels like it has funneled in one particular direction over others, that of DL. Some like it; not so engaging to me.
I also liked Angell, but would not say she was a favorite. With Aiden's departure, she eventuall evolved into a great alternative to Lindsay. She worked well with everyone. It was particularly satisfying to see her scenes and storyline with Stella in more recent seasons. I liked that she came across as a straight up cop, who happened to be a woman. She was fun, took no bullsh*t, and had a sense of humor and swagger. With the likes of her and Stella gone, and with Jo of a different kettle of fish for background, Lindsay has been more overtly written references and scenarios to demonstrate her pseudo bad-ass cop-side, which I still have difficulty reconciling given some of the scripting and performances.
I cannot simply pick out one character over and above the others as a favorite. It really is the interaction between them all that draws me back weekly, as opposed to the opportunity to see a few minutes of one of them. I'd certainly be happy to have a drink and a coupla hours inna pub with any of the aforementioned
. Wouldn't be dull by any stretch.
