Thread by @cathesaurus

So I literally just learned that @lancereddick died suddenly, and it's kinda knocked me for six. Not only because there were no warnings, or because he's one of my favourite actors, or his superlative voice acting, or... or... but because he was such an amazing human, period. 1/x

@lancereddick A long tweet essay follows. Not all about Lance Reddick, but he is a major part of the story. It may take a few hours, I am doing other things. But I'll keep the thread going until I've written it out. Buckle in. 2/x

I am a curator of things - words, ideas, concepts, across fields academic, cultural, technological - and one of the things I curate is a list I call "Perfect TV Dramas" - and it is a SMALL list because the criteria are strict, and there is no flexibility. Those criteria are: 3/x

1) There is NO restriction on genre, so long as it has a significant dramatic component. So comedic shows aren't disqualified, though personally MY list contains no comedic shows.

2) The show MUST have come to a satisfying, internally-consistent conclusion. So any ongoing show is automatically excluded. And many that otherwise might be on the list are excluded because the ball was fumbled on the five-yard line. Looking at YOU, "Lost". 5/x

3) The show MUST have a range of well-written characters, who must have well-written character arcs, and who must draw me in so that I care about them. This is obviously subjective. 6/x

4) If the show has to cope with the loss of actors, for whatever reason, then that MUST be explained for the character(s) portrayed by that actor in an internally-consistent and satisfying manner. Examples will follow. 7/x

5) The show MUST be so memorable that I can use a quote, scene, character, episode, season, or arc, to illustrate basically ANYTHING on which I might want to write. This is also subjective. Examples will follow. 8/x

6) The show MUST compel me to watch it many, many times. And NEVER make me feel like "I don't ever want to see this again". Individual episodes or sequences of episodes. can be skipped, sure, but not the whole show. 9/x

7) I WILL remove from the list any show that was previously on it, IF anyone significant from the Creative / Production side proves to have been a #MeToo-style jackhole. Looking at YOU, "Dollhouse" 10/x

8) and finally - the show must not actively promote ideas or philosophies with which I would not personally be associated. So if it promotes, in no order, racism, sexism, misogyny, misandry, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ... {insert the usual "woke" things} then NO. 11/x

So, that's the list of criteria. And the six shows that currently sit on the list. And the one show that I am ALMOST ready to add to the list (there's no reason why I shouldn't, I just always wait at least a year from the show's conclusion, "Just In Case") 12/x

So, in ascending chronological order of when they crossed my consciousness, I present to you: 13/x

Babylon 5
The West Wing
The Wire
Luther
Person of Interest
Fringe

and, in waiting:

Peaky Blinders

14/x

And that is ALL that make it to my personal list, because a breach of any of the listed criteria will disqualify a show. Basically, these are the shows that I will recommend to anyone, without reservation, knowing that if they "get" me, there's every chance they'll get these 15/x

And here's where we cycle back to @lancereddick - for he played significant roles in two of them, specifically "The Wire" and "Fringe". Neither show would have been anywhere near as good without him. It's as simple as that. So let's dig into his roles in both of those shows. 16/x

Lance plays Cedric Daniels in "The Wire", at heart a "good" man - devoted to the law, unafraid to do the unpopular thing when also the "right" thing, saddled with a past he'd been powerless to avoid when newly joining the Baltimore Police Department.
18/x

The Wire is five seasons of drama that never disappointed. No season featured every major character, and some seasons were "stronger" than others (arguably) but across all five, Daniels walked a line, straddling internal politics prejudice & propriety
19/x

I'll say no more about "The Wire", or Cedric Daniels, just now. A towering performance. So let's turn our attention to "Fringe". Oh, LET us turn our attention to "Fringe" :)
20/x