Looks like a tradition is born with our third Sherlock Holmes adventure. While I have a lot of fun putting Madison into the wide variety of old time radio series available, it’s also nice to revisit a show. The chance to give the recurring actors some more play within their established characters, as well as my chance to advance Madison’s relationship both with Sherlock and the announcer, who has his own sub-story to the episodes. So let’s talk about recurring character writing.
“The Double Zero” episode caught my attention because it sounded like a blast sticking Madison in a casino. I’m sure she has many stories that have stayed in Vegas, but this one gave her a chance to explore the roulette tables of the French Riviera. I think that is the key to writing characters. Being able to create new opportunities for them to explore their world. It’s knowing the character so well, that when you put them into a new situation, you can easily envision their natural responses. But then also trying to stay fresh and not simply repeat old reactions. I am a sitcom junkie. And I would say, a show starts to flounder when it relies too much on catch phrases or any kind of reactions that are repeated. New location, same response. Boring. So the trick is to write the character with something NEW, but still familiar and within the boundaries of the character you created.
And ya know what, even comedy characters should evolve. It’s only natural. I think the most obvious growth to Madison is her getting more comfortable with the old time radio world. She isn’t so much a fish-out-of-water as she once was. She’s been able to mature a bit. Which is funny to me when others have pitched story ideas for Madison that are very “early” Madison ideas. “She’s training to be a detective…” No. She’s been a detective now in her own right. What’s the NEXT thing she can do? It is tricky. It would be much simpler to stick her in the “supporting” role for each show and see how it plays out. But Madison deserves more. And revisiting Dr. Watson, to me, didn’t feel like a step backward. Honestly, the framing of this episode is that Sherlock and Watson are on vacation and happen upon a suicide/murder. Of course Madison will go along with Sherlock, and with his demeanor, he’ll take the lead. But you may notice her getting a bit less tolerant this time around.
New jokes are also a tricky part of continuing a character. I have 33 episodes completed now. It’s a juggling feat to keep in mind what has come before so I don’t make a similar joke in a new episode. However, I think by evolving Madison, that helps move her into a different space for an opportunity for new jokes and reactions. So it all helps keep the show fresh and different each time out.
That’s my advice. Keep all of your characters growing. Create new opportunities and find new ways for them to explore those opportunities. Think about what came before, and how this time it can be just a little different. Hopefully you love your character as much as I do Madison, so you’ll be excited to see where they land next.
