DZ-123: Flawed Characters in Noir

Show Notes

In this two part series, Mel and Chas use Noir (the genre) as a lens to interrogate flawed characters. How can characters doing reprehensible things still engage audiences? How can you ensure representation isn’t endorsement? And whether these characters undergo transformative arcs, or simply reveal their true natures?

Part 1 (DZ-123) focuses on two (now classic) noirs: DOUBLE INDEMNITY and THE LONG GOODBYE.

While Part 2 (DZ-124) looks at two more contemporary examples DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS and WOMAN OF THE HOUR.

Despite Chas claiming to have edited this episode it was, in fact, Chris Walker who saved the done and got this done by the end of 2025. Thanks Chris.

"I think a character can do these terrible things and still be compelling if the audience understands their motivation, even if they don’t agree with it."

— Chas Fisher | DZ-123: Flawed Characters in Noir

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As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

Transcript

Read the transcript for this episode.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Cold Open
00:00:17 – Flawed Characters and Noir
00:16:40 – Double Indemnity
00:53:38 – The Long Goodbye
01:21:15 – Wrap Up and Key Learnings

Films

DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) — (w) Raymond Chandler, James M Cain, Billy Wilder (d) Billy Wilder
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) — (w) Leigh Brackett, Raymond Chandler (d) Robert Altman

Shot Zero Deep Dives

↗Blocking a Sneak: DOUBLE INDEMNITY

Episodes in the Noir series

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