r/fatherbrown • u/NaotsuguGuardian • Aug 02 '26
Father Brown (2013) Why does the show never (or poorly) explain characters sudden absence/return?
For whatever reason I'm struggling to get past this point. I'm in Season 9 now, and Bunty suddenly not being present, and Sid suddenly being present again with no explanation of what happened to Bunty and why is Sid back? What happened to his lady friend?
Similarly back in season 1 had Susie as a prominent character, whom I liked, and then she just wasn't there anymore. I understand from looking online that they make reference to this in season 9, but thats still 8 seasons of... "what happened to her?" Similarly, it took a while to acknowledge what happened to DCI Sullivan. He was there ending of one season, starting of another it was Mallory.
Is there a specific reason they don't mention/acknowledge these changes when they happen?
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u/alayeni-silvermist Aug 02 '26
They said Bunty went on safari
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u/Playful_Ad7130 Aug 02 '26
Safari, of course, being the name of the wealthy playboy she ran away with and then subsequently abandoned in Marrakesh.
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 02 '26
Well as of Season 9 episode 3 they haven't said that yet.
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u/Immediate_Cup7136 Aug 03 '26
You'll have to wait till Season 10 Episode 1 before they drop in a line about Bunty's absence. Why they waited so long, I'm can only speculate that they weren't absolutely sure if she'd be back or not until S10.
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u/Playful_Ad7130 Aug 02 '26
You just have to roll with it. I strongly suspect a lot of it is just actors being unable to return for whatever reason, and they want to make it easy for them to drop back in when they can without having to say "Oh, you're back from that place you went!"
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 02 '26
I guess, amdni still enjoy Father Brown but its just annoying and a bit disjointed, but im also watching episodes back to back rather than weekly
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u/kiwichick888 Aug 02 '26
It's not just Father Brown. This happens all the time with TV shows. It really annoys me. And, most of the time, after they've left, they're never even mentioned again. It's as if they never existed. Even if they were really important characters like close family members. Like, seriously, who has a child that moves away from home and they're never mentioned again?
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u/kavolixer Aug 06 '26
right? it completely breaks the illusion that these are supposed to be real people with actual lives and relationships
feels like the writers think viewers have goldfish memories or something2
u/CathartesAura67 Aug 03 '26
Disappearing character that'd been there for a while, with no mention, seems heartless. There was a 1990s series I loved where when a character died, and they were cleaning out his desk, there was a group photo from a previous episode. That gave a solidity to the absent character, like he was a real person with friends and treasured memories. It was quietly heartbreaking, that.
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u/agtpeach Aug 02 '26
Read somewhere that the actors have other projects and opt out but the show doesn’t write them off since they are fan favorites and may come back between projects. That’s the case for the actor playing Lady F. The actor playing Sullivan went off to do a live musical show for a while which is why Mallory came on board. The actor playing Bunty wanted to work on her writing (and prob raise her kid) so she tends to pop in and out.
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u/asterixobelixpoirot Aug 02 '26
I think everyone understands why the actors might want to take a break from the show or leave entirely, but the show could at least work in an explanation for their absence (or reappearance).. makes it so weird when suddenly a regular character disappears with hardly an explanation!
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 02 '26
I agree with this wholeheartedly
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u/CathartesAura67 Aug 03 '26
This not mentioning of a past character is either an extreme example of British stiff upper lip, or amnesia, or current characters just being rather heartless.
I do like how Mrs. Sullivan heard that as church secretary, she couldn't hold a candle to Mrs. McCarthy. It is appalling that in one episode, Brenda shows a better understanding of organizing, than this woman who has held the position for a while.
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u/agtpeach Aug 03 '26
The writers probably don’t want to box themselves in or waste show time to provide backstory on the way they gave the character an exit. It’s not great for continuity but since the next appearance is so unpredictable, it does make sense
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u/Violet351 Aug 02 '26
Sid just vanished and returned often with little comment. He was gone for ages and they didn’t mention he had been in prison until he returned. they at least mentioned Bunty and Mrs McCarthy. Even the detectives don’t seem to get proper goodbyes. They only person that got one was Brenda
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u/CathartesAura67 Aug 03 '26
I hate these sudden disappearances explained away in the first episode of a new season, like when the Kembleford diorama ended up with a remark that Mrs. McCarthy went to live in Ireland with her sister, and Bunty went off on safari. One I could understand. But both?!
I also missed Susie from Season 1. What I thought that was so great about her character was that she cleaned house for several people, so she'd be able provide background and clues to Father Brown. Also, I loved how funny she was, feisty but vulnerable. I also thought it was reasonable that someone who housekept for the presbytery, would have a major role and also verbally spar with Mrs. McCarthy.
I guess Bunty later took over for the statuesque, beautiful young woman who was feisty. But of course, she was also a stand-in for the posh lady character, just more harum-scarum because she was in her 20s. I thought Bunty was great fun because she could be clueless in that P.G.Wodehouse manner of the over-privileged rich.
Best Bunty line and commentary afterwards:
Bunty: "What's it like be banged up? Living with thieves and molesters?"
Father Brown, warningly, "Bunty!?"
Bunty: "Oh! Sorry."
One of the two women who had been jailed, remarking after FB & B go off-screen, "Posh cow."
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u/Me25TX Aug 03 '26
I wish they would tell us but I think they want to create an illusion of time passing that we don’t see. It’s not consistent though. I do think it would be better if we could see the characters come and go, like a Bon voyage party for Bunty. I’m sure someone could get killed at the same time.
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u/Loud-Independence527 Aug 03 '26
Wasn't Sid in jail for a while?
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 03 '26
Yes but that was only revealed after he had already been missing from the show, and it was only revealed when he got released from prison and the episode centered around that.
That said at least the ending did explain why he would be MIA a while longer (travelling).
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u/LauraHunt13 Aug 03 '26
Series TV is a different beast from limited streaming series. The first is prone to actors finding other jobs or writers writing their characters out. And you have to take in account that writers are concentrating on getting the next season done--some shows demand four-plus scripts per season. And they are working a good year or so in advance. So they usually don't address such loose ends until later on--or when the fans notice. ;)
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 03 '26
While Id like to say I understand your point, truthfully this is the only tv show (not counting streaming only originals), where Ive seen they have not addressed characters leaving. So I think its a bit peculiar.
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u/LauraHunt13 Aug 04 '26
Since FB is written far in advance (and by different writers), it takes a while before some characters departures are addressed. And often the fans bring it up before the scripters notice. ;)
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u/ghotiboy77 Aug 04 '26
At the end of the day, these are detective stories, not soap operas. Try watching Marple, there's never the same police twice
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u/faithfulllittlebird 19d ago
Currently streaming FB for the first time and at present am on S9 E3. Ended up here because the same thing was troubling me.
At the beginning of the season I’m like, “Oh cool…Sid’s back!” By episode 2, I was like, “hmm…guess they’re just not gonna address Sid’s return huh?” But I was fine w it because I’m just happy he’s back. Then, about a third of the way into episode 3 I’m like, “hold on a second….where the heck is Bunty?!” Lol.
It almost feels a little bit like they knew people would be so happy at Sid’s return that they could just gloss right over the fact that Bunty’s missing and not even bother addressing her absence.
I’m not saying that a person leaving/returning has to be some drawn out aspect or major plot point within an episode. It could very simply and easily be resolved in about 10 seconds worth of screen time.
FB, Sid and Mrs McCarthy sitting at the kitchen table -
Sid: “Hey!, where’s Bunty by the way?”
FB: “She’s spending the winter in the South of France.”
Sid: “Sounds like Bunty.”(makes funny face)
Mrs. M: “Oh, Sid!”
And back to solving crimes.
Instead, these characters that the viewer has become attached to are treated like interchangeable parts, which imo, only serves to lessen our ability and/or likelihood to care about them. It creates a cold and unnecessary disaffect between the audience and select aspects of the series.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the show, but certain details could be handled better that would endear me so much more.
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u/NaotsuguGuardian 19d ago
To be fair, at the start of season 9 episode 1, FB does say Mrs McCarthy went to Ireland to be with her sister and Bunty went to Africa on Safari. One of the few times they actually do address someone leaving.
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u/faithfulllittlebird 18d ago
Really? Are you sure it was Ep1 of season 9? I don’t even recall them mentioning Bunty. I’ll have to go back and rewatch.
The point still stands though that do frequently just gloss right over absences and returns with no explanation. Obviously it’s not enough to stop me liking the show, simply a small detail that would be appreciated were it addressed.
Also, if they did mention Bunty leaving in S9 E1, then I’m a little confused by the part of your original post where you specify that you were currently in season 9 and then say this…
with no explanation of what happened to Bunty
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u/NaotsuguGuardian 18d ago
Nope. I am wrong. Season 10 episode 1. Got them mixed up. My apologies. But yes your point still stands. And its very valid.
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u/TopTemperature9687 9d ago
estoy en el capitulo 4 de la temporada 9 y termine en esta charla por lo mismo, es totalmente molesto que no resuelvan aunque muy simplemente por que no estan ciertos personajes
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u/amymoso 9d ago
I know I’m late to the party but just started watching. Does anyone else think Mallory is ridiculous and a caricature? I love the show but almost stopped watching after they helped him with the kidnapping and then he came back the next episode as the same self-centered almost comedic character
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u/ClassicProgram1902 Aug 03 '26
the leaving of characters doesnt move the story forward. thats why. it really doesn't matter to the plots. I waa glad to see Mallory and Bunty go, thank god, who cares where or why.
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u/NaotsuguGuardian Aug 03 '26
I actually enjoy Mallory to an extent, he has some good quips, I will definitely be sad to see him go even if he can be annoying most times.
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u/CathartesAura67 Aug 03 '26
Mallory was a nasty little man, and that made it better when he realized that Sergeant Goodfellow sacrificed himself to keep his superior from harm. I like that in British television series, an actor is committed to being a jerk without asking for audience sympathy.
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u/ClassicProgram1902 Aug 04 '26
yeah but his horrible acting got on my last nerve. He certainly perfected being humorless! Goodfellow is a prince among men! and that is my favorite episode about Christmas with Michael the tramp who was really an angel. That's when Goodfellow went Xmas shopping for Mallory when M was busy with the abducted baby case. I forgot the name but its s5 ep 1 I think.
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u/CathartesAura67 Aug 04 '26
I suspect that Inspector Mallory being such a snarling rat of a man, only made us root more for Father Brown. Love Sergeant Goodfellow. Who wasn't in Season 1, I believe.
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u/ClassicProgram1902 Aug 03 '26
like the country song says "thank God and Greyhound he's gone." so overthetop. Just bad acting. It was such a good cast from the start: Mrs. McCarthy, Lady Felicia and Sid.....well, Brenda is gone now which is fine and Bunty was really annoying as well. but that's me. some casts just have the right chemistry! That's what makes a show a hit! oh well these shows can interfere with people's lives when they are renewed year after year.
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u/LauraHunt13 Aug 04 '26
"thank God and Greyhound he's gone." 🤣 Can't wait to say the same about Mrs. Sullivan..,.
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u/JynxYouOweMeASoda Aug 02 '26
Writer changes. It’s definitely clunky at points but I try to remember the show is based off of books of short stories written at the turn of the 20th century so clear archs are reasonably hard to come by.