Cop show cliches

There are number of situations that will always arise in any (usually) North American police procedural series. It doesn't matter how long the series runs for, each one of these will occur, not maybe, they will, sometimes more than once. You can count on it.

1. The lead character, or a significant member of the team (if there is a team), will be charged with murder or some other similar serious offence. They will, of course, be completely innocent. This will eventually be proved and, just in the nick of time just in order to raise the suspense.

2. A member of the lead character's family (partner/child/parent) will be abducted/kidnapped. The missing person will eventually be found alive, leading to a tearful reunion and high minded moralising about the nature of relationships.

3. The lead character will be suspended for some misdemeanour. Usually they are innocent and have been set up or, They Had A Very Good Reason to act as they did. This will inevitably be proved and the character reinstated without a stain on their record.

4. They will acquire a nemesis or an arch-villain who will  pop up from time-to-time throughout the series. Said villain will often be caught and banged up but, as sure night follows day, they will escape to taunt the lead character/team once again. Eventually, often after a Situation 1 or 2 above has occurred, they will be found and, normally, die. Usually in an unusual or exotic manner.

5. At some point in an investigation, a serving prisoner will need to be questioned. This person is usually a serial killer. They will also be creepy, know something about the interrogator's history or family and, on occasion, be the nemesis mentioned in Situation 4. They will also be clearly bonkers.

6. The lead character, if they have a police partner, will fall out with them big time over some minor matter. This will be solved and they will be even closer afterwards.

Feel free to add your own to the list as it is not exhaustive.

As a matter of interest, I can think of one show where very few of these have cliches have occurred and that's Cold Case. Mind you, given the nature of the programme, not many of the relevant circumstances are likely to occur.

steve