A hero/detective pursues a case where the real puzzle is “‘why” the case proves so compelling that the hero is willing to dive into the darkness to find the answer. The investigation into the dark side of humanity is often an investigation into ourselves, for a good Whydunit turns the x-ray machine back on us and asks: “Are we this evil?”
The 3 elements of a WHYDUNIT story are:
1) The detective does not change, we do; yet they can be any kind of gumshoe—from pro to amateur to imaginary. 2) The secret of the case is so strong it overwhelms the worldly lures of money, sex, power, or fame. We gots to know! And so does the Whydunit hero. 3) Finally, the dark turn shows that in pursuit of the secret, the detective will break the rules, even their own—often ones they have relied on for years to stay safe. The pull of the secret is too great.
A detailed analysis of the pilot of the Netflix series 'Dept. Q' using the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet from Save the Cat! See how the 'Dept. Q' pilot hits the Save the Cat! beats.
A detailed analysis of the pilot of the Netflix series 'The Residence' using the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet from Save the Cat! See how the 'The Residence' pilot hits the Save the Cat! beats.
A detailed analysis of the Netflix series 'Adolescence' using the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet from Save the Cat! See how the entire 'Adolescence' series hits the Save the Cat! beats.
BJ Markel first worked with Blake Snyder in 1986. He edited Blake's three Save the Cat! books and co-founded Blake Snyder Enterprises, LLC with Blake in 2005. In his other life, BJ worked in video acquisitions and entertainment marketing, including 20 years at the Walt Disney Company.
