It took some persuading, but I have finally jumped aboard the Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (2016-2018) train. I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t give it a chance before. However, I have a feeling that the mouthful of a title had something to do with my deterrence. Essentially, the title makes zero sense until you’ve actually watched the show. While it may sound silly, I think a lot of us actually place preconceived notions about a show, book, or film based solely on its title. Dirk Gently didn’t give me any indicators, though, so I had to jump into the waters completely unsuspecting of what was to come. It’s funny; I still can’t summarize what the show is about in simple terms. It’s as outrageous and confusing as its title. But, at least now, it makes sense – it’s all connected.
Based loosely on the book of the same name, written by Douglas Adams (renowned for writing The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), the show requires viewers to embrace the strangeness of it all. At the base of it, one simple mantra: “everything is connected”. Dirk Gently (played by Samuel Barnett), an odd and quirky man that appears during a bizarre series of events in Todd Brotzman’s life (played by Elijah Wood), lives and breathes this mantra. On its own it’s a beautiful concept, regardless of whichever religious or non-religious background you come from. In fact, Dirk Gently doesn’t preach spirituality in the way you might be thinking. Rather, the mantra – which becomes the overlying driving force of the show – places an amplified emphasis on the mysterious ways in which the universe works.
The “everything is connected” mantra applies quite literally, too. Anyone who has studied screenwriting, understands good storytelling, or has just watched copious amounts of TV and film, knows that good media only includes what is absolutely necessary. More often than not, every thing that you see on screen is important, ie. will tie to something in the story’s future. Everything is connected. Therefore, the concept becomes metafictional in the case of Dirk Gently. It is the mantra that Dirk himself follows, but it is also one that the show creators have made sure to follow as well, perhaps in the most effective way I’ve ever seen on TV. Even though the first episode throws about fifteen different plot points at you, the show eventually answers all your questions, ties every loose end up into a neat little bow, and entertains the hell out of you along the way.
Dirk Gently is also not afraid to showcase the flaws within their characters. Yes, for the most part, the main and supporting characters are a delight. However, none of them feign to be morally upstanding, or superfluously heroic. In fact, there are a variety of characters that I ended up rooting for that are actually not, at core, great people. Some of them are ruthless masters of violence, some of them dishonest liars, some of them selfish to the point of Machiavellian tendencies. And all of them are odd as hell. These characters are not meant to set some impossibly high standard of valiance; they’re humans, intact with all the flaws that are part and parcel to being human.
Another exceptional quality of the show was that there was no inherent emphasis on romantic relationships. The reason I commend this quality is not because I dislike romance – but when romance doesn’t even remotely contribute to the plot, then what’s the point? There are so many unconventional goings-on in Dirk Gently that there’s really no time or need for romantic storylines (however, this does not deter the show from creating an LGBTQ+ space, in which many characters are characterized as queer, which is awesome). I love that there’s no awkward insertion of a love story. I truly commend the show for breaking my expectations of formulaic TV, because I can’t remember the last time I watched a show that didn’t throw in a gratuitous kiss scene just for the heck of it.
Alas, for those of you who don’t know this going in, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency was cancelled after a mere two seasons. This is a massive bummer to fans of the show, seeing as Season 2 ends on a pretty significant cliffhanger. However, the show did really well to wrap up most things in a way that puts viewers at ease. It’s bittersweet, and yet, I’m at peace with the way it ended. Also, don’t let the untimely cancellation deter you from watching it. I assure you that this show will be a lovely addition into your repertoire, and that you’ll carry the peculiar, fantastical world of Dirk Gently with you forever.
If and when you watch the first episode, remember to stick with it. I think you’ll be surprised, though, because it captures your attention by being so over-the-top paranormal that you’ll want to continue watching. The cast is diverse and delightful in all their weirdness. If you’ve ever felt like a misfit in your life, you’ll relate so well to these characters. The overarching mysteries of the two seasons are wonderfully unpredictable, partially because of their sheer strangeness and partially because of good writing.
This Doctor Who-like show takes sci-fi concepts and gives you a run for your money. And while a show like Doctor Who is a little more structured, Dirk Gently is much more laid back in approach. We are meant to let go of their own version of reality, and allow ourselves to become fully immersed in the world of Dirk Gently. Allow yourself to be transported to a world that somehow makes no sense, and yet all the sense in the world. Once you do, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
~ Z ~
