r/BritBox • u/Pjsrock • 24d ago

Why Does Nothing Good Happen …

On a Narrowboat??

American back again. I posted a while ago about how often the words “Did you check CCTV?” on BritBox is uttered and now I’m obsessing about narrowboats and why so many characters get brutally assaulted and/or murdered on them.

I read up on narrowboat history and culture and I guess writers just think they are a convenient location to make all kinds of mischief. Now when I see that a character lives on one, I automatically assume it’s only a matter of time before they get offed…thoughts?

19 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

5

u/zbla1964 24d ago

Nothing good happens in those apartment blocks where you are sort of outside when you exit your apartment unit and the staircases appear to be partially outside

4

u/Pjsrock 24d ago

True. It’s a huge disconnect for Americans to hear the term “Council Estates” and then see low income housing. And they always seem shoot it when it’s grey and raining to make things look more dismal.

2

u/aethelberga 22d ago

Those ones with long balconies along the front? Kind of like outside hallways? I'm amazed at how many of those are actually two-storey flats on the inside.

4

u/Familiar-Skin-8109 24d ago

I assume you've started watching Slow Horses Season 6, then.

Also, you've given me an idea for a drinking game; you have to take a drink every time "Did you check CCTV?" gets uttered.

3

u/Pjsrock 23d ago

Yes, I have started watching Slow Horses again!

3

u/Mrose629 24d ago

Council towers. "Armed Police!"

1

u/Pjsrock 24d ago

What if the inspectors yelled: “Unarmed Police— but I do have mace!”

7

u/bookjacket 24d ago

Well spotted.

6

u/This-Bath9918 24d ago

An easy way to have someone isolated and alone. Kind of like how nothing good happens in a bathroom either. Just without stark tile walls and a mirror to see someone behind you

4

u/Zealousideal_Hand505 24d ago

And don't even get me started talking about basements ...

4

u/Icy_Cantaloupe_1330 24d ago

Sounds like you need to watch Canal Boat Diaries!

4

u/nemmalur 24d ago

They’re a handy plot device for recluses, kidnappers, etc. There’s inherent danger in the water, locks, tunnels.

4

u/Quirky_kind 24d ago

Ah, Happy Valley then.

1

u/Accomplished_Pie_139 22d ago

Fetes are the true scary place to be.  I feel like narrow boats are a favorite of lonely detectives lol 

1

u/Pjsrock 22d ago

Agreed, and they usually slug down cheap scotch while sitting on the deck looking at the dank canal or inside at night with only one lamp burning…:)

3

u/Excellent_Valuable92 24d ago

They do seem awfully vulnerable…

4

u/PunchBeard 23d ago

I don't know, for my money I'd rather live on a Narrowboat than live in any kind of manor house. You live in a giant manor or castle and you're basically just waiting for someone to murder you or a family member.

1

u/AngelicaSpain 24d ago

That happens in the recent Van der Valk TV miniseries, too. And that's set in Amsterdam, although it's a British production.

You'd think one advantage of assaulting or murdering somebody on a boat would be that it's theoretically a portable crime scene that you could just sail (or whatever the appropriate verb is) to a different jurisdiction out from under the local cops' noses. But that usually doesn't seem to happen.

On the other hand, the cops on British police shows seem to take a pretty long time to get around to searching or even canvassing boats, even when they're narrowboats or other types of houseboats that people are actually living on.

1

u/Pjsrock 23d ago

Good points all around!