Passive Aggressive Characters

Last night I watched the fantastic last episode of Psychoville enjoying both the great plot and humour. One scene I loved in particular was the scene when David was at the Harringey Citizens' Advice Bureau confessing to his murders only to get a adviser, Simon who passive aggressively fobbed him off to Barnet instead. Now the character of Simon was great and in my opinion there's a lot of mileage in passive aggressive characters though I've noticed these characters only play supporting roles in sitcoms like the leaflet obsessed counsellor in Reggie Perrin and the psychiatric counsellor in Red Dwarf Series VIII. I am wondering if anybody knows of a show where this type of character plays a more central role as I would be interested in developing a character myself who could encapsulate all that wrong with passive aggressive people.

Passive-aggressiveness is only really funny when the cracks start to show, e.g. Tommy Saxondale. Personally, I didn't view the scene and that character in Psychoville as particularly passive-aggressive; more just a (slightly) laboured and (dare I say it) over-long satirical device. It was really just a dig at red-tape culture with a sympathetic face.

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 31 2009, 1:37 PM BST

Passive-aggressiveness is only really funny when the cracks start to show, e.g. Tommy Saxondale. Personally, I didn't view the scene and that character in Psychoville as particularly passive-aggressive; more just a (slightly) laboured and (dare I say it) over-long satirical device. It was really just a dig at red-tape culture with a sympathetic face.

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I take your point but do you understand the sort of character I am talking about. A person who seemingly doesn't react to someone else's emotions or just smiles at you when your saying your having a nervous breakdown. In many ways a less interfering version of Gordon Brittas who likes to take all things in to consideration. Apart from Brittas and the charters I have already stated is there any others you can think of?

My mother.

The pest control office worker played by Morwena Banks in Saxondale was very passive-aggreesive.

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 31 2009, 1:48 PM BST

The pest control office worker played by Morwena Banks in Saxondale was very passive-aggreesive.

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Yes she is but she plays it with a touch of spite and venom especially towards Tommy. I'm thinking someone like a psychiatrist or a vicar.

A doctor would be good idea for a passive-aggressive character, as many of us are.

The problem with having a lead character being passive-aggressive is that the laughs then only really come from them reacting to other characters, rather than initiating cirumstances themselves.

EDIT: Sort-of what Griff said then!

Quote: Griff @ July 31 2009, 1:57 PM BST

I think a passive-aggressive character is a great idea - quite a challenge to write (especially in dramatic terms where we normally expect our lead characters to be active) but could be really good.

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It would be a challenge to write yet the way I work is I am a character actor so I create my character through writing a detail back-story and ad-libing the character in various situations thus getting true to life dialogue that flows and is not contrived. I'm currently working on my 4th character for a show with ScreenPlay Productions where I play a very different character to a passive-aggressive so I would like to have a passive-aggressive character as my next character so I can become more versatile.

Give my love to Jan.

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 31 2009, 2:06 PM BST

Give my love to Jan.

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I will Tim.

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 31 2009, 2:00 PM BST

The problem with having a lead character being passive-aggressive is that the laughs then only really come from them reacting to other characters, rather than initiating cirumstances themselves.

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That's why you create a ensemble piece were all the characters life's revolve around this central character who in turn makes them feel happy, sad, annoyed, frustrated and so on. He's the key instigator who sets of the chain reaction through the ensemble cast thus causing chaos with out really doing anything. (P.S. I am aware that sounds like The Brittas Empire, this idea was something I only just thought about today.)

Could Albert Steptoe be classified as passive aggressive (at least sometimes)?

Quote: James Cotter @ July 31 2009, 2:02 PM BST

I'm currently working on my 4th character for a show with ScreenPlay Productions where I play a very different character to a passive-aggressive so I would like to have a passive-aggressive character as my next character so I can become more versatile.

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What are you working on James?

Quote: James Cotter @ July 31 2009, 2:11 PM BST

That's why you create a ensemble piece were all the characters life's revolve around this central character who in turn makes them feel happy, sad, annoyed, frustrated and so on. He's the key instigator who sets of the chain reaction through the ensemble cast thus causing chaos with out really doing anything.

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Thanks for the writing advice.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ July 31 2009, 2:16 PM BST

What are you working on James?

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I'm currently developing a new character called Jeremy Spicer with two talented writers called Stuart Greenwood and Michael Curle at it's for Jan at ScreenPlay Productions.