The episode, made in 1998, dealt a body that was found in a parking lot with bruising marks from a beating, the autopsy reveals that the woman had received gender reassignment and the bruising was not all new. The investigation then leads to an S&M house and a very interesting and complex Dominatrix named Mistress Harriet/Sylvia Partman who Da Vinci takes to dinner to have an off the record discussion, and treats her with respect and dignity. I liked that her non-Domme name was given and that she was portrayed as a multi dimensional character with normal feelings of inadequacy just doing her job giving others what they needed in their lives.
As I was revisiting this episode today I was struck by the originality and sensitivity that Da Vinci's Inquest had; there was little judgement (except by the irascible Leo Shannon) or moralizing about lifestyle choices. The prevalent attitude was that what goes on behind closed doors is nobody's business unless a crime was committed. This is an attitude of tolerance and modernity that Pierre Elliot Trudeau spoke of back more than 40 years previously in 1967 when he was Minister of Justice. His famous interview can be found by searching for; " Omnibus Bill: 'There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation'" and I believe it is well worth revisiting as it was a bold and politically risky ideal at the time. One well worth remembering today in the era of big brother and age of paparazzi 'journalism'.
Three years later in 2001, CSI had a similar character with the introduction of Lady Heather, but I don't think it was done anywhere near as well. Though she was portrayed as a complicated individual there was much more 'smirking' and eyebrow raising, and I felt that the topic and episodes were cheapened and sensationalized by it. Though we have a ways to go, I much prefer the Canadian way of a much more mater of fact, tolerant and mature attitude towards peoples kinks and lifestyles.
This was television made for thinkers and mature minds !
As I was revisiting this episode today I was struck by the originality and sensitivity that Da Vinci's Inquest had; there was little judgement (except by the irascible Leo Shannon) or moralizing about lifestyle choices. The prevalent attitude was that what goes on behind closed doors is nobody's business unless a crime was committed. This is an attitude of tolerance and modernity that Pierre Elliot Trudeau spoke of back more than 40 years previously in 1967 when he was Minister of Justice. His famous interview can be found by searching for; " Omnibus Bill: 'There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation'" and I believe it is well worth revisiting as it was a bold and politically risky ideal at the time. One well worth remembering today in the era of big brother and age of paparazzi 'journalism'.
Three years later in 2001, CSI had a similar character with the introduction of Lady Heather, but I don't think it was done anywhere near as well. Though she was portrayed as a complicated individual there was much more 'smirking' and eyebrow raising, and I felt that the topic and episodes were cheapened and sensationalized by it. Though we have a ways to go, I much prefer the Canadian way of a much more mater of fact, tolerant and mature attitude towards peoples kinks and lifestyles.
This was television made for thinkers and mature minds !