You are talking about something different than me. I’m not talking about theme in the sense of philosophy, parable, metaphor or hidden message here. I’m talking about a sort of main topic that is explored through the crime mystery. A topic that gives the story a meaning and explains why we’re watching it right now and why it wasn’t written in 1941.

Imagine someone would today write Death on the Nile. A bunch of white people on an African river cruise. You think that would sell? No chance. Not unless it has already been written a ling time ago and is now a Kenneth Brannagh nostalgia piece.

On the other hand, pitch a show that takes place in an interesting and contemporary milieu like evicted home owners, patients who cannot pay their medical bills, conspiracy theorists etc. and you get everyones attention. Each of these examples I listed comes with an obvious theme attached. Bursting investment bubbles, unfair healthcare system, age of internet misinformation. THAT’s what the core will be of your detective story. That’s what you will pitch to the network. That’s what helps you decide which characters you need.

You guys can all disagree with my statements. They are not meant as set in stone rules. But I have sold several crime scripts and worked as the head writer on a show for which I also created the lead detective. So maybe there’s at least some very tiny truth in my personal experience.