What a Crime

I have been watching the Swedish version of Wallander as I exercise in the morning.  In the episode I completed today several seemingly unconnected murders were eventually found to be related to a former Swedish soldier.  It turns out he was executing various people against whom he had carried a grudge for years.  His spree of revenge killings was triggered by his having been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  It seems once he knew he was going to die he decided to take his enemies with him.

This is a familiar trope for crime shows; when you have nothing to lose why not indulge in all of those fantasies you've nurtured over the years.  I started out asking myself why we don't see stories about people who commit mass forgiveness rather than mass murder when faced with death.  But of course those sorts of stories would not fit into any of the standard entertainment genres.  So, the larger question is why we are drawn to crime drama?  I certainly am.  I have run through all of the Netflix available episodes of "Midsomer Murders," "Vera," and "Inspector Lewis."  But why should I be interested in stories of murder linked to greed, lust and jealousy?

I'm not sure.  Certainly I find the characters interesting, but is that enough to overcome exposure to the sordid world they inhabit?  I don't know the answer but certainly it must be related to the fact that "the natural man is an enemy to God."  Were I not such a "natural man" but "a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love," I would not enjoy such entertainment.  My wife and children can certainly attest that I am far from meek, humble and patient.  Maybe someday I will reach that state, but it's not today.  Today I have another episode of the BBC version of Wallander waiting for me,