How do you like your mysteries?

[drl2]

I like it when Velma and Daphne get naked in the back of the Mystery Van and Shaggy offers them a special Scooby Snack.

I don't really care whether the ending is given away or not, because you already know it was the janitor, and he would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those darn kids.

[apophenia]

If it's a detective story, what's not to like? I've enjoyed many different kinds, but anymore, only if they conclude within an hour's time. Getting old, I guess, or just flighty. Law and Order Criminal Intent starts out with you seeing parts from the criminal's perspective, but not enough that it's already solved. The Closer doesn't show the solution, nor is the suspense in finding out the clues to solve it; at some point midway through the episode, Brenda has an "Aha!" moment, and the suspense is seeing how she manipulates the suspects into giving the game away and closing the case ("The Closer"). Criminal Intent was much the same, without the gimmicky Aha moment, watching to see how Goren delivers the coup de grace. But I'm at home in both styles, whether it's Columbo, McCloud and so on, or Fringe, where they may not even solve the case, it's the thrill of the hunt that matters, wits matching wits, and watching the puzzle box open with just the right tap. It's drama. There is no one formula.

(Reminds me, I've got a Nancy Drew mystery pc game installed but haven't played yet. I'm actually waiting till I can play on the new, faster box. And this hardware has been crumbling on me left and right. Three disk failures and an episode of depression are keeping me otherwise occupied.)

[JimC]

#2, with lots of atmosphere, the detective drinking heaps of whisky, occasional random sex and the hero triumphing over corrupt and oppressive bosses...

Rather like teaching at my school...