Upamanyu Biswas
Created by Liz Moore and Nikki Toscano, Peacock’s ‘Long Bright River’ tells the story of a Philadelphian cop named Mickey Fitzpatrick, who gets involved in a dangerous serial killer case involving three female murder victims. While the rest of her department sweeps it under the carpet, Mickey takes a personal interest in getting to the bottom of the truth, especially after her sister, Kacey, goes missing. Worried that something terrible may have happened to her, she must race against time to uncover the killer’s identity with the help of her former partner, Truman Dawes. The crime thriller series delves into a deep conspiracy involving homeless people, dysfunctional familial bonds, and substance abuse, touching upon the challenging realities of a city cop’s duties.
Long Bright River is Based on Liz Moore’s Novel Inspired By Her Life
‘Long Bright River’ tells a fictional story drawn from Liz Moore’s eponymous 2020 novel that delves into a sibling bond between a Philadelphia cop and her sister suffering from substance abuse. Moore, Nikki Toscano, and Russell Rothberg drafted the show’s script. The source material delves into the complexities of law and morality through a difficult situation that is more grey than black-and-white. By portraying these dualities, the writer wanted to showcase people’s different interpretations when arguing for their own case. Both in the show and the book, characters often fall out with one another when a misunderstanding takes place, or a line is crossed. These situations eerily capture the reality of dysfunctional families who are torn by tragic circumstances.
In an interview with The Guardian, Moore explained, “I was interested in playing with who is on the right side of the law and who is on the right side of morality, and switching those back and forth several times.” The novelist went further than simply relying upon her imagination when crafting the premise. She also took inspiration from her experiences while living in Philadelphia. In 2009, the writer learned more about the people living in Kensington as she worked on a photo book about the neighborhood. She even instructed a creative writing workshop at a women’s shelter. The complexity of the human lives she came across was eye-opening for her and allowed her to understand them from a closer vantage point. Intriguingly, she also tried picking up on the routines followed by separate individuals, marking them out as addicts, dealers, and sex workers.
Addiction is also a part of Moore’s family life. Her brother, Charles, was an opium user, which was yet another “strange coincidence,” according to her. The presence of a family member who went through such a challenging ordeal allowed Moore the opportunity to be sensitive and delicate while probing into the issues surrounding substance abuse and the importance of support networks. “Like many families in the United States, mine has been affected by a multi-generational struggle with addiction that continues to this day,” she explained. The novel and the show draw upon her intimate connections with her family, inspiring the drama and its basic themes. Thus, while fictional, the show lands on various tough and real societal problems, which helps flesh out the world and characters authentically.
Mickey Fitzpatrick is a Fictional Cop Trying to Make Amends With Her Sister
While ‘Long Bright River’ postures itself as a crime thriller series, much of the narrative also focuses on complex female relationships, particularly the importance of sisterhood in overcoming overwhelming obstacles. At the heart of these relationships lies Mickey Fitzpatrick, the protagonist of the series, who gets brought into a complex situation after discovering a series of murders in the homeless women’s community. She is a fictional character conceived by Liz Moore, who first appeared in her original novel. Mickey is an introverted but focused cop with a difficult upbringing, which made her incredibly resilient and empathetic to others suffering from the same. The show explores two important relationships in her life: one with her son, Thomas, and the other with her estranged sister, Kacey.
To an extent, the bond between Mickey and Kacey is drawn from Moore’s life. The writer acknowledged that she was actually raised in a family with a sister who was younger than her by seven years. As a result, she always felt responsible for her protection and security growing up. “As a kid, I felt like another parent, and that part of my autobiography found its way into this book,” Moore said. Mickey’s uptight nature is one of her characteristic features. According to the novelist, this represents how some people who are exposed to addiction in their families early in their lives often react to situations moving forward. When Mickey witnesses the effects of addiction, she becomes risk-averse and more devoted to making the “safe” choices. However, it also cripples her ability to let loose occasionally, which is the opposite for Kacey.
As per Moore, both Mickey and Kacey showcase the two sides of addiction and its debilitating effect on families, especially sisterly bonds. The writer also stated that the portrayal of female support networks is another important factor for her, as most of her support comes from women in her life. This is succinctly depicted in how the protagonist learns to overcome her personal challenges and be a responsible elder sister to Kacey, which the latter always needed. The devotional aspect of their relationship, albeit fraught with conflict at times, helps create a sense of relatability with Mickey’s struggles. We understand what drives her and what turns her into the woman she is today. However, despite her realistic portrayal, the character remains a figment of the author’s imagination.
