"Wargaming Miniatures in Prime Time" Topic

Not sure how many folks saw the US TV show Elementary last night but part of the story revolved around a character that was an avid Napoleonic Wargammer. Showed figures and everything. We made prime time baby, expect figure prices to rise accordingly with the increased popularity!

The only problem was that the gamer was a skinhead. Not exactly the type of reprehensible character we should celebrate.

I would have been much happier if Homes was the games.

Spoiler alert:

I had to laugh when Homes said the way to find him was to check out hobby shops in the NY area that sold historical figures.

They also checked out shows and found a picture of him there. Homes decided he was not guilty because he did not make risky move and preserved his troops.

Another example of Hollywood writers/producers/directors, etc., mischaracterizing something they do not care to understand. A prime time TV hero lawyer, cop, doctor, fireman., etc. as a wargamer? Preposterous! Hollywood believes no level-headed professional would ever play with toy soldiers, so those people MUST be unhinged enough to be skinheads or some other societal fringe.

Another example of Hollywood writers/producers/directors, etc., mischaracterizing something they do not care to understand.

You could go as far as to say the same about the media in general …

Listen, I'm just glad he wasn't living in his mother's basement!

Doug

All fair comments, I was disappointed in that part as well, but at least they tugged on the reins a bit and didn't make him an ACW player that only played the CSA or a WWII player that only played Germans, the cliches would have been too much. It was good at least to see real figures and an honest discussion of why people war game.

The UK character Callan was a wargamer and most certainly the "prime time hero"

Callan may have been the main character, but he was not what you would call a 'hero'.

He was a ruthless professional assassin. More of an anti-hero maybe….

Callan was, IIRC, not a professional assassin – a hitman for hire – but worked for British intelligence. He was certainly the hero of the series.

Is there any example of a positive representation of wargaming on TV or film since Callan?

(not including the odd indy film)

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 there is a scene in the basement with a set up of 28mm ACW figures. I know because they were my figures and terrain. Also in a kitchen table scene in either DOAWK 2 or 3, can't remember which?

Watched some episodes of "Last Man Standing" last evening. Mike Baxter is constantly building, painting and/or photographing WWII minis in various episodes. He even has a hobby work station in his office at work.