Shadows of Justice: Vigilantes in modern television
These contemporary series take the age-old trope of vigilante justice and infuse it with moral dilemmas, the relentless quest for justice, and sometimes revenge, outside conventional norms.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer.
- Buffy’s intro
Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a continuation of the 1992 movie starring Kristy Swanson. Beginning in 1997, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy broke the mold of the stereotypical blonde damsel in distress. She proved to be a formidable warrior who defends Sunnydale and keeps the Hellmouth sealed.
Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), her Watcher, Alexander “Xander” Harris (Nicholas Brendon), Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), Daniel “Oz” Osbourne (Seth Green), and Angel (David Boreanaz), a vampire with a soul, assist Buffy in her fight against evil.
The series often portrays the police, military, and political figures as morally questionable, if not outright evil. In episode two, Giles and Buffy explain to Xander and Willow why the police are ineffective against supernatural threats. They said the police couldn’t handle a vampire, even if one appeared. They claim that vampire and demon cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Watcher's Council, an ancient institution with laws that “have existed longer than civilization”.
Hustle (2004-2012)
This British crime drama follows a group of con artists. Adrian Lester portrays Michael “Mickey Bricks” Stone, the leader and strategist of the group. Robert Vaughn plays Albert Stroller, a veteran con man who is adept at identifying suitable targets. Robert Glenister embodies Ash Morgan, the meticulous organizer responsible for securing locations and necessary equipment. For the first four seasons, Jaime Murray plays Stacie Monroe, the crew's banker. Marc Warren plays Danny Blue, an ambitious con artist. After Warren and Murray left after season four, Matt Di Angelo and Kelly Adams took over as Sean and Emma Kennedy.
Using intricate schemes, or “long-cons”, this charming group of criminals outwits both the rich and their criminal rivals.
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Crime-fighters after hours: classic TV vigilantes
Vigilantes not only play a significant role in movies but are also a staple on the small screen. In the 1980s and 90s, vigilantes took center stage in various television shows.
Leverage (2008–2012)
In Leverage, the vigilantes target the rich and powerful people who abuse their authority and exploit the less fortunate. Although similar to Hustle, Leverage has a sharper, more intense tone.
The group consisted of “Mastermind” Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton), Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman), “The Grifter”, “The Hacker” Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), “The Hitter” Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane), and “The Thief” Parker (Beth Riesgraf). In 2021, Noah Wyle took the lead in the series reboot “Leverage: Redemption”.
Human Target (2010—2011)
The show, based on the DC Comics' Human Target comic book by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino, centers on Christopher Chance (played by Mark Valley). To protect his clients, the ex-assassin fully integrates himself into their lives, essentially becoming a “human target.” His associates include Laverne Winston (Chi McBride), a former police inspector from the San Francisco Police Department, and Guerrero, an ex-assassin played by Jackie Earle Haley.
In season two, Indira Varma portrays Ilsa Pucci, a benefactor to the group; and Janet Montgomery plays the thief, Ames.
This is the second television series based on this title; the first aired on ABC in 1992. Furthermore, actor William “Wil” Traval played the Human Target in seasons five and six of the TV show, Arrow.
Revenge (2011-2015)
Emily VanCamp, as Amanda Clarke, seeks revenge against the powerful and wealthy Hamptons residents she blames for her father’s ruin and death. Following her father David Clarke's (played by Marc Blucas and James Tupper) wrongful conviction for funding terrorists and a subsequent plane crash, Amanda's life shattered. Under the guise of Emily Thorne, Amanda meticulously plans to reveal the truth and avenge her father.
Upon her return to the Hamptons, Amanda sets her sights on Conrad Grayson (Henry Czerny), the CEO of Grayson Global, and his socialite wife, Victoria (Madeleine Stowe). Wealthy inventor and tech entrepreneur, Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann), supports her to repay David, who initially funded his company.
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The allure of vigilantes in classic movies
The appeal of morally ambiguous vigilantes has long entranced audiences. These classic narratives follow vigilantes who pursue their unique paths of vengeance and justice.
Person of Interest (2011—2016)
"You are being watched. The government has a secret system — a machine — that spies on you every hour of every day. I know, because I built it. I designed the machine to detect acts of terror, but it sees everything. Violent crimes involving ordinary people. People like you. Crimes the government considered irrelevant. They wouldn't act, so I decided I would. But I needed a partner, someone with the skills to intervene. Hunted by the authorities, we work in secret. You'll never find us. But, victim or perpetrator, if your number's up, we'll find you."
— Harold Finch - Person of Interest intro
In the wake of 9/11, Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), a brilliant and wealthy computer genius, built a program for the government to stop another terrorist attack. This “Machine”., however, unexpectedly identified people about to be involved in violent crimes, either as victims or offenders.
Finch enlists the help of former CIA agent John Reese (Jim Caviezel) to stop crimes and save lives before they happen. Detectives Jocelyn “Joss” Carter (Taraji P. Henson) and Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman) assist the dynamic duo.
The series later added Amy Acker as the brilliant hacker Samantha “Root” Groves, whose focus was the Machine’s flawless intelligence, and Sarah Shahi as the assassin Sameen Shaw.
Starting as a high-concept vigilante series, the Person of Interest evolved and raised concerns associated with artificial intelligence, and the implications of mass surveillance.
Banshee (2013-2016)
Following a 15-year prison sentence, former master thief John Smith (Antony Starr) is on a mission to find his ex-partner Anastasia “Ana” (Ivana Milicevic), recover his stolen loot, and evade the clutches of Ukrainian underworld boss “Rabbit” (Ben Cross).
His travels take him to the Pennsylvania town of Banshee, where he witnesses the demise of the new sheriff, Lucas Hood. Smith seizes the opportunity and assumes Hood’s identity. Hood employs unconventional and often brutal methods to maintain order in Banshee. Ulrich Thomsen plays Kai Proctor, the main antagonist.
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