'Mr Inbetween' and the Most Annoying Cliche in Noir

It's a minor tragedy that more people didn't watch it at the time.

If there’s one enduring musty cliché in noir that I’m starting to hate, it’s “criminal struggling with their conscience.” We’ve watched for decades as fictional thieves, hitmen and mob bosses wrestled against their darker natures. Sure, it’s compelling if done right… but far too often, it’s an all-too-easy way for a writer to soften or humanize the character—even if the character ultimately doesn’t deserve it.

In that spirit, whenever I have a few minutes and want to watch a short clip of something crime-y, I’ve been turning often to the Australian series Mr Inbetween, which is fascinating in its refusal to adhere to that cliché. Scott Ryan (who also wrote the series) plays Ray Shoesmith, a hitman for a small-time crime lord. Throughout three seasons, Ray tries to balance out heinous criminal activity with his duties as a father to a little girl.

On…