Homage to Fathers and Sons

Steve (Barry) and Mark (Dick)

Father figures abound in television. It is not unusual for two males in a show to form a father-son bond, even when they are close in age. Dr. Sweets in Bones becomes attached to Brennan and Booth; the latter is even mistaken by Sweets' roommates as his dad (who is hot).

In Diagnosis Murder, it would seem that Jesse Travis (see below) would easily fit into the role of adoring son to fatherly and friendly Dr. Mark Sloan. Jesse even states at one point, "But I don't want to form a close relationship with my father. I want to form a close relationship with Steve's father."

It never quite happens. Jesse is a good character and works well within the scooby-gang. He becomes a physician of note, works well with "Steve's Dad," and starts a business with Steve. But he never quite achieves "son" status with the good doctor.

Why?

Mark and Jesse

Because in an utterly non-creepy way, Diagnosis Murder is a homage to a specific father-son relationship (pictured above): Steve Sloan, played by Barry Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke's second son in real life, and Mark Sloan.

Steve Sloan is a cop. Like so many television cops, he dates but never marries (until the movies). He lives on the first floor of his dad's beach house.

The show has the required number of near-death experiences during which one family member feels concern for the other. And it has the required number of "I need to protect my son/father" moments.

It even has, rather touchingly, an episode where Mark and Steve watch old home movies of the actual Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke when they were both much younger. And then there are all the Van Dyke grand-kids--Barry Van Dyke's progeny--who show up in later episodes. Hey, Dick Van Dyke's daughter shows up in a couple of episodes!

Being family in real life doesn't automatically guarantee family feeling on the show. In this case, the family feeling is there, in large part because the Sloans treat each other with the faintly amused, sometimes exasperated fondness of stable families. They argue about fishing. They tell jokes about each other's cooking. Mark asks when Steve is going to get married. Steve complains about his dad's job. They work together on cases--Steve does the legwork, collects clues, and suggests various solutions. Mark deduces, takes risks, manages the scooby-gang, and maintains the ethical high-road when necessary.

Generally speaking, it's fairly low-key. It's not even as potentially father-son "finding my roots" as Harm's search for his dad on JAG. Or "establishing a bond" as Anthony and his con-artist dad on NCIS. It is far more level-headed and commonsensical.

And yet--a total homage to fathers and sons! Fathers and sons who get along, don't have too much baggage, and enjoy each other's company. And solve crimes!