In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995)

Bias Rating

Analyzing...

Strong Left

Viewer Rating

Rating: 7.5

Overview

Bill Gillespie is a police chief in a small town in the American South, and later becomes sheriff of the county. As Bill tries to solve crimes and catch criminals, aided by his capable investigator Virgil Tibbs and polic...

Starring Cast

Carroll O'Connor • Alan Autry • David Hart

Where to watch

Philo

Prime Video

Apple TV

Bias Dimensions

Political: Strong Left

Diversity: High

LGBTQ: Negative

Overview

Starring Cast

Carroll O'Connor • Alan Autry • David Hart

Where to watch

Philo

Prime Video

Apple TV

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...

Strong Left

Primary

Political: Strong LeftConfidence: High

The film's central thesis explicitly promotes progressive ideology by unequivocally critiquing systemic racism and championing racial equality and justice through the triumph of competence and moral integrity over deeply ingrained prejudice.

Diversity: HighConfidence: High

The movie features a Black protagonist in a lead detective role, a significant and intentional casting choice for its time that challenged traditional norms. Its narrative explicitly confronts racial prejudice, portraying traditional white identities critically and making the themes of racial injustice and the competence of the Black lead central to the story.

Secondary

LGBTQ: NegativeConfidence: Medium

The film features Lloyd Purdy, a minor character whose effeminate demeanor is coded as queer. He is subjected to mockery and violence by the police, who treat his 'otherness' with contempt. This portrayal contributes to a negative depiction of non-normative gender expression, lacking counterbalance or critique.

FemPower: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: NoConfidence: High

The television series "In the Heat of the Night" (1988–1995) adapted characters from the original novel and 1967 film. All major characters retained their established genders from the source material, with no instances of a character canonically established as one gender being portrayed as a different gender in the show.

Race Swap: NoConfidence: High

The television series "In the Heat of the Night" (1988–1995) faithfully adapted the core characters, Virgil Tibbs and Bill Gillespie, maintaining their established races from the original novel and 1967 film. No race swaps occurred for these or other significant legacy characters.