"A good, kind, decent man": Modifying masculinity in fan fiction depictions of Gene Hunt

The act of writing fan fiction requires some element of modification, an inevitable consequence of a new author taking on established characters. A recurring feature in the fan fiction written about the television character of DCI Gene Hunt, from the two drama series’ Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, as written by female authors and posted on the website fanfiction.net, is a move towards repositioning the character in more emotional and romantic contexts. These authors are building on the original character, who has a tendency to be aggressive and violent onscreen, but are also drawing on literary and cinematic archetypes to create a more intimate exploration of the character and his motivations.