Television’s greatest
protagonist
Sherlock Holmes. Walter White. Columbo. Spock. Homer Simpson.
You would probably find these names on a list of the greatest heroes on the small screen.
But one person is missing.
Catherine Cawood from Happy Valley is one of the most compelling characters ever created for television. Played brilliantly by Sarah Lancashire, hers is a no-nonsense sergeant in the West Yorkshire Police.
Tough, determined, and deeply human, she carries the weight of a daughter’s death that always haunts her and a redemption that is always just out of reach.
Catherine feels real.
She embodies real struggles—working-class life, trauma, and perseverance in tough times.
A benchmark for great hero of TV.
Complex and richly drawn characters are not only possible but essential in creating stories that matter. For these reasons, Catherine Cawood is, in my opinion, television’s most extraordinary protagonist.
... for now.
You would probably find these names on a list of the greatest heroes on the small screen.
But one person is missing.
Catherine Cawood from Happy Valley is one of the most compelling characters ever created for television. Played brilliantly by Sarah Lancashire, hers is a no-nonsense sergeant in the West Yorkshire Police.
Tough, determined, and deeply human, she carries the weight of a daughter’s death that always haunts her and a redemption that is always just out of reach.
Catherine feels real.
She embodies real struggles—working-class life, trauma, and perseverance in tough times.
A benchmark for great hero of TV.
Complex and richly drawn characters are not only possible but essential in creating stories that matter. For these reasons, Catherine Cawood is, in my opinion, television’s most extraordinary protagonist.
... for now.