DIVA spoke to Cat Jones about writing this exciting show, teenagehood, and the complexities of coming out
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BBC
This interview may contain spoilers.
Set in a small town full of secrets, BBC’s new drama The Jetty has been captivating viewers across the country with its twists and turns. Starring Jenna Coleman, Archie Renaux, Laura Marcus and Bo Bragason, The Jetty is catalysed by a mysterious fire which unravels decades of hidden demons.
Written by Cat Jones, The Jetty is more than your average detective mystery. It delves into abuse, morality, and also the complexities of coming out. With central queer characters, the show is breaking down barriers about how sapphic relationships are seen on screen.
DIVA caught up with Cat Jones to find out more about the inspiration behind the show.
What inspired you to write the show?
I’ve always been into detective shows. I think when they are done well, they are incredibly great vehicles for looking at human behaviour and trying to decode ourselves by looking at the most extreme behaviour.
I just remember that growing up I had a few friends, or people I knew, who as teenagers had abusive relationships with adult men. I just remember at the time we kind of viewed them as very exciting and quite glamorous. These guys had cars and jobs and they weren’t like the guys at school. I have thought a lot about those women since and reflecting upon it as an adult I’ve been asking things like: do you feel differently about it? Do you feel that it was abusive and coercive? Or are there instances where those people stayed together? And does that somehow in some way legitimise it?
The relationship between Amy and Kitty is incredibly complex. It’s not our traditional queer storyline. I wanted to know how you read their relationship and what you maybe hope people take from them.
I think starting out I was just very aware that as a teenager I had had experiences of friendships with straight girls and falling in love with those girls. Those girls being aware of that perhaps weaponised that and used that to manipulate me.
[In The Jetty] it isn’t just that you’ve got a manipulative straight girl manipulating this girl who is trying to come out and trying to make sense of her identity. Actually, I think Amy is in love with Caitlin. I think she is so unsettled and troubled and struggling for validation that she’s kind of looking for it in the wrong places. I think by the end she really recognises that actually there is genuine love between them. I think it’s kind of tragic really. I feel that their relationship is a love affair of sorts, even though it’s got this horrible manipulative strand through it.
Why was it important for you that we saw Caitlin again out of the flashbacks?
Because it’s celebratory! She was a queer teenager who was struggling and there is something positive about seeing that she has found her way. I’m really proud of this show because I still think it is the exception rather than the norm to have queer characters at the centre rather than the background of the show.
What do you hope to see in the future of crime dramas as a writer and as someone who is interested in the art form?
In terms of queer characters, I want to increasingly see queer characters on screen taking the central role, not being peripheral. I want to see queer relationships that aren’t only about the strife and struggle of those relationships.
What was it like seeing the show come to life?
It’s a mixed thing really because, on the one hand, my instinct reminds me of an experience I’ve had that had not been very pleasant. I think I sort of gravitated towards girls who were likely to manipulate me or girls who needed to be validated or affirmed. These very enigmatic, alluring, gorgeous girls with low self-esteem. I feel like I met quite a lot of those girls along the way. It’s difficult watching that recreated because it is hard when you are making sense of who you are. There’s something wonderful about seeing these two young women on screen and just wanting to see more of that. I would have been fascinated as a teenager to watch that relationship on screen so I’m thrilled we are putting it on screen.
You can watch The Jetty on BBC iPlayer now.
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