Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Gino Barelli]]
to:
Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Fran]]
to:
Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Patrick Read]]
to:
Changed line(s) 77 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Mac Marzara]]
to:
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Mulcahey]]
to:
Changed line(s) 101 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Theo Graves]]
to:
Changed line(s) 117 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Sam]]
to:
Changed line(s) 135 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Kathy Pizazz]]
to:
Changed line(s) 147 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Big Daddy]]
to:
Changed line(s) 166 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Mai Tai Killer]]
to:
Changed line(s) 181 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Velvet Touch]]
to:
Changed line(s) 198 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Dr. Hannah Wells]]
to:
Changed line(s) 211 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Barbara Read]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* GoodIsNotNice: Arguably the most overtly heroic and selfless of all the protagonists across all story arcs in the show, Gino can also be an enormous asshole.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 89,90 (click to see context) from:
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Brian Ray Norris
to:
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Brian Ray Norris
Creator/BrianRayNorris
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DepravedHomosexual: He's a rich {{Sadist}} who rapes other men.
Added DiffLines:
* VillainProtagonist: Sam's a sadistic {{Jerkass}}, a SerialRapist and a rich asshole. Yet, he's one of our protagonists...
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
TRS has defined
The Beard as "fake straight relationship to hide being LGBT". Examples that don't fit this go in Fake Relationship or one of its other subtropes.
The Beard as "fake straight relationship to hide being LGBT". Examples that don't fit this go in Fake Relationship or one of its other subtropes.Changed line(s) 201 (click to see context) from:
* TheBeard: To Adam to some extent, as he refers to himself as her "husband" at certain points and she decides to carry his child.
to:
* TheBeard: To the gay Adam to some extent, as he refers to himself as her "husband" at certain points and she decides to carry his child.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 156 (click to see context) from:
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: [[spoiler: When Sam finally unmasks him, what he sees is an angelic blonde man.]]
to:
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: [[spoiler: When Sam finally unmasks him, what he sees is an angelic blonde blond man.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* SympathyForTheDevil: Even after [[spoiler: being tortured and then nearly killed by the Mai Tai killer]] ''[[spoiler: twice,]]'' [[spoiler: he still gives some pity and understanding to the man post-mortem. In his article about the killer, he writes about how the injustice and crimes done against the gay community is part of what fueled his murder spree in a misguided attempt to call for justice to be done.]]
to:
* SympathyForTheDevil: Even after [[spoiler: being tortured and then nearly killed by the [[spoiler:the Mai Tai killer]] ''[[spoiler: twice,]]'' [[spoiler: he still gives some pity and understanding to the man post-mortem. In his article about the killer, he writes about how the injustice and crimes done against the gay community is part of what fueled his murder spree in a misguided attempt to call for justice to be done.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 201 (click to see context) from:
* TheBeard: To Patrick to some extent, as he refers to himself as her "husband" at certain points and she decides to carry his child.
to:
* TheBeard: To Patrick Adam to some extent, as he refers to himself as her "husband" at certain points and she decides to carry his child.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Dr. Wells, seeing as he's a gay man and she's a straight woman. The two have a close friendship, and she even decides to have him father her child.
to:
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Dr. Wells, seeing as he's a gay man and she's a straight woman. The two have a close friendship, and she even decides to have him father her child. He's also clearly devastated when [[spoiler: listening to her tapes after her death and looks just about ready to break down while looking over her apartment.]]
Changed line(s) 201 (click to see context) from:
to:
* TheBeard: To Patrick to some extent, as he refers to himself as her "husband" at certain points and she decides to carry his child.
Added DiffLines:
* DrivenToSuicide: Her eventual fate at the end of the season.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* PlatonicLifePartners:
to:
* PlatonicLifePartners:PlatonicLifePartners: With Dr. Wells, seeing as he's a gay man and she's a straight woman. The two have a close friendship, and she even decides to have him father her child.
Added DiffLines:
* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: His obsession with guts and gore is also sexual, looking aroused at seeing beautiful people gutted open.
Added DiffLines:
* CampGay: A very flamboyant and openly gay man.
Added DiffLines:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Part of what motivates him to help bring the Mai Tai killer to justice is his inaction towards the killer's crimes, as he not only knew the killer but didn't find his obsession with corpses to be anything concering.
Added DiffLines:
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Adam, seeing as he's a gay man and she's a straight woman. She clearly trusts him a lot, enough to decide to have him be the father of her child.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* LoveRedeems: He becomes a positive influence to Theo, and their budding romance even helps the photographer become a better person.
* PlatonicLifePartners:
* AgeGapRomance: Gino is notably older than Patrick and it's implied to cause some strain in the relationship. Being the older one between them, he has been out far longer than Patrick has been and as such, is much more comfortable embracing his sexuality. Patrick, on the other hand, has only fairly recently realised he's gay and throughout the first half of the season, hides his sexuality from his coworkers. It's this inability for them to see eye to eye that contributes to the rifts in their relationships.
* SympathyForTheDevil: Even after [[spoiler: being tortured and then nearly killed by the Mai Tai killer]] ''[[spoiler: twice,]]'' [[spoiler: he still gives some pity and understanding to the man post-mortem. In his article about the killer, he writes about how the injustice and crimes done against the gay community is part of what fueled his murder spree in a misguided attempt to call for justice to be done.]]
* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: All of her previous work experiences contribute to the different plotlines, and she's even shown going through two of her jobs.
* AbusiveParents: For the brief time that we are shown his father, it's clear that the man was harsh and cruel to his son, essentially forcing Patrick to become a police officer. It's even shown that his father's cruelty contributed to some of his issues that have haunted him throughout his life and his treatment was so bad that Patrick has subconsciously blocked out the fact that the man ''made his ear bleed.''
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Dealt with a harsh father who put him through abusive training to become a cop, grappling with his sexuality and keeping it a secret in his workplace, and [[spoiler: accidentally killing a young man while having sex with him then having it covered up.]]
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
* SpeakIllOfTheDead: Enjoys doing this to gay murder victims, much to Patrick's discomfort.
to:
* SpeakIllOfTheDead: Enjoys doing this to gay murder victims, much to Patrick's discomfort. [[spoiler: Sadly, it's implied he goes further than that on Patrick's funeral, as his corpse has makeup on it to insult and demean him even in death.]]
Added DiffLines:
* LoveRedeems: His growing closeness to Adam that eventually evolves into a romance brings out his better side.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
[[WMG:[[center: [-''Characters/AmericanHorrorStory'' [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStory Character Index]]\\
[-[[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse Murder House]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryAsylum Asylum]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven Coven]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow Freak Show]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryHotel Hotel]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryRoanoke Roanoke]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryCult Cult]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryApocalypse Apocalyspe]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStory1984 1984]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryDoubleFeature Double Feature]] | '''NYC'''-]]] ]] -]
[-[[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse Murder House]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryAsylum Asylum]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven Coven]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow Freak Show]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryHotel Hotel]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryRoanoke Roanoke]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryCult Cult]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryApocalypse Apocalyspe]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStory1984 1984]] | [[Characters/AmericanHorrorStoryDoubleFeature Double Feature]] | '''NYC'''-]]] ]] -]
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* ConspiracyTheorist: Vehemently believes AIDS to be a bioweapon engineered by the goverment, among other things.
to:
* ConspiracyTheorist: Vehemently believes AIDS to be a bioweapon engineered by the goverment, government, among other things.
Changed line(s) 159 (click to see context) from:
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Mr. Whitely is the direct antagonist for most of the season, until he's finally shot in the head by Patrick in "The Sentinel".]]
to:
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Mr. Whitely is the direct antagonist for most of the season, season until he's finally shot in the head by Patrick in "The Sentinel".]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
dewicking Badass Baritone
Deleted line(s) 98 (click to see context) :
* BadassBaritone: He's around the same age as Adam but his voice is already deeper than that of the other male characters.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Deleted line(s) 99 (click to see context) :
* JerkToNiceGuyPlot: Theo gradually becomes a better person thanks to the influence of Adam.
Added DiffLines:
* TookALevelInKindness: Theo gradually becomes a better person thanks to the influence of Adam.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 162 (click to see context) from:
* ReluctantPsycho: Deep down, Whitely is truly ashemed of his own sadistic tendencies.
to:
* ReluctantPsycho: Deep down, Whitely is truly ashemed ashamed of his own sadistic tendencies.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 61 (click to see context) from:
* DefectiveDetective: He's a skilled cop but one with serious inner demons.
to:
* DefectiveDetective: [[spoiler: He's a skilled cop but one with who suffers from serious inner demons.personality issues and visions of his dead ex-wife.]]
Changed line(s) 129 (click to see context) from:
* OnlySaneWoman: She's one the few people who notice that something terribly wrong is happening in the city.
to:
* OnlySaneWoman: She's one of the few people who notice that something terribly wrong is happening in the city.
Changed line(s) 174 (click to see context) from:
* AbhorrentAdmirer: In the latter half of the season, Henry reveals that he's smitten with Gino, having read all of his articles in The Downtown Native; Gino is repulsed at the idea of being courted by an unrepentant hitman.
to:
* AbhorrentAdmirer: In the latter half of the season, Henry reveals that he's smitten with Gino, having read all of his articles in The Downtown the Native; Gino is repulsed at the idea of being courted by an unrepentant hitman.
Added DiffLines:
[[/folder]]
!! Other residents of New York City
[[folder: Dr. Hannah Wells]]
!!Dr. Hannah Wells
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/BillieLourd
A scientist studying the newly-discovered HIV virus.
----
* BeenThereShapedHistory: She's basically the one who identified the HIV virus.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: In the context of the show, Hannah spends most of her time fighting her own battle in the field of science, away from the investigations conducted by the Native and the NYPD.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Barbara Read]]
!!Barbara Read
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/LeslieGrossman
Patrick's ex-wife.
----
* AmicableExes: With Patrick.
* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler: Becomes one to Patrick after being killed by Big Daddy.]]
* SpiritAdvisor: [[spoiler: Her spirit guides Patrick through purgatory and makes him company in his final moments.]]
!! Other residents of New York City
[[folder: Dr. Hannah Wells]]
!!Dr. Hannah Wells
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/BillieLourd
A scientist studying the newly-discovered HIV virus.
----
* BeenThereShapedHistory: She's basically the one who identified the HIV virus.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: In the context of the show, Hannah spends most of her time fighting her own battle in the field of science, away from the investigations conducted by the Native and the NYPD.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Barbara Read]]
!!Barbara Read
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/LeslieGrossman
Patrick's ex-wife.
----
* AmicableExes: With Patrick.
* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler: Becomes one to Patrick after being killed by Big Daddy.]]
* SpiritAdvisor: [[spoiler: Her spirit guides Patrick through purgatory and makes him company in his final moments.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: In "Thank You For Your Service", Gino is kidnapped and tortured by the Mai Tai Killer, who shoves hot needles into his nailbeds.]]
* ArmouredClosetGay: Patrick is gay, but has to cover it up because he's also a cop who's stuck in one of the most homophobic precincts in the city. This is a source of great tension between him and his boyfriend Gino, who's been out for years and wants Patrick to come out, too.
* EvilIsBigger: Big Daddy is, as his name suggests, an enormous man.
Changed line(s) 157 (click to see context) from:
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler: He dies halfway through the season.]]
to:
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler: He dies halfway through [[spoiler:Mr. Whitely is the season.direct antagonist for most of the season, until he's finally shot in the head by Patrick in "The Sentinel".]]
Changed line(s) 162 (click to see context) from:
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Crazy as he may be, Whitely does want to save the gay community from further injustice.
to:
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Crazy As insane as he may be, Whitely does want Mr. Whitely's plan is, it's driven by a genuine desire to save protect the gay community of New York City from further injustice.all those who are trying to hurt them.
* AbhorrentAdmirer: In the latter half of the season, Henry reveals that he's smitten with Gino, having read all of his articles in The Downtown Native; Gino is repulsed at the idea of being courted by an unrepentant hitman.
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler: Henry hacks off his own hand in order to escape after being captured by the Mai Tai Killer.]]
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler: Henry hacks off his own hand in order to escape after being captured by the Mai Tai Killer.]]
Deleted line(s) 174 (click to see context) :
* StalkerWithACrush: Towards Gino.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* AmateurSleuth: And an incredibly persistant one at that.
to:
* AmateurSleuth: And an incredibly persistant persistent one at that.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: The show highly implies that all of her theories are right.
to:
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: The show highly implies that all All of her theories are implied to be right.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 160 (click to see context) from:
* SerialKiller: Lurks around gay bars looking for potential victims
to:
* SerialKiller: Lurks around gay bars looking for potential victimsOf the Mission-Based variety.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[foldercontrol]]
!! The Downtown Native
[[folder:Adam Carpenter]]
!!Adam Carpenter
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/CharlieCarver
A young man searching for clues about the mysterious disappearance of his roommate.
----
* AmateurSleuth: And an incredibly persistant one at that.
* CampGay: A downplayed example; Adam is very soft and delicate, but these traits only serve to contrast him with his eventual boyfriend.
* NiceGuy: Sets the plot in motion out of a genuine desire to find and save his friend from danger.
* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: By the end of the season, Adam is the only main character to have successfully escaped Big Daddy]].
* SupportingProtagonist: Patrick and Gino take his place as the main characters after the first few episodes, with Adam mostly remaining on the background.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Gino Barelli]]
!!Gino Barelli
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/JoeMantello
An Italian-American reporter and editor-in-chief of The Downtown Native.
----
* DaEditor: A quintessential example, even Adam finds him particularly difficult to work with.
* GoingForTheBigScoop: Homophobic cops, serial killers and even the mafia mean absolutely nothing to him.
* IntrepidReporter: Goes out of his way to involve himself in ongoing police investigations if it means getting material for his work.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Even with his massive HairTriggerTemper, Gino does more for the gay community of New York City than the entire police department.
* MentorInSourArmor: Becomes one to Adam.
* UnscrupulousHero: Gino is unpleasant to almost everyone around him and he's not above manipulating his own boyfriend to get what he wants.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Fran]]
!!Fran
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/SandraBernhard
A lesbian woman with curious theories concerning the AIDS epidemic.
----
* ButchLesbian: A bit aggressive and tomboyish.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Vehemently believes AIDS to be a bioweapon engineered by the goverment, among other things.
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: The show highly implies that all of her theories are right.
* {{Workaholic}}: Fran is a lab assistant, a fortune teller ''and'' a reporter for The Downtown Native.
[[/folder]]
!! New York Police Department
[[folder: Patrick Read]]
!!Patrick Read
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/RussellTovey
A closeted gay detective investigating the brutal murders of gay men around New York City.
----
* AmicableExes: With Barbara, whom he still sees as a good friend.
* ByronicHero: The penultimate episode of the season explores his flaws and how they shaped him.
* ByTheBookCop: He's the only cop in the entire police department who gives a damn about the gay community of the city.
* DefectiveDetective: He's a skilled cop but one with serious inner demons.
* GoodIsNotSoft: [[spoiler: Patrick straight-up executes Whitely for his heinous crimes, having deemed him to be BeyondRedemption]].
* MilitaryBrat: He's the son of a [=WW2=] veteran and was raised to be a model police officer.
* {{Sadist}}: A non-villainous example; Patrick secretly enjoys dominating and "punishing" other men, but only when it is consensual.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mac Marzara]]
!!Mac Marzara
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/KalPenn
A NYPD captain and Patrick's superior.
----
* DaChief: Of the 6th precinct.
* DirtyCop: He's not afraid to use PoliceBrutality when it suits him, especially against gay men.
* MurderByInaction: For years, Marzara has consciously ignored cases related to gay men, and he even urges Patrick to do the same.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mulcahey]]
!!Mulcahey
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Brian Ray Norris
Patrick's partner in the NYPD.
----
* DirtyCoward: He makes homophobic jokes about Patrick but only behind his back.
* HateSink: Moreso than Marzara himself; his only role in the story is to remind us that the NYPD ''hates'' the gay community.
* SpeakIllOfTheDead: Enjoys doing this to gay murder victims, much to Patrick's discomfort.
[[/folder]]
!! Artists
[[folder: Theo Graves]]
!!Theo Graves
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/IsaacColePowell
A young and eccentric photographer fascinated by the morbid aspects of humanity.
----
* AttentionWhore: Has a reputation for liking to "make a splash".
* BadassBaritone: He's around the same age as Adam but his voice is already deeper than that of the other male characters.
* JerkToNiceGuyPlot: Theo gradually becomes a better person thanks to the influence of Adam.
* NightmareFetishist: According to Theo himself, he finds charm in decadence and perversion in beauty.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler: His decision to make amends with Sam ultimately costs him his life.]]
* PsychicPowers: Claims to have inherited these from his Haitian grandmother, it's never really elaborated upon.
* SpiritAdvisor: [[spoiler: His spirit serves as one to Sam during the latter's final moments, teaching him a few lessons about his life choices and guiding him through his personal purgatory.]]
* StraightGay: In contrast to his boyfriend, Adam.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Sam]]
!!Sam
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/ZacharyQuinto
Theo's agent and a wealthy socialite with dark impulses.
----
* DrunkWithPower: Theo reveals that Sam was not always a sadistic asshole, money just gave him more and more opportunities to hurt people.
* TheHedonist: He regularly abuses drugs and people to satisfy a pathological need to feel pleasure.
* MadArtist: He genuinely sees pain and the suffering of others as a beautiful form of art.
* {{Sadist}}: Of the sexual variant.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: How he manages to get away with his crimes.
* SerialRapist: He lures naive men into his apartment and imprisons them in a sex dungeon, where he rapes and tortures them for days.
* TheSociopath: And a pretty realistic depiction of one, everyone around him is either a useful tool or a disposable sex toy.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Surprisingly, he's not one of the serial killers of the season but an "ally" of the good guys... Despite being a nasty predator in his own right.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Kathy Pizazz]]
!!Kathy Pizazz
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/PattiLuPone
An aging singer of Sicilian descent.
----
* OnlySaneWoman: She's one the few people who notice that something terribly wrong is happening in the city.
* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: [[spoiler: Kathy is smart enough to foresee the misery that the AIDS epidemic will bring to New York and decides leave the city for her own safety.]]
[[/folder]]
!! Killers
[[folder: Big Daddy]]
!!Big Daddy
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Matthew William Bishop
A hulking masked assailant preying on the gay community of New York City.
----
* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler: Is he the malevolent ghost of the real Big Daddy or a supernatural entity who stole his identity? We may never know.]]
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: [[spoiler: Of the AIDS epidemic and homophobic hate crimes.]]
* BigBad: He's the main threat that Adam and his allies have to face over the course of the season.
* BondageIsBad: His appearance is based on the leather subculture.
* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Big Daddy died a few years prior to the beginning of the show.]]
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: [[spoiler: When Sam finally unmasks him, what he sees is an angelic blonde man.]]
* TheGrimReaper: [[spoiler: The season finale reveals that Big Daddy is effectively this to all of those who suffer from AIDS.]]
* InvincibleVillain: Big Daddy behaves much like a slasher villain, being an unstoppable masked killer who's immune to bullets and reaches his victims by teleporting to their location.
** Justified in the sense that Big Daddy [[spoiler: is not a person, but the living embodiment of an idea.]]
* SerialKiller: Initially appears to be a random maniac prowling the streets of New York City, the true extent of his villainy is far, far worse...
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mai Tai Killer]]
!!Mr. Whitely
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Jeff Hiller
A more mundane serial murderer operating at the same time as Big Daddy.
----
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler: He dies halfway through the season.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: His spirit is seen comforting Gino and trying to give him hope during the DarkestHour.]]
* ReluctantPsycho: Deep down, Whitely is truly ashemed of his own sadistic tendencies.
* SerialKiller: Lurks around gay bars looking for potential victims
* SociopathicSoldier: He was dishonorably discharged from the army when he began enjoying killing people during the Vietnam War.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Crazy as he may be, Whitely does want to save the gay community from further injustice.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Velvet Touch]]
!!Henry
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/DenisOHare
A flamboyant hitman on the payroll of the New York crime families.
----
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He feels responsible for the crimes of the Mai Tai Killer and agrees to help the others stop him.
* HitmanWithAHeart: He was ordered to assassinate Gino but changed his mind after getting to know him better.
* SociopathicHero: Henry kills people for a living but is firmly on the side of the good guys.
* StalkerWithACrush: Towards Gino.
[[/folder]]
!! The Downtown Native
[[folder:Adam Carpenter]]
!!Adam Carpenter
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/CharlieCarver
A young man searching for clues about the mysterious disappearance of his roommate.
----
* AmateurSleuth: And an incredibly persistant one at that.
* CampGay: A downplayed example; Adam is very soft and delicate, but these traits only serve to contrast him with his eventual boyfriend.
* NiceGuy: Sets the plot in motion out of a genuine desire to find and save his friend from danger.
* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: By the end of the season, Adam is the only main character to have successfully escaped Big Daddy]].
* SupportingProtagonist: Patrick and Gino take his place as the main characters after the first few episodes, with Adam mostly remaining on the background.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Gino Barelli]]
!!Gino Barelli
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/JoeMantello
An Italian-American reporter and editor-in-chief of The Downtown Native.
----
* DaEditor: A quintessential example, even Adam finds him particularly difficult to work with.
* GoingForTheBigScoop: Homophobic cops, serial killers and even the mafia mean absolutely nothing to him.
* IntrepidReporter: Goes out of his way to involve himself in ongoing police investigations if it means getting material for his work.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Even with his massive HairTriggerTemper, Gino does more for the gay community of New York City than the entire police department.
* MentorInSourArmor: Becomes one to Adam.
* UnscrupulousHero: Gino is unpleasant to almost everyone around him and he's not above manipulating his own boyfriend to get what he wants.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Fran]]
!!Fran
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/SandraBernhard
A lesbian woman with curious theories concerning the AIDS epidemic.
----
* ButchLesbian: A bit aggressive and tomboyish.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Vehemently believes AIDS to be a bioweapon engineered by the goverment, among other things.
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: The show highly implies that all of her theories are right.
* {{Workaholic}}: Fran is a lab assistant, a fortune teller ''and'' a reporter for The Downtown Native.
[[/folder]]
!! New York Police Department
[[folder: Patrick Read]]
!!Patrick Read
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/RussellTovey
A closeted gay detective investigating the brutal murders of gay men around New York City.
----
* AmicableExes: With Barbara, whom he still sees as a good friend.
* ByronicHero: The penultimate episode of the season explores his flaws and how they shaped him.
* ByTheBookCop: He's the only cop in the entire police department who gives a damn about the gay community of the city.
* DefectiveDetective: He's a skilled cop but one with serious inner demons.
* GoodIsNotSoft: [[spoiler: Patrick straight-up executes Whitely for his heinous crimes, having deemed him to be BeyondRedemption]].
* MilitaryBrat: He's the son of a [=WW2=] veteran and was raised to be a model police officer.
* {{Sadist}}: A non-villainous example; Patrick secretly enjoys dominating and "punishing" other men, but only when it is consensual.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mac Marzara]]
!!Mac Marzara
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/KalPenn
A NYPD captain and Patrick's superior.
----
* DaChief: Of the 6th precinct.
* DirtyCop: He's not afraid to use PoliceBrutality when it suits him, especially against gay men.
* MurderByInaction: For years, Marzara has consciously ignored cases related to gay men, and he even urges Patrick to do the same.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mulcahey]]
!!Mulcahey
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Brian Ray Norris
Patrick's partner in the NYPD.
----
* DirtyCoward: He makes homophobic jokes about Patrick but only behind his back.
* HateSink: Moreso than Marzara himself; his only role in the story is to remind us that the NYPD ''hates'' the gay community.
* SpeakIllOfTheDead: Enjoys doing this to gay murder victims, much to Patrick's discomfort.
[[/folder]]
!! Artists
[[folder: Theo Graves]]
!!Theo Graves
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/IsaacColePowell
A young and eccentric photographer fascinated by the morbid aspects of humanity.
----
* AttentionWhore: Has a reputation for liking to "make a splash".
* BadassBaritone: He's around the same age as Adam but his voice is already deeper than that of the other male characters.
* JerkToNiceGuyPlot: Theo gradually becomes a better person thanks to the influence of Adam.
* NightmareFetishist: According to Theo himself, he finds charm in decadence and perversion in beauty.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler: His decision to make amends with Sam ultimately costs him his life.]]
* PsychicPowers: Claims to have inherited these from his Haitian grandmother, it's never really elaborated upon.
* SpiritAdvisor: [[spoiler: His spirit serves as one to Sam during the latter's final moments, teaching him a few lessons about his life choices and guiding him through his personal purgatory.]]
* StraightGay: In contrast to his boyfriend, Adam.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Sam]]
!!Sam
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/ZacharyQuinto
Theo's agent and a wealthy socialite with dark impulses.
----
* DrunkWithPower: Theo reveals that Sam was not always a sadistic asshole, money just gave him more and more opportunities to hurt people.
* TheHedonist: He regularly abuses drugs and people to satisfy a pathological need to feel pleasure.
* MadArtist: He genuinely sees pain and the suffering of others as a beautiful form of art.
* {{Sadist}}: Of the sexual variant.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: How he manages to get away with his crimes.
* SerialRapist: He lures naive men into his apartment and imprisons them in a sex dungeon, where he rapes and tortures them for days.
* TheSociopath: And a pretty realistic depiction of one, everyone around him is either a useful tool or a disposable sex toy.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Surprisingly, he's not one of the serial killers of the season but an "ally" of the good guys... Despite being a nasty predator in his own right.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Kathy Pizazz]]
!!Kathy Pizazz
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/PattiLuPone
An aging singer of Sicilian descent.
----
* OnlySaneWoman: She's one the few people who notice that something terribly wrong is happening in the city.
* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: [[spoiler: Kathy is smart enough to foresee the misery that the AIDS epidemic will bring to New York and decides leave the city for her own safety.]]
[[/folder]]
!! Killers
[[folder: Big Daddy]]
!!Big Daddy
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Matthew William Bishop
A hulking masked assailant preying on the gay community of New York City.
----
* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler: Is he the malevolent ghost of the real Big Daddy or a supernatural entity who stole his identity? We may never know.]]
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: [[spoiler: Of the AIDS epidemic and homophobic hate crimes.]]
* BigBad: He's the main threat that Adam and his allies have to face over the course of the season.
* BondageIsBad: His appearance is based on the leather subculture.
* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Big Daddy died a few years prior to the beginning of the show.]]
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: [[spoiler: When Sam finally unmasks him, what he sees is an angelic blonde man.]]
* TheGrimReaper: [[spoiler: The season finale reveals that Big Daddy is effectively this to all of those who suffer from AIDS.]]
* InvincibleVillain: Big Daddy behaves much like a slasher villain, being an unstoppable masked killer who's immune to bullets and reaches his victims by teleporting to their location.
** Justified in the sense that Big Daddy [[spoiler: is not a person, but the living embodiment of an idea.]]
* SerialKiller: Initially appears to be a random maniac prowling the streets of New York City, the true extent of his villainy is far, far worse...
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mai Tai Killer]]
!!Mr. Whitely
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Jeff Hiller
A more mundane serial murderer operating at the same time as Big Daddy.
----
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler: He dies halfway through the season.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: His spirit is seen comforting Gino and trying to give him hope during the DarkestHour.]]
* ReluctantPsycho: Deep down, Whitely is truly ashemed of his own sadistic tendencies.
* SerialKiller: Lurks around gay bars looking for potential victims
* SociopathicSoldier: He was dishonorably discharged from the army when he began enjoying killing people during the Vietnam War.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Crazy as he may be, Whitely does want to save the gay community from further injustice.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Velvet Touch]]
!!Henry
--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/DenisOHare
A flamboyant hitman on the payroll of the New York crime families.
----
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He feels responsible for the crimes of the Mai Tai Killer and agrees to help the others stop him.
* HitmanWithAHeart: He was ordered to assassinate Gino but changed his mind after getting to know him better.
* SociopathicHero: Henry kills people for a living but is firmly on the side of the good guys.
* StalkerWithACrush: Towards Gino.
[[/folder]]
