Character Relationship Map: Going Postal

Characters

• Moist Von Lipwig (played by Richard Coyle) — protagonist

  Convicted conman forced to become Postmaster under threat of execution. He revitalizes the declining postal service, experiences genuine remorse for past crimes, and ultimately exposes the corrupt Cla...

• Miss Cripslock (played by Tamsin Greig) — protagonist
• Lord Vetinari (played by Charles Dance) — supporting

  The calculating Patrician of Ankh-Morpork who sentences Moist to become Postmaster rather than face execution. He later offers the same ultimatum to Reacher Gilt, implying Gilt's eventual downfall.

• Groat (played by Andrew Sachs) — supporting

  Elderly Junior Postman and staff member at the declining post office. He later undertakes exhausting mail coach trips to Überwald and shares a bet with Stanley Howler on Moist.

• Drumknott (played by Steve Pemberton) — supporting
• Reacher Gilt (played by David Suchet) — supporting

  Ruthless owner of the Clacks optical telegraph system. He secretly hired assassins to kill the previous Postmasters and Adora's brother to maintain his monopoly. He is ultimately exposed and faces the...

• Mr. Pump (played by Marnix Van Den Broeke) — supporting

  A golem acting as Moist's parole officer. He relentlessly pursues Moist after escape attempts and accompanies him to the Golem Trust to understand golem control mechanisms.

• Adora Belle Dearheart (played by Claire Foy) — supporting

  Inherited Clacks owner who develops feelings for Moist. She collaborates with hackers to disrupt the telegraph network and uncovers Gilt's murders. Ultimately becomes Clacks manager and enters a relat...

• Stanley Howler (played by Ian Bonar) — supporting

  Pin-obsessed assistant at the post office. He is rescued by Moist from the burning building and later joins Groat on exhausting mail coach trips to Überwald.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lord Vetinari → Drumknott (Professional Assistant/Principal) — Drumknott works as Vetinari's clerk
• Moist Von Lipwig → Miss Cripslock (Professional Coworkers) — They work together at the Post Office
• Moist Von Lipwig → Adora Belle Dearheart (Romantic Lovers) — They fall in love during the story
• Moist Von Lipwig → Stanley Howler (Professional Coworkers) — Both work at the Post Office
• Moist Von Lipwig → Groat (Professional Coworkers) — Both work at the Post Office
• Moist Von Lipwig → Mr. Pump (Professional Parole Officer/Parolee) — Mr. Pump is Moist's parole officer who ensures he takes the job
• Moist Von Lipwig → Lord Vetinari (Professional Saver/Reciprocator) — Vetinari spares Moist's life and gives him the job as Postmaster

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Moist Von Lipwig → Reacher Gilt (Conflict Business Rivals) — They compete between postal service and clacks communication
• Reacher Gilt → Adora Belle Dearheart (Conflict Antagonist/Relative Of Victim) — Gilt's company took over Adora Belle's father's company
• Lord Vetinari → Reacher Gilt (Conflict Rival) — Vetinari sees Gilt as a threat to his position as Patrician

Story Analysis

The available one-season material follows Moist Von Lipwig from criminal capture and apparent execution to a forced public role and a renewed personal confrontation.

Plot Progression

1. Criminal Capture — Moist Von Lipwig's career as a confidence trickster ends when the guards catch him. He is sentenced to death under the alias Arthur Spangler.
2. Execution And Survival — Moist Von Lipwig spends a brief time in prison and is then hanged. His survival turns an apparent ending into a new stage of the story.
3. The Forced Appointment — After surviving the hanging, Moist Von Lipwig is brought before an authority. He must choose between becoming the new Postmaster and being executed.
4. Return Home — The story shifts to Moist Von Lipwig's attempt to protect his girlfriend at home. The personal motive introduces a new source of pressure.
5. The Company Showdown — A superpowered man from the Company arrives for another confrontation. Moist Von Lipwig faces the renewed showdown while trying to protect his girlfriend.