Character Relationship Map: The Bad Son

Characters

• Ronnie McAdams (played by Catherine Dent) — protagonist

  Ronnie is a detective investigating the attacks on vulnerable young women. He studies the victims with Mark Petrocelli, identifies a pattern among the targets, and pursues evidence against John David...

• Mark Petrocelli (played by Tom McBeath) — supporting

  Mark is an investigator working with Ronnie McAdams on the case. Together they uncover a pattern among the victims, including their vulnerability and similar physical traits, and fear that Colleen Bre...

• John David Finn (played by Ben Cotton) — supporting

  John David Finn is the suspect at the center of the investigation. He draws vulnerable young women in with promises of rescue and makes them feel that he alone cares for them, but responds with rage w...

• Christy McAdams (played by Tegan Moss) — supporting

  Christy is Ronnie McAdams's daughter. Her plans to leave home lead to a strained exchange with Ronnie, revealing his concern for her and the tension between a parent's wish to protect a child and a yo...

• Frances Raynolds (played by Marilyn Norry) — supporting

  Frances Raynolds is John David Finn's mother. She disapproves of Colleen Brennan and pressures Finn to abandon the relationship, while he insists that he loves Colleen and says he will become a father...

• Colleen Brennan (played by Kimberley Warnat) — supporting

  Colleen is a missing young woman whose family says she ran away as a teenager, later returned to Ohio, and recently renewed contact with them. She left for Seattle hoping to start over and was last kn...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ronnie McAdams → Christy McAdams (Family Mother And Daughter) — Their exchange reflects Ronnie's protective concern and Christy's desire for independence.

  The plot describes Ronnie's concern for her daughter Christy and a strained exchange about Christy's plans to leave home.

• Frances Raynolds → John David Finn (Family Mother And Son) — Frances disapproves of Colleen and urges Finn to end the relationship, while Finn insists that he loves her.

  The plot identifies Frances as Finn's mother and says she pressures him to abandon Colleen.

• John David Finn → Colleen Brennan (Controlling Romantic Partner) — Finn presents himself as someone who cares for Colleen, but his relationships are characterized by control and intimidation.

  Finn insists that he loves Colleen and says he will become a father. The plot describes his relationships with young women as shaped by control, intim...

• Ronnie McAdams → Mark Petrocelli (Professional Investigative Partners) — They work together to identify the victims' shared profile and advance the investigation.

  The plot says Ronnie and Mark uncover a pattern in the victims and pursue evidence in the case.

Story Dynamics

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

• Mark Petrocelli → John David Finn (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Mark contributes to the investigation that identifies Finn as a suspect and ends with Finn's arrest.

  Mark and Ronnie uncover the pattern that leads investigators toward Finn, and officers catch Finn during an assault.

• Ronnie McAdams → John David Finn (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Ronnie's investigation centers on identifying and stopping Finn, culminating in Finn's arrest.

  Ronnie works to understand the killer, and the investigation leads to Finn. Officers catch Finn during an assault and arrest him.

Story Analysis

A violent investigation connects a missing woman to a pattern of abuse and culminates in Finn's arrest, while a discovery at Frances's home complicates the case.

Plot Progression

1. A Missing Woman and a Violent Discovery — A severely injured young woman is found, and Ronnie recognizes signs of rage in the attack. The investigators learn that Colleen is missing and retrace her recent move to Seattle.
2. A Pattern Takes Shape — Ronnie and Mark study the victims and identify a shared profile among vulnerable young women. Their fear that Colleen may be another victim turns the pattern into an urgent lead.
3. Finn and the Family Tensions — The investigation leads to Finn and accounts of his controlling behavior toward young women. Frances presses him to leave Colleen, while Ronnie's exchange with Christy raises a separate family tension...
4. The Arrest and the Hidden Files — The investigators search Finn's home and catch him attacking another young woman. Finn's explanation is challenged with evidence, he is arrested, and a search of Frances's home uncovers confidential p...