Joe Hardy lives with his family in the city of Bayport in the state of Massachusetts. Within the TV show, Joe is a year younger than his brother, Frank Hardy (1977 TV); his mother is dead, and Aunt Gertrude lives with the family to help raise the boys. During first & second seasons, he was shown as a reluctant hero, not wanting to get into trouble and having a decided pacifistic streak (usually shoving Frank out front during any trouble), though very much the heart-led of the pair, with a deadpan snark sense of humor. In the show, he's shown to be an expert on fingerprints and forensics, with knowledge of chemistry, electronics, and photography.