Introduction to TV Drama

1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.

A serial television drama tells a story and provides a narrative resolution which is organised over series of a episodes. 

2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?

In the early 1980s most TV dramas followed a set narrative structure, delivering a narrative resolution at the end of the episode. For example a cop show like 'Starsky and Hutch' or an action caper like The A-Team, the template is the same: a guest cast is introduced, along with a problem or crime, which is neatly solved within the time frame of the episode. The following episode starts afresh with no reference to the previous story. Drama series’ such as ABC’s The Avengers (1961-1969) and Danger Man (1962-1968) being notable examples. Euston Films, creators of The Sweeney (1975-1978) and Minder (1979 – 1994), were among the first UK companies to make filmed TV drama largely aimed at the domestic market.

3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV drama to fit each category.

The sub-genres of TV drama are: 

Police procedural (Crime) Example: S.W.A.T

Medical: Example: Private Practice 

Period (Costume) Example: Bridgerton 

Fantasy/science fiction. Example: The 100

Family. Example: Modern Family

Teen Example: Riverdale

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

Setting is so important in TV drama because serial dramas play out in a ‘precinct’ or communal location inhabited by the ensemble cast of characters. Serial dramas that tend to focus on a story of the week, invariably ‘cops and docs’, are generally based around a location as opposed to one or two leading characters. This allows the drama to develop over a long period of time, weathering the comings and goings of the cast members by replacing one archetypal character with another. Bringing in new characters also prevents the show from going stale. 

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)

As broadcasters seek to ensure that their most successful brands run for as long as possible it is necessary to populate them with a large cast of characters. Serial dramas often employ archetypal characters. For example in subgenres like the crime drama archetypal characters, such as the maverick cop, are frequently deployed. Characters in serial dramas go on a journey, allowing them to change and develop.These character journeys are called ‘arcs’ and for the lead characters often span a whole season

of episodes or even several seasons. The audience pleasure of personal identity my be linked to character in TV drama as many audiences may relate and find themselves within a characters personality/ actions. Personal relationships can also be formed as typically in long running shows, the audience may grow an attacthment towards the characters. 

6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.

A multi-strand narrative is when there are two or more stories running concurrently in an episode. A heavy serialised drama like Downton Abbey serves its large cast of characters by playing out multiple stories in the space of an episode and developing these stories across a whole series.

7) What is a cold opening?

A cold opening is when producers employ a teaser at the beginning to hook the audience and keep them watching. This generates enigma os intrigue before the title sequence or first commercial break. For example, in most cop shows this is usually the crime scene. Similarly, heavily serialised dramas end each episode on a narrative hook or plot reversal.

8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?

Usually, stories move through Todorov’s narrative stages though often without the return to equilibrium at the end of each episode. Most police procedurals, however, provide narrative resolution (and reassurance) to fulfil the audience’s need for answers.

9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?

In the US, the commercial networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes, effectively spanning half the calendar year. Reliant on funding through advertising, this impacts upon the text in a number of ways. In an effort to attract advertisers the content is more conIn order to accommodate so many commercial breaks the running time of a network drama is around 42 minutes, presenting more simplistic narratives that can weather frequent

interruption.servative and adheres to mainstream ideologies; excessive swearing and violence is also rare. 

10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime) changed the form and content of TV dramas?

Drama serials presented on subscription cable channels, such as HBO, AMC and Showtime are not governed by the same considerations, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content.Cable channels and services like Netflix and Amazon Prime also often commission shorter runs (between six and thirteen episodes) and do not need to stick to rigid running times.

11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.

Criminal minds

Setting: Criminal minds is primarily set at the BAU (Behavioural Analysis Unit) in Quantico, Virginia where the characters focus on profiling the criminal. Criminal minds only changes location when needed to travel to a crime scene in order to investigate it. 

Characters: Criminal minds feature a group of profilers who each have their unit they specialise in for example, Penelope Garcia is the technical analyst of the BAU, Derek Morgan specialises in fixations and obsessive behaviours. 

Narrative: Criminal minds follows Todorov's equilibrium theory due to the fact every episode there is a new case which causes the disequilibrium and by the end of the episode the profilers find the suspect and solve the crime which results in a new equilibrium. Criminal minds always provide their audiences with a narrative resolution by the end of the episode. 

Form: The running time of a criminal minds episode is around 40-45 minutes and is available to watch on streaming services such as Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. 

12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?

As the film industry moves towards a model of making only high or low budget films, Television drama is filling the void vacated by the mid-budget movie (which is much harder to turn a profit on). As Hollywood concentrates on superheroes, special effects and high octane action, many film actors are turning to television to play ‘difficult’, often morally ambiguous, characters in more complex and challenging narratives. This trend is likely to continue. However, as television - with the aid of co-production budgets - makes bigger and more international content there is a fear that the TV producers are moving away from making smaller scale content aimed primarily at domestic audiences.