Introduction to TV Drama

 Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login) to find Media Factsheet #164 on Television Serial Drama. 

Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:

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

A serial television drama tells  a story, and delivers narrative resolution, in a number of parts over a  period of time rather than being a long running show over a indefinite number of years.

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?

Doctor Who, The Avengers, Danger Man, The Sweeny and Minder.

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.

Police Procedural (crime): Law and Order

Medical: Greys Anatomy

Family: Modern Family

Teen: Stranger Things

Period (costume): Bridgerton

 Science-fiction/fantasy: Doctor Who

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

An established, communal setting 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. Even heavily serialised dramas like Lost are  defined by their location and, over time, bring in additional characters  while shedding others.

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. In  subgenres like the crime drama archetypal characters, such as the  maverick cop, are frequently deployed. Likewise, to reflect modern  audiences, there is a greater presence of strong females as well as  black and ethnic minority characters. Increasingly, gay, lesbian and  transsexual characters are also represented in television serials, notably  in Orange is the New Black. Unlike the early drama series, characters in serial dramas go on a  journey, allowing them to change and develop – although not too  much or they run the risk of outliving their function in the narrative.  More often than not their presence in story of the week forces the  guest characters to change and grow.

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 their are multiple plots happening at the same time but will usually still include an over arching narrative as the focus.

7) What is a cold opening?

It's when there are scenes that begin the video before the title card to get an audience hooked.

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

Generally, stories move through Todorov’s narrative stages though often without the return to equilibrium at the end of each episode.

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

Drama serials presented on subscription cable channels, such as HBO,  AMC and Showtime are not governed too harshly, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content.  The Sopranos (HBO), Breaking Bad (AMC), and Dexter (Showtime)  with their anti-hero protagonists would not play on free-to-air network  television as many potential advertisers would not want to associate  their products with such 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.

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?

The rise in the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix andAmazon Prime, the form  and content of the serial drama is likely to evolve further. As audiences consume content in different ways serial dramas may become more  diverse and targeted toward niche groups. Online programme makers are starting to create more short form content, leading to drama serials  that run for much less than 60, or even, 30 minutes.

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.

Loki:

-Setting- It's main setting is in the TVA which is similar to an office.

-Characters- Loki (main character), Mobius ( a somewhat sidekick character/ member of team), Sylvie (Anti-hero and love interest at one point but changed to be another sidekick/member of the team), Kang (villain) 

-Narrative- Loki faces consequences for messing with the timeline and finds himself having to help the TVA to capture another disruptive Loki variant. 

-Form- Two seasons with 6 episodes that are 40-50 minutes.

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

The future of the BBC is now under pressure to create shows  that are more ‘distinctive’ and different to what commercial channels offer. This has led some to speculate that the BBC may be forced into  producing shorter runs of medical dramas like Casualty and making less crime shows. As a public service broadcaster, the BBC is also likely  to take a few more risks in creating serials outside of the tried and tested genres. However, as the landscape changes it is unlikely that the  audience’s thirst for serialized drama will diminish any time soon.