Introduction to TV drama

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

Television drama is a genre of television where there is story that is followed in each episode which usually has some sort of disequilibrium (Todorov) which is resolved and reaches a new equilibrium. This can be in each episode or across the whole season.They also usually try to get an emotional response from the audience.

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?

Danger Man (1962-1968)

Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979)

The A-Team (1983-1987)😰

Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

The genre started off with TV dramas being made as a play on a stage however progressed to include external footage and better settings over time. They also used to not have any link between episodes as there was no on demand streaming and it would be difficult for people to consume every episode as if they missed one on TV they wouldn't understand the next but after the development of on demand streaming, more companies started to use the concept of serialised storytelling which was important as it meant people wanted to continue watching the next episode.

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): SWAT

Medical: House
Period: The Crown

SciFi: Stranger Things

Family: The Upshaws

Teen: Euphoria

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

Setting is important as it can be used to communicate sub genres to the audience and it can also be the main focus of the show rather than focusing on a character which makes it easier to expand on the show when they run out of ideas for the main character.

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

TV dramas use characters that audiences can relate to which links to Blumler and Katz's uses and gratifications theory that people watch media when they can relate to the character as they feel more engaged when they can see themselves in the character.

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's multiple stories being presented at the same time (camera cuts to follow different characters and whats going on in their world/from their POV) This is used in Capital.

7) What is a cold opening?

A cold opening is when the episode starts by showing a scene and then the title comes up after the first scene rather than at the start.

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

Todorovs theory can be applied as in drama series' there is usually a problem that needs to be solved (disequilibrium) which is solved by the protagonist either throughout the series or in the same episode (which forms a new equilibrium).

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

The form is usually an episode around 20-50 minutes long which is distributed on live TV (such as PSB) or on online streaming services.

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?

Thanks to on demand streaming, TV dramas can now have serialised story lines which continue linking from episode to episode because they can watch whatever they went whenever its convenient for them which couldn't be done in the past on live TV.

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.

TV Drama: Ozark

Setting: starts in Chicago, Illinois in the busy city which is stereotypical representation for the city and they then move to the Ozarks (fictional) which is a quite rural area which again is a stereotypical representation.

Characters: The Byrdes, a family who go from the stereotypical American family in a situation where the father works hard and the mother is unfaithful to a drastic change in character and lifestyle as they become accustomed to the secret criminal life (including their children who become equally as morally ambiguous as their parents). The series also includes Mexican Cartel members who are portrayed in the same way they've been portrayed in media for years, ruthless and greedy drug dealers.

Narrative: The series contains multi strand storytelling where the story of each individual family member is followed and it also at times follows other characters who arrive in an episode until they become insignificant. The series follows the structure of having episodic narratives where they solve small issues within the episode but these small issues are linked to the main issue which is the family are under control/threat by the FBI and the cartel as they pay off their debt.

Form: The average episode length is 50-60 minutes which is similar to other series of the same genre and each episode follows a similar structure where the tension is slowly built up with quick bursts of action in between.

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

In the future, producers will move away from producing mid budget films and only produce high/low budget due to it being harder to make a profit. Producers will also start to use more complicated story lines and characters which will likely mean making content for international audiences rather than domestic ones. Also, due to the rise in online on demand streaming, producers are likely to start creating shorter serialised content while PSB like the BBC are forced to make content different to the usual commercial content and create more unique/untried content.   

Building on question 12 above, read this fascinating extended article comparing TV drama to film. It will also help to bridge the gap between our work on the film industry and our new topic of TV drama. Where do you stand on the debate? Is TV drama the key medium of storytelling or will cinema always be king?

I believe TV drama and Cinema are two completely different things and both have their own benefits, Cinema is favoured by those who don't have the time to commit to a long serialised show (usually older generations) whereas TV dramas are favoured by younger people who are able to commit and remember the information about their favourite TV series and would rather continue watching one thing than having to find a new new film to watch every time they want to consume entertaining media. I don't believe there is a "king" of storytelling  and the two different forms shouldn't be compared or put into competition as they can coexist without one or the other suffering from the existence of the other.