TV: Introduction to TV Drama

 Alezey

Introduction to TV Drama

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. 

Serial television drama is a TV show where the story carries on from episode to episode, with the same characters and ongoing plots instead of a new story every time. Things that happen in one episode matter later, so you would have to keep watching to understand the full story.

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?

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.

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

Setting is important because it helps establish realism and allows the audience to quickly understand the genre of the show. The factsheet suggests that settings such as police stations, hospitals, or family homes act as familiar spaces that structure narratives and help audiences feel comfortable and engaged. Setting can also help shape storylines and conflicts if there are any which makes the drama more believable.

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

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

7) What is a cold opening?

A cold opening is when a TV drama dives straight into the narrative before the title sequence, often starting with action or tension and creates enigma codes. This is used to immediately hook the audience and create an engaging tone.

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

Todorov’s theory can be applied to TV drama serials as they often move from an equilibrium, to a disruption, and then towards a new equilibrium. In serial dramas, this process may extend across multiple episodes or even entire seasons, with disruptions rarely fully resolved and may leave on a cliffhanger, helping to sustain audience interest.

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

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?

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.

STRANGER THINGS:

Setting: Stranger Things is set in a small American town in the 1980s, which helps create nostalgia and a sense of realism.

Characters: The drama uses an ensemble cast, allowing multiple characters to develop across the series.

Narrative: It uses a multi-strand narrative with ongoing story arcs.

Form: The programme is episodic and serialised, designed to be watched continuously and most episodes leave on cliffhangers so audiences may ‘binge-watch’

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


A/A* extension task: TV Drama v Film

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?