Two Plots Are Better Than One : Dexter and Series Television

I've noticed there are two types of shows on television, the first is shows that have concrete main characters but a new, unrelated plot every time .  These types of shows can be watched out of order with no actually progression of an overall plot.  This type of television show can usually be seen in children's programs for example "Spongebob" or "The Rugrats."  However as I have gotten older I have noticed another type of television programing as I started to become more interested in series television.
    The first television series that has gotten my attention enough to buy the first season DVD and start from the beginning, in order of the series, is "Dexter".  As I came to the completion of the first season I have started to notice a pattern in how the show is formatted.  For every episode there is an individual sub-plot (in this case a bad person Dexter must kill) and also an overarching plot pulling on pervious episodes and the episodes of the future (for example  Dexter's love life and the mystery of Ice Truck Serial Killer).  Once I noticed this pattern I began to think of other popular television shows (everything from Nickelodeon's Avatar to Glee to Spartacus)  and they all seem to follow this same format to one extent or another.

      I had to then ask myself why?  Well as a scriptwriter I looked at this from a storyline standpoint the sub-plot keeps every episode interesting and engaging for an audience that may not be familiar with the show but also heightens the engagement of dedicated followers.  The overarching plot however is what creates the "show followers" and drive to wait and watch the next episodes.  I believe this equates to the marketing of the show in a way.  The fact that a television show can be enjoyed by someone new to it is equally as important as to entertain someone who has watched it from the start.  Seeing a random episode of Dexter is what got me to start over from the beginning in order to understand what exactly was going on.  The usage of two story-lines to in a way to attract new watchers while furthering the entertainment of followers of the series seems to be extremely effective.

     Another interesting point I would like to add is about the story structure of each episode.  The basic outline of a conventional story is supposed to have an introduction, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and a conclusion…however as I have looked further into series television (or at least in the case of Dexter) this does not seem to be the case.  I feel as though every sub-plot follows this basic outline curve however the overarching plot provides it's most heightened sense of emotion at the end of every singular episode.  This climax at the conclusion if you will is what keeps audiences coming back and insights feeling of personal investment and connection within a series television program, turning first-timers into followers.
     It would seem from my experience and my research into series television programs this story-line format is at the core for creating a successful televisions series.  I have found that although some shows such as certain sitcoms and children's shows work on a per-episode basis, the shows that acquire the most "hype" and engage the audience most fully are those that utilize this idea that two plots are better than one.  After taking time to verbalize all of my thoughts and as someone who is interested in series television and the television business I have found that taking time to evaluate my own personal reactions as an audience may help to understand how audiences I may one day market to work as well.

 

The Road: Theme

       This past weekend I watched a film that had a new take on a post-apocolypic world.  "The Road" by John Hillcoat, tell the tale of a father and son trying to survive in a very cold and dark world.  The film seems to make a statement on human nature  when looking at how civilization was so quick to fall to pieces.

      We are never given a reason why civilization ended, we simply come into its aftermath.  There are no animals left aside from humans and no form of law/government.  Gangs run the land raping, killing, and cannibalizing as they go.  Our main characters, a father and son, are confronted as they go by gangs and murderers.  Through all the hardships they face they try to "be the good guys" as the son says and avoid falling into the chaos and lawlessness that surrounds them.  This desire to stay pure and good is a metaphor for the boys innocence.  The little boy tries to help people, while his father strives to protect him.  In a way the father starts to become corrupted when he steals the cloths of a man in the snow and leaves him to die, but is pulled back and saved by his son who convinces him to try and make up for what he has done by giving them back.

    This theme of trying to maintain ones innocence and remain morality is seen throughout the film.  This themes also directly dictates character interactions and how the two main characters view each other.  The reason I chose to talk about this movie is because it has an interesting theme to the viewer, but this theme simultaneously drives the plot.  I felt that this film had an excellent plot but also did exceptional job of choosing a theme that than motivated the characters actions while at the same time allowing them to become more multi-dimesional and realistic.