In the old days of television, a series would start with a skeleton crew of regulars and fill in the gaps with supporting characters to fit the plot.
Character-driven episodes are coming back in an industry that has relied too long on attracting an audience with trending stars and episodes stuffed with too much going on.
After a disappointing, too-short season full of cluttered episodes and poor character development, a change of direction for the new Fall TV season is exciting.
Character-driven episodes are the new norm. But how will they affect the future of TV?
Let’s discuss.
If you’re lucky enough to have your favorite Primetime shows back on the air already, you might have noticed that the show is running on a limited cast.
Don’t panic!
It doesn’t mean your favorite character has left the show. It looks like most series are returning with a full cast of regulars.
A few shows, like FBI: International, have a slight change.
Many series this season are deviating from their normal format of a full cast in every episode, playing small roles and instead focusing on character-driven episodes.
A character-driven episode means that the plot line focuses on a different character for the entire time and may or may not feature other cast members to drive the plot.
If you have a favorite character (who doesn’t), it might take a bit of time to get used to not seeing them in every episode.
We get it.
But the quality of the storytelling is a worthwhile result of the sacrifice. An hour — usually 42 minutes of content with commercials — isn’t a lot of time to tell a story. It can get even harder when you allot time for each character to play a part in the resolution.
However, by taking the same storyline and reducing the number of characters involved in telling that story, you can create more memorable scenes.
While we may notice the absence of some of the characters, we can appreciate that the episodes have a less rushed pace.
It’s easier to keep up with what’s happening and recall who said what.
I cannot count the number of times I’ve been confused by too many moving parts and people.
Character-driven episodes let us enjoy the story unfolding at a slower pace and will give us a deeper connection with the characters.
We can see how the story affects them on a personal level.
Every show I watch has one or several characters that are just a body for me. I can’t relate to their character because I don’t know them. I can’t understand them.
I don’t like them.
I’ll use Grey’s Anatomy as one example. I’ve been watching for over twenty years, and I’m invested. But I have zero interest in anything related to the characters of the show, at least for the last several years.
I’ve had the hardest time getting interested in any of the residents. They’ve been boring and unmemorable.
But even worse, I’ve lost feelings for the main recurring characters and their lives. And if you’ve read any of our TV Fanatic reviews and round tables, you’ll know I’m not the only one.
I’ve felt the same way about One Chicago — all three series — for the last few seasons.
We rarely see anything new because everything’s been done. From overused tropes to unfortunate spinoffs, it’s becoming increasingly important that writers find a way to engage with audiences.
The best way to do that is to create characters that viewers love. Even if it’s someone we love to hate.
Many networks are reducing their show lineups due to significant budget cuts. Money is tight everywhere.
Money is a major reason why some of our favorite shows have gotten cancellation papers, from long-running successes like Blue Bloods to shorter fan favorites like NCIS: Hawai’i.
Budget cuts are another reason showrunners are turning towards a format where episodes feature character-driven storylines.
Having fewer cast members in an episode means fewer salaries to pay. It also prevents the cast from taking pay cuts to continue playing their roles.
We saw several series try out a character-driven format in the shortened and delayed PrimeTime TV schedule last year.
That method was necessary to cram a full season of storylines into around ten episodes.
It might have been the only saving grace many shows had while they struggled to push character growth while telling a full story in under an hour.
Critics tried to be understanding of the extenuating circumstances of a hurried season amid the flurry of writer strikes. At least we got something from our favorite shows to tide us over.
But it was a quick fix that didn’t soothe the itch.
Now that we’re back to a regular season schedule, episodes will try out a format that focuses more on characters and their involvement in the plot. Each episode will add to the characters’ personal growth.
We’ll see their personal and professional lives for a more well-rounded look at what makes the characters tick.
As someone obsessed with how the mind works, I’m thrilled to get a more intimate view of what makes the characters unique.
Maybe that’s why I enjoy shows like Yellowjackets and Brilliant Minds.
We can expect several primetime franchise TV series, like One Chicago, Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, and FBI, to go character-first. When you have a big cast, it makes sense.
New series are starting with the format by working with a smaller crew, like Tracker, Matlock, and Reacher.
We know that NCIS: Origins is character-first by the very nature of how it evolved from NCIS, but we have no idea if Sheriff Country (a Fire Country spinoff) will follow the character-first or plot-first method.
Despite being undulated with unlimited things to watch, the quality of the shows has gone downhill in recent years.
From flat storylines to weak character development, it’s hard to find television content that hooks viewers.
Showrunners can reduce the strain of using repeated tropes by turning the scripts to focus more on a seasonal storyline that explores individual characters and their lives.
Fans get the luxury of connecting with a show’s cast fully and extensively.
This deep dive into characters’ psyches will give viewers a new way to connect with their favorite shows and roles.
We’re turning the mic over to you.
How do you feel about character-driven TV? Do you like the concept of shows splitting up their cast into various episodes?
What do you think the future of TV looks like with this format? And what character are you looking forward to getting to know more?
Leave your thoughts in the comments, and make sure you’re part of the TV Fanatic email list.
The post Why Character-Driven Episodes Are Worthwhile in TV Storytelling appeared first on TV Fanatic.
Source: TV Fanatic
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