Serial Drama versus Procedural
Discussion
I have been thinking recently aboot what shows I like. I automatically (subconsciously?) categorize shows into A and B status.
My favourite shows which go in the A slot (which I have to concentrate on and not watch over my laptop
) I have realised tend to be serial dramas, with a story arc and a lot of character lead episodes. My personal fave three off the top of my head being The Sopranos, BSG and Damages.
I find that I don't like the procedural drama much, because it's characters are usually lighter and it shows the same stuff every week. Even though there may be a thin arc interlinking some episodes. Although the lines aren't that strict and can get blurry, stuff like House/CSI leaves me cold.
Adding to the serial/procedural relationship, I find more character led stuff can lift the procedural out of it's repetitive motions and make it very watchable. Likewise a serial that is almost totally plot/action driven I get bored with, I got bored with 24 after I realised it was just the same stuff being regurgitated over and over. I think there are shows that are hard to categorize, like Justified, I think that has turned into one of the better shows on the box thanks to the characterisation of Raylon Givens and Boyd Crowder.
From reading wiki and putting two and two together it seems that the last ten years has seen the rise of the serial drama has been in conjunction with the rise of the DVD/VCR/HD recording units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_%28radio_and_t...
Anyone else have any views/thoughts on serials/procedurals, or what makes a show they like watchable, or unmissable?
My favourite shows which go in the A slot (which I have to concentrate on and not watch over my laptop
) I have realised tend to be serial dramas, with a story arc and a lot of character lead episodes. My personal fave three off the top of my head being The Sopranos, BSG and Damages.I find that I don't like the procedural drama much, because it's characters are usually lighter and it shows the same stuff every week. Even though there may be a thin arc interlinking some episodes. Although the lines aren't that strict and can get blurry, stuff like House/CSI leaves me cold.
Adding to the serial/procedural relationship, I find more character led stuff can lift the procedural out of it's repetitive motions and make it very watchable. Likewise a serial that is almost totally plot/action driven I get bored with, I got bored with 24 after I realised it was just the same stuff being regurgitated over and over. I think there are shows that are hard to categorize, like Justified, I think that has turned into one of the better shows on the box thanks to the characterisation of Raylon Givens and Boyd Crowder.
From reading wiki and putting two and two together it seems that the last ten years has seen the rise of the serial drama has been in conjunction with the rise of the DVD/VCR/HD recording units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_%28radio_and_t...
Anyone else have any views/thoughts on serials/procedurals, or what makes a show they like watchable, or unmissable?
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