What kind of shows do you like, the “one and done’s” like Stargate Universe and Dollhouse or the “epics” like Lost and FlashForward?
For the sake of the article, we’re going to define “One and Done” shows as episodic programs that depend on little or no previous knowledge about the characters or situation in order to understand the show. Case in point: pretty much any sitcom on air. The Office is just people working in an office. Funny things happen. You might understand the jokes more if you watched previous episodes, but viewers can catch on pretty quickly.
“Epic” shows are those programs in which viewers must invest their time if they are to enjoy the episodes. These shows absolutely depend on prior knowledge of the show in order to make each episode relevant. Case in point: soap operas. Did Jonny really fall off the cliff? Will Betty Sue realize that she is just a clone of Suzy Q? Tune in next episode to find out.
Stargate Universe
“One and Done”
Strengths
- Easy for new viewers to jump on. If someone missed the entire first three seasons, he or she can start watching in the fourth season and catch up with the main idea quickly.
- These shows often follow a predictable pattern that allows viewers to know what to expect. A murder mystery will start with the crime, the detective will explore the crime and invariably solve the case by the end of the episode.
- Resolution. A viewer begins a situation (crime, joke, etc.) and gets to see how that situation ultimately plays out (the killer gets caught, or the joke backfires to reveal the prankster).
Weaknesses
- Boredom from repetition. By not creating a linear path that flows from episode to episode, viewers may get bored of the same routine and tune out.
- Difficult to introduce new elements. Because of a show’s establish pattern, viewers often do not appreciate big changes in the way the plotlines play.
- Changes are more likely to be undone to maintain the status quo. If the hero dies, one can almost always expect that death to be undone or explained later.
Battlestar Galactica
“The Epic”
Strengths
- Shows like Lost and Battlestar Galactica have the opportunity to create enormous, interconnected plotlines that reward the faithful fan.
- Because these shows function more like an extended movie or novel, the show does not have to follow such a clearly established pattern. Once characters knew what was inside the hatch of Lost, the writers could not make more episodes where viewers were expected to guess what was inside.
- Ideally, each episode matters. Each episode should be getting the audience closer to that big payoff of the finale.
Weaknesses
- These shows can feel too complicated to the casual observer.
- After a few seasons, these shows can seem unapproachable to any new viewers who might be interested.
- Delayed resolutions. These shows frequently choose not to wrap up single story threads in order to entice the viewer back to the next episode.
Very rarely do shows completely fall in one category or the other. For example, Fringe has many episodes that fit the “one and done” style, but they have a few overarching plotlines that seem exactly like the epics. However, Fringe does not depend on viewer loyalty nearly as much as shows like FlashForward or Lost.
So, which do you prefer?
