Serial drama television series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Serial drama is a television genre defining a weekly prime time television series that relies on a continuing plot that unfolds in a serial fashion, episode by episode. Serial dramas typically follow main plot arcs that span entire seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from traditional episodic television.
Serial dramas rely on keeping the full nature of the story hidden and revealing elements episode by episode to keep viewers tuning in to learn more. Often these shows employ recapping segments at the beginning and cliffhangers at the end of each episode. Such shows also place a demand on viewers to tune in every episode to continue learning of the unfolding mystery.
With the success of shows like 24 and Lost in American prime time television, several new shows have aired in the 2006 television season in the same genre.
[edit] Popular Serial Dramas
- The 4400 (2004-present)
- 24 (2001-present)
- Alias (2001-2006)
- Angel (1999-2004)
- Babylon 5 (1994-1998)
- Battlestar Galactica (2004-present)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
- Dexter (2006-present)
- Heroes (2006-present)
- Jericho (2006-present)
- Lost (2004-present)
- Prison Break (2005-present)
- The Sopranos (1999-2007)
- The Wire (2002-present)
- Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
- Roswell (1999-2002)
- Veronica Mars (2004-present)