In the old days of television, shows would start with a fixed skeleton crew and then fill in the gaps with supporting characters to fit the plot.
Character-driven dramas are making a comeback in an industry that has long relied on hot stars and shows filled with too many storylines to attract viewers.
After a disappointing, too-short season filled with confusing episodes and poor character development, it’s an exciting change of direction for the new fall TV season.
Character-driven dramas have become the new norm. But how will they impact the future of television?
Let’s discuss it.
What is a character-driven episode?
If you’re lucky enough that your favorite primetime show has returned to air, you may have noticed that the show has a limited cast.
Don’t panic!
This doesn’t mean your favorite character has left the show. It looks like most of the series will be returning with a full cast of regulars.
Some shows, like “FBI: International Investigations,” have slight changes.
Many of this season’s episodes deviated from the normal format of having a full cast cast in small roles in each episode, instead focusing on character-driven episodes.
A character-driven episode means that the plotline always focuses on a different character, and may or may not have other actors driving the plot.
What value does a character-driven series have for storytelling?
If you have a favorite character (and who doesn’t), it might take some getting used to not seeing them in every episode.
We get it.
But the quality of the storytelling is the result of a worthwhile sacrifice. An hour (usually 42 minutes of advertising content) is not a lot of time to tell a story. Things get more difficult when you allocate time for each role to participate in the solution.
However, by taking the same storyline and reducing the number of characters telling the story, you can create more memorable scenes.
While we may notice the absence of some characters, we can appreciate the less rushed pace of these episodes.
It’s easier to keep up with what’s going on and remember who said what.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been confused by too many moving parts and people.
Character-driven episodes allow us to enjoy the story unfolding at a slower pace and allow us to connect more deeply with the characters.
We can see how this story affects them on a personal level.
Every show I watch has a character or characters that are just a body to me. I can’t relate to their characters because I don’t understand them. I can’t understand them.
I don’t like them.
I’ll use Grey’s Anatomy as an example. I’ve been watching it for over twenty years and I’m invested. But I have zero interest in anything to do with the characters on the show, at least for the past few years.
I had a hard time becoming interested in any of the residents. They’re boring and not memorable.
But what’s worse is that I lost affection for the main characters and their lives. If you’ve read our TV Fanatic Reviews and Roundtables, you know I’m not the only one.
I’ve felt the same way about Chicago One (all three series) over the past few seasons.
We rarely see anything new because everything has already been done. From overused tropes to unfortunate spin-offs, it’s increasingly important that writers find ways to engage with their audiences.
The best way is to create characters that your audience will love. Even people we love to hate.
Which series will feature character-driven episodes?
Many television networks are reducing their programming lineups due to deep budget cuts. Money is tight everywhere.
Money is the main reason some of our favorite shows have been canceled, from long-running successes like Blue Bloods to fan-favorite shorts like NCIS: Hawaii .
Budget cuts are another reason producers are turning to a format that features character-driven storylines.
The smaller the cast per episode, the less the reps will be paid. It also prevents actors from taking pay cuts to continue playing their roles.
Last year, we saw several series experiment with character-driven formats in shortened and delayed primetime TV schedules.
This approach is necessary to cram an entire season’s storyline into about ten episodes.
This may be the only saving grace for many shows when they try to push character growth while telling a complete story in an hour.
Critics tried to understand the extenuating circumstances of a rushed season in the midst of a writers’ strike. At least we got something from our favorite show to tide us over.
But this is just a quick fix and does not relieve the itching.
Now that we’re back on the regular season schedule, the series will experiment with a format that’s more focused on characters and their involvement in the plot. Each episode promotes personal growth for the characters.
We get to see their personal and professional lives to get a fuller understanding of what makes these characters so appealing.
As someone who is obsessed with how the brain works, I was excited to get a deeper understanding of what makes the characters unique.
Maybe that’s why I love shows like Yellow Jacket and Smart Guys.
We can expect several primetime franchises like Chicago, Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, and F.B.I. to put characters first . It makes sense when you have a big cast.
New series start with smaller teams such as Tracker, Matlock and Reacher.
We know that NCIS: Origins is character-first in nature, but we don’t know if Sheriff Nation (a spinoff of Fire Nation) will follow a character-first or plot-first approach.
Will character-driven dramas save television?
Despite unlimited viewing content, the quality of programming has declined in recent years.
From bland storylines to weak character development, it’s hard to find TV content that engages viewers.
Series producers can reduce the pressure to use repetitive tropes by focusing their scripts more on seasonal storylines that explore a single character and their life.
Fans will enjoy the opportunity to interact fully and extensively with the cast of the show.
This deep dive into the character’s psychology will provide viewers with a new way to connect with their favorite shows and characters.
We’re going to hand the microphone over to you.
What are your thoughts on character-driven television? Do you like the concept of the show splitting its cast into different episodes?
What do you think the future of television in this format will look like? Which character are you looking forward to learning more about?
Leave your thoughts in the comments and make sure you’re part of the TV Fanatic email list.
