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author_by_nightIs there a trope name and/or an offiicial name for shows where the action/drama is constantly ongoing, nothing is really resolved, and even if there are Monster of the Week-esque episodes it's still generally tied inito something bigger? I found "Kudzu Plot", but that doesn't seem to be exactly what I mean.
Let me explain.
Type A: A sci fi, drama, even comedy where there's definitiely a canon and a continuity, but it's very Monster of the Week, and said Monster might not really tie in with the larger plot, although it might crop up again or be mentioned. Basically how shows such as Buffy and Firefly started out. You also might see a lot of the characters in "everyday life" mode, shopping together (until Big Thing happens) or talking to family members or whatnot. There are probably a lot of side characters, though they might vanish or be cameos. There aren't really any cliffhanger episodes - everything is tied together in a neat little bow.
Type B: There may still be a Monster of the Week, but there's a common thread in between, and even said Monster will often have something to do with the larger story, even if it's simply to move along character development. We still see characters doing "normal" things, which adds nuance to them, although how much normalcy we truly witness might be limited, and we may be unclear on their lives beyond the Big Bad Agency or the workplace or wherever else.. We get a healthy balance between cliffhangers and tying storylines up, and if there is a cliffhanger, it's generally resolved within a few episodes, if not the next episode. Smaller plotlines might not be, however. So basically Buffy once it got on its feet, Parks and Recreation (which still had Shenanigans of the Week, but it evolved to having a common goal that the characters were trying to reach), and Brooklyn Nine-Nine may be heading that way.
Type C: Drama all the time. If there is a Monster of the Week, it's simply part of the formula. Characters may not interact so much as all do their own thing, mainly coming together - or fighting against each ther - towards the end. You don't see much of the characters' "normal" lives at all; it's implied that Siobhan has a sister, but you only meet her once, and even then see the side of her face. Cliffhangers are constant; don't expect things to be tied up. So How to Get Away With Murder and Sleepy Hollow. Buffy also became a bit like this in the last season.
The comedy (or at least non-drama) equivalent is different in that there isn't much drama, but similar in that the characters are very limited to that particular setting. So for instance, The Office - we don't really know much at all about Michael Scott's personal life, except that it's comedically depressing (and sometimes sympathetically depressing). Most of his on-screen relationships are with people he met through work, and his misadventures with them are always tied into work. Same with Parks and Recreation - it always interested me that even though Pawnee was a small town and Leslie was a very outgoing person, she never seemed to have any social life (except for Ann) outside of work. Some of this was probably being a bit of a workaholic, and maybe some of it being Leslie's overwhleming tendencies, but the show was also set purely around the Parks and Rec department.
Interestingly, two subversions are 30 Rock and Mad Men, which actually very easily could've been centered around the office only. Especially 30 Rock, being a half hour comedy. But we get a lot of insight into the characters as they are outside of work. (Although Peggy becomes more and more restricted to her work life plotlinewise, but I'm pretty sure this was intentional.) The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (which at times feels more like a dramedy than a comedy) is sort of the polar opposite, where there really aren't any common threads except for Kimmy herself. I mean, I guess Lillian and Titus are connected through the apartment, but Jacqueline is basically on an entirely different plane of existence in relation to TItus and Lillian.
I really don't like Type C as much, or the comedy/non-drama equivalent, although I'm more forgiving with the latter because I figure it's about space. But it's hard for me to get into a show if I only see the characters in action mode.I also don't like every episode being a cliffhanger - that's why I gave up on How to Get Away With Murder. (After the last episode of the first season, to be precise.) At the same time, I prefer some level of continuity, whether it's action or comedy or drama. So I guess I like Type B the best.
In any case, is there a name for Type C? And which do you guys prefer?
Let me explain.
Type A: A sci fi, drama, even comedy where there's definitiely a canon and a continuity, but it's very Monster of the Week, and said Monster might not really tie in with the larger plot, although it might crop up again or be mentioned. Basically how shows such as Buffy and Firefly started out. You also might see a lot of the characters in "everyday life" mode, shopping together (until Big Thing happens) or talking to family members or whatnot. There are probably a lot of side characters, though they might vanish or be cameos. There aren't really any cliffhanger episodes - everything is tied together in a neat little bow.
Type B: There may still be a Monster of the Week, but there's a common thread in between, and even said Monster will often have something to do with the larger story, even if it's simply to move along character development. We still see characters doing "normal" things, which adds nuance to them, although how much normalcy we truly witness might be limited, and we may be unclear on their lives beyond the Big Bad Agency or the workplace or wherever else.. We get a healthy balance between cliffhangers and tying storylines up, and if there is a cliffhanger, it's generally resolved within a few episodes, if not the next episode. Smaller plotlines might not be, however. So basically Buffy once it got on its feet, Parks and Recreation (which still had Shenanigans of the Week, but it evolved to having a common goal that the characters were trying to reach), and Brooklyn Nine-Nine may be heading that way.
Type C: Drama all the time. If there is a Monster of the Week, it's simply part of the formula. Characters may not interact so much as all do their own thing, mainly coming together - or fighting against each ther - towards the end. You don't see much of the characters' "normal" lives at all; it's implied that Siobhan has a sister, but you only meet her once, and even then see the side of her face. Cliffhangers are constant; don't expect things to be tied up. So How to Get Away With Murder and Sleepy Hollow. Buffy also became a bit like this in the last season.
The comedy (or at least non-drama) equivalent is different in that there isn't much drama, but similar in that the characters are very limited to that particular setting. So for instance, The Office - we don't really know much at all about Michael Scott's personal life, except that it's comedically depressing (and sometimes sympathetically depressing). Most of his on-screen relationships are with people he met through work, and his misadventures with them are always tied into work. Same with Parks and Recreation - it always interested me that even though Pawnee was a small town and Leslie was a very outgoing person, she never seemed to have any social life (except for Ann) outside of work. Some of this was probably being a bit of a workaholic, and maybe some of it being Leslie's overwhleming tendencies, but the show was also set purely around the Parks and Rec department.
Interestingly, two subversions are 30 Rock and Mad Men, which actually very easily could've been centered around the office only. Especially 30 Rock, being a half hour comedy. But we get a lot of insight into the characters as they are outside of work. (Although Peggy becomes more and more restricted to her work life plotlinewise, but I'm pretty sure this was intentional.) The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (which at times feels more like a dramedy than a comedy) is sort of the polar opposite, where there really aren't any common threads except for Kimmy herself. I mean, I guess Lillian and Titus are connected through the apartment, but Jacqueline is basically on an entirely different plane of existence in relation to TItus and Lillian.
I really don't like Type C as much, or the comedy/non-drama equivalent, although I'm more forgiving with the latter because I figure it's about space. But it's hard for me to get into a show if I only see the characters in action mode.I also don't like every episode being a cliffhanger - that's why I gave up on How to Get Away With Murder. (After the last episode of the first season, to be precise.) At the same time, I prefer some level of continuity, whether it's action or comedy or drama. So I guess I like Type B the best.
In any case, is there a name for Type C? And which do you guys prefer?
