TV Drama Case Studies

 TV Drama Case Studies

Case study one - Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Fan-made trailer for Breaking Bad season one

Created and Written by Vince Gilligan

Starring Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte and Dean Norris

-Produced by High Bridge and Gran Via Productions, in association with Sony Pictures Television and made for AMC.

-Distributed by AMC in the USA and 5USA + Spike in the UK for TV and by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on DVD.

Case study two - Fleabag (2016-2019)

Amazon trailer for Fleabag season 2

Written by and Starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Starring Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman, Jenny Rainsford and Bill Paterson

-Produced by Two Brothers Pictures

-Distributed by the BBC in the UK and Amazon Prime Video in the USA

Conventions of TV Dramas:

TV Dramas are usually 25-50 minutes long so that they conveniently fit within television airing timetables. This is because they are commonly distributed on TV channels, as well as on-demand and digital streaming services. Breaking Bad is an example on the longer end, with episodes that are 40-50 minutes long, and Fleabag is an example of the shorter end with a 25-30 minute runtime. 

The structure of the shows is episodic, in which the show is split into (mostly) equally sized episodes that can be viewed independently. Each episode has it's own plot that plays into the overarching storyline, building from previous episodes. TV dramas also usually have opening sequences that play after an introductory scene. Both Breaking Bad and Fleabag have introductory scenes followed by a title sequence.

Fleabag also has a short recap of the events of the previous episodes at the beginning, which is also a common feature of TV Dramas.

As the genre suggests, the key feature of all TV dramas is the drama that forms the basis of the programme's content. Tension is the main technique used, more than other genres.

This tension is usually focused around social experiences and interactions between people. Breaking Bad, for example, is based around the double life that Walt leads and how it is affecting his relationship with his family, friends and newfound criminal associates. The meth-making aspect of the show is important, but not the real focus of the programme. Fleabag focuses on social experiences even more, focusing on the dysfunctional social life of the main character and her tenuous relationships with others.

The tension created in TV dramas is mostly comprised of characters keeping secrets from one another, which results in characters not trusting each other and causing conflict when the secret is exposed. This is seen in Breaking Bad as Walt is constantly lying to his family and friends about his activities and in Fleabag, the main character pushes her true emotions down when around others, pretending to be fine when she's definitely not.

TV dramas follow a fictional, character-driven narrative that is grounded enough that the audience believes the events could happen in real life.

The characters in TV dramas often follow common archetypes like "good"/"bad", sympathetic and unsympathetic characters, use of stereotypes as well as Levi-Strauss' theory on the use of "binary opposites", characters that have opposing beliefs or desires that clash to create tension. The narrative is often based around these characters competing for their desire to be fulfilled.

Throughout Breaking Bad, Walt has conflicts with other characters like Jesse, Gus and Skylar over desires that oppose his, like when Jesse wants to leave the business while Walt wants to keep going.

In Fleabag, the main character is desperate for money as her business is failing, and her family is wealthy but don't want to keep giving her more money.

The narrative also often has expansive sub-plots that follow different characters besides the main one, such as Hank and Marie's relationship in Breaking Bad and the bank manager's rehabilitation in Fleabag.

Audience Pleasures:

As with all media, TV dramas give the audience something that they want. There are 4 categories of audience pleasures; surveillance, escapism, personal relationships and personal identity.

Surveillance:

Surveillance is the use of media to gain an insight or knowledge of a topic. This is most commonly associated with non-fiction media like news, but also applies to TV dramas since it can provide the audience with a new, albeit fictional, insight into the world of the show.

In Breaking Bad, the audience might watch the show to see what a life of organised crime is like through Walt and his associates, or how that crime is investigated by police through Hank and the DEA.

In Fleabag, the audience might watch the show to see how repressed grief affects a person, seen through the main character's emotional experiences.

Escapism:

Escapism is the use of media to escape from the real world and immerse oneself in another world. This is very common in fictional media, including TV dramas since their exciting and tense nature makes for good entertainment.

In Breaking Bad, the audience might watch the show to forget out their real life and become engrossed in the lives of Walt and Jesse as they traverse through the dangerous criminal world on their quest for money.

In Fleabag, the audience might watch the show to detach from reality and focus on the struggles of the main character's life as she stumbles through a life struck by grief.

Personal Relationships:

This pleasure is the use of media to compare the characters' relationships to one's own in search of new perspective or sense. TV dramas are perfect for this because they're all about the interactions between characters.

In Breaking Bad, the audience might watch the show to compare the relationship between Walt and Skylar to their own relationship with their spouse, or compare the relationship between Walt and Jesse to that of one of their friends.

In Fleabag, the audience might watch the show to see how the relationship between the main character and her family relates to their own, or how the relationship between the main character and her ex boyfriend compares to their (ex)partner.

Personal Identity:

This pleasure is the use of media to help make sense of one's own identity by relating to characters. This is also perfect for TV dramas since they focus on the experiences of characters and their emotions.

In Breaking Bad, the audience might identify with Walt, likening themselves to qualities they believe to share with him like conviction and courage.

In Fleabag, the audience might identify with the main character, comparing her desperation and depression to their own emotions.