Elements of TV Storytelling

Aesthetic

The look and sound of a show, characterized by cinematography, lighting, costumes, production design, and music.

Theme

The underlying ideas that a particular show is dealing with.

Story Engine

A recurring element that produces conflict and story.

Character Archetype

A category of character who shares traits with other characters like them, falling into a tradition that shapes their responses.

Tone

The attitude or vibes of a show, influencing the way it makes viewers feel.

Bottle Episode

An episode designed to be cheaply produced, using only series regulars and standing sets.

Series Regulars

Actors contracted to appear in every episode of a series.

Standalone Episode

An episode that tells a self-contained story unrelated to the serialized stories of the show.

Procedural

An episode where a problem is introduced, investigated, and solved within one episode.

Planting and Payoff

A storytelling technique where an element is repeated throughout the story and gains new meaning when it becomes integral to the plot.

Trope

A character archetype, image, or story pattern that is frequently used, either as a cliché or in a self-aware manner.

Suspension of Disbelief

The choice of an audience member to accept a story that is known to be fictional.

Narrative Conceit

This is a storytelling device or rule the writer introduces to make the plot work, even if it's unusual or unrealistic.

Objective Correlative

An object used to convey a character’s emotional state.

Stakes

The potential consequences characters may face if they do not achieve their goals.

Hopes and Fears

The expectations created in the audience’s mind regarding what they are hoping for or fearing.

World Building

The creation of a consistent fictional setting adhering to specific rules and conventions.

Allegory

A storytelling device where a setting or character represents or comments on a real person, event, or situation.

Inciting Incident

The event that sets the story in motion.

Verisimilitude

The feeling that a work is realistic or lifelike, helping viewers to suspend disbelief.

Character Arc

The development of a character's journey where wants and needs may differ, producing tension and growth.

Anthology

A TV show that features new characters and stories in each episode or season, often sharing a similar theme, genre, and tone.

Limited Series (AKA Mini Series)

A series that is designed from the beginning to tell a single, close-ended story within the span of one season.

Serialized Series

A TV series that tells a single story over multiple seasons, requiring viewers to watch from the beginning to understand the plot and characters.