In television and radio programming, a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of the series, which distinguishes them from episodic television that relies on more stand-alone installments.
Definition and Characteristics
A serial is a story broadcast or published in several separate parts on television, radio, or other media. The term derives from "series" and refers to the intrinsic property of sequential order. Serials rely on keeping the full nature of the story hidden and revealing elements episode by episode, encouraging viewers to tune in to every installment to follow the plot. Common techniques include recapping segments at the beginning and cliffhangers at the end of each episode.
Serials contrast with episodic (procedural) television, where plots are self-contained within a single episode. Procedural dramas are commonly episodic, sometimes including a serial subplot.
History
The serial format originated in early 20th-century movie serials. With the rise of television and the decline of movie-going audiences, production of movie serials ceased, but the format migrated to the small screen.
Soap Operas
The television serial format as known today originated in radio, in the form of children's adventure shows and daily 15-minute programs known as soap operas (so named because many were sponsored by soap companies such as Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble). A show called The Smith Family (early 1930s, WENR Chicago) is credited as an early precursor. The Guiding Light debuted on NBC radio in 1937 and switched to CBS Television in 1952, airing its final episode on September 18, 2009, with a total of 15,762 episodes.
In the 1960s, ABC aired the first breakthrough nighttime serial, Peyton Place. The success of Dallas (1978–1991) popularized serial storylines on prime-time television, influencing shows such as Dynasty, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, and The Colbys.
Other Dramas
Heavily serialized dramas include Twin Peaks, The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar Galactica, 24, Game of Thrones, and Downton Abbey. Series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, and The Good Wife fall between serial and episodic formats, featuring self-contained weekly plots alongside overarching story arcs.
Telenovelas
Shorter serial programs known as telenovelas (and earlier, radionovelas), originating and often produced in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin America, have become popular worldwide. Unlike soap operas, telenovelas typically have a predetermined, finite run.
Commercial Considerations
Complex story arcs may negatively affect ratings by making entry difficult for new viewers. Networks have historically viewed serials as riskier than procedurals. However, serialized shows tend to develop more dedicated fanbases and often perform better in DVD and streaming sales. The rise of DVRs and streaming services has made following serialized storytelling easier, contributing to increased success and popularity of the format in the 21st century.
Key Distinction
The serial format is defined by its continuous narrative across episodes, as opposed to the episodic format where each installment is largely self-contained. In library and information science, "serial" is applied more broadly to materials "in any medium issued under the same title in a succession of discrete parts, usually numbered (or dated) and appearing at regular or irregular intervals with no predetermined conclusion."
