Tv Dramas - Is It Only Me?

[hc4361]

There has been some fantastic (and not so fantastic) dramas on tv over the last few months that have had me on the edge of my seat, or at least mildly entertained.

I am finding more and more that I have to read the episode recaps to understand the plotlines (thank you, Guardian). I don't know if I'm nodding off in front of the tv for a few seconds at a time or if my brain is shrinking and I've become stupid.

Frustratingly, I have watched Undercover and read and re-read the recaps but still don't really understand what it was all about. Why was Maya representing an American on death row?

Line of Duty was fab but it would have lost me without the recaps.

Am I the only one?

[andy-hughes]

Personally, I adore television that assumes a certain level of intelligence on behalf of the viewer.

American dramas have done this for years now, and British drama is starting to follow their lead.

In series like NYPD Blue, there were always seven or eight 'back stories' running in parallel with the weekly plot, and you were simply supposed to keep up because you were bright enough and interested enough to pay attention, and not things wash over you.

That's why they would refer to incidents or return characters that had been in up to six years ago, and you are supposed to remember, because they don't bother with explanations.

Of course, the reverse of that us British documentaries where they show you ten minutes, have a ninety-second ad break, and then re-cap what you have just seen!!! AAAAAARRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give me intelligent drama any day.

[aelmpvw]

i've rethought and rethought the story line to 'undercover' and it still makes no sense to me ...

[Prudie]

No I'm just the same, the minimum required is 100% glued to the screen and plots seemed to be deliberatley obtuse, I particularly hate the flashing back and forth between time zones. I gave up on The Affair because of that, OH and thought we'd enjoy Five but gave up after first episode because we really wanted to know what was going on and just couldn't follow it at all. similarly with Humans.

[hc4361]

Andy, that is a very unfair comment about British dramas. War and Peace, Line of Duty, Happy Valley, Luther, Peaky Blinders, Unforgotten have not been 'dumb' nor had constant recaps throughout.

[Prudie]

There is no connection between intelligent dramas and those I referred to who have deliberately convoluted plots to appear arty-farty and pseudo-clever.
NYPD, NCIS, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, Madam Secretary as examples are all examples of intelligent long running US dramas but at least you know what's going on. The back stories are a separate issue, no different to UK soaps, they are there for the pleasure of the loyal viewer, nothing to do with intelligence.

[hc4361]

Talking of US dramas I watched Zoo last year and found it compelling - right until the last episode where it just stopped. No type of conclusion at all, and when the broadcast started a second series had not been commissioned.

Very frustrating.

[andy-hughes]

hc4361 - //Andy, that is a very unfair comment about British dramas. War and Peace, Line of Duty, Happy Valley, Luther, Peaky Blinders, Unforgotten have not been 'dumb' nor had constant recaps throughout. //

It would be unfair, if I had made the comment about British dramas - but I didn't.

My point about re-caps was directed at documentaries - please re-read my post to see the distinction between the two.

[hc4361]

Sorry, Andy. I agree with you about British documentaries and reality shows on commercial channels. More recaps than content, making programmes such as Location Location, Grand Designs and many others unwatchable for me.

[andy-hughes]

No problem HC - glad we are in agreement.

[Sipowicz]

.....previously on NYPD Blue! ;-)

[andy-hughes]

I am going to buy Series 4 & 5 to take to Montreal with me at the end of June.