Becoming A Television Connoisseur
Recognising the difference of story arc, episodic, British vs American style programs
When you watch online, no commercials, and the programs 'air' when you desire to view them, you develop and kind of expertise; and in one way become a critic .
I am watching a television serial called 'Highlander'. When it originally aired in the 1990s it did not air in Jamaica. Eventually a few random episodes popped on and I didn't really watch the show because of the time and the fact I had a life.
Having made the cardinal error when watches online; that is reachomg the stage in an on going program where I must to wait until the next season, just like everyone sitting in front of the boob tube.on one hand, and not wanting to reach that stage with two other series I cast about for what to watch.
I recalled this series and did a search and found where I could view it and began watching.
One of the things which makes British series that much better than American, is the story arc. British programs are like novels set to visual. The programs have endings, not happenstance.
Characters are not created for this episode, if a new character appears one knows s/he will figure in subsequent seasons.
I say all this to indicate that although Highlander is quite a good series in the American style, (although it is Canadian/French) it would be so much better had it been done in the British style.
What happens in Highlander is that the viewer sees someone for the first time, Duncan McCleod remembers the past encounters, and the character is usually dead by the last five minutes. There seems a need to get the new character on screen, go though ups and downs, and get him off before the final credits.
Each episode, were this a British program, would have been two or more, so that there could be a development not a quick on and off. The more time that is taken in revealing a character, a plot, the better. The better because so much is lost in the rush to the end of the show.
Episodic programs only really work when one is dealing with a crime drama or a courtroom, where one case is followed. When one is dealing with a program like Highlander, it becomes uncomfortable when there is such a stampede to get through the plot so quickly.