Complex Serial Drama and Multiplatform Television in Bloomington, MN

This book examines the creative strategies, narrative characteristics, industrial practices and stylistic tendencies of complex serial drama. Exemplified by shows like HBO’s
The Sopranos
, AMC’s
Mad Men
and
Breaking Bad
, Showtime’s
Dexter
, and Netflix’s
Stranger Things
, complex serials are distinguished by their conceptual originality, narrative complexity, transgressive lead characters and serial allure. As a drama form that continues to expand and diversify in today’s television, HBO’s
Boardwalk Empire
Game of Thrones
, Netflix’s
Orange Is the New Black
and Hulu’s
The Handmaid’s Tale
provide further examples. Dunleavy investigates the strategies that underpin the innovations, influence and success of complex serial drama, giving students and scholars a nuanced understanding of this contemporary TV form.