In the 1980’s a series was made that would spinoff from the groundbreaking hit show Dallas, this series was the equally popular Knots Landing. Both shows are known for there melodramatic elements, but what is it specifically that makes both of these shows known as a classic example of TV melodrama? To best describe what makes a series like Knots Landing both a melodrama and a serial TV show we will look at two episodes.
As a series the show perfectly follows the serial format you find in both TV soaps and modern hit shows. For example the series as a whole deals with multiple protagonists, each of them have their different storylines and dilemmas that fall upon them in each episode. In the pilot episode we have the troublemaking daughter of Sid spending a few weeks with him and her stepmom. Throughout the episode she is
…show more content…
This effects the entire cast of characters in at least one way or another, but the majority of this storyline is centered around Sid and his wife Karen. Gary and his wife Val are the new couple to move in and have to find out if they really fit in or not, once again effecting the rest of their neighbors but this mostly revolves around themselves. The second reason why the series could be considered a serial is the fact that the show relies upon exposition to catch viewers up on the events that have occurred beforehand. Once again in the pilot we learn through many different conversations that Val and Gary didn’t bring their child with them, this is obviously suppose to help new comers to the series learn what had perviously happened in their lives and maybe even on the show Dallas. The troublemaking daughter, Annie, and Val actually have a bit where they talk on the beach about what has happened in their past lives, a perfect example of the show using exposition to allow viewers to catch up. The last