Serial vs Episodic TV Series

Wala pa ring tatalo kay Maya at Sir Chief

Medyo late na 'ko nagsimulang ma-introduce sa TV series. Siguro dahil I am more of a movie/game/music guy kaya 'di ko naman na-realize what I was missing. Pero one fateful new year's eve, nagbago ang lahat sa buhay ko. Ano 'tong palabas na 'to na laging bitin ang ending? Bakit parang ang hirap n'yang tantanan!? 

I am talking about the TV series 24. Grabe. Cliffhanger ang bawat ending ng isang episode. From that moment on, nalaman ko na kung bakit ang daming nahahayok sa mga TV series. Kaya naman naging laman na ako ng Quiapo noon to look for TV series DVDs (yup, doon mo maririnig ang "dibidibidi"). At least I can finish a whole season without the bitin factor kasi lahat nasa DVD na. Dito ko nadiskobre ang Prison Break, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, at kung ano-ano pang serial TV series. 

Teka, anong "serial" TV series? Well, 'eto 'yung tipong Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad na ang bawat episode ay magkakadugtong ang narrative. Para s'yang isang napakahabang pelikula. (Counterpart ng episodal TV series sa Pinas: Dolce Amore, Be My Lady, The Story of Us, On the Wings of Love, Be Careful with my Heart, at kung ano-ano pang kilig shit - JOKE!)

Episodic TV series naman 'yung mga TV show na parang independent ang bawat episodes nila sa isa't isa, like Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and House. Madalas na ganito ang formula ng episodic TV series, may isang story arc na kumokonekta sa bawat independent episodes. Obvious ito sa mga bagong superhero TV series like Flash, and Agents of Shield. (Counterpart ng episodic TV series sa Pinas: Maynila, Home Along Da Riles, Pepito Manaloto, Regal Shocker, at ang paborito kong Ang Pangarap Kong Jackpot)

Episodic Flash vs Serial Daredevil

Well, lahat ng mga nabanggit ko so far are highly recommended TV series - na malamang alam n'yo na din kasi they are the popular ones. What gives me extra joy is discovering a TV series na di ganon ka mainstream pero nuknukan ng ganda. Hidden gems kung baga. I will talk about these hidden gems sa next post ko, but for now here are my 12 favorite mainstream serial/episodic TV series.

Episodic:

• Big Bang Theory
• Friends
• How I Met Your Mother
• Agents of Shield
• Flash
• House
• The Office
• Sherlock 
• Agents of Shield
• The Simpsons
• South Park
• Chuck

Serial:

• 24
• Game of Thrones
• Prison Break 
• The Walking Dead
• Heroes (particularly season 1)
• Battlestar Galactica
• Better Call Saul
• Breaking Bad
• Daredevil
• Vikings
• Homeland
• House of Cards