The original post: /r/television by /u/Southern_Schedule466 on 2025-12-24 13:44:32+00:00.
I am watching Six Feet Under for the first time and I am appreciating how it has an episodic procedural aspect to it. There are serialized storylines, but each episode has its own “case” (figuring out to do with dead person and grappling with moral issues in the process) with a beginning, middle, and end. I am aware that this was moreso the norm than not at the time when it was released, but I noticed the same thing when I started watching The Americans recently (I paused watching it after the first season and intend to return to it). I wish more “prestige” shows i.e. Apple TV+ ones today were like that. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed The Pitt S1 so much. I’m sure someone might say, “if you want to watch procedurals then just watch broadcast tv,” but even “good” shows used to be like that. An episode was a full meal. The West Wing, ER, Buffy, etc. It shouldn’t just be medical/law/cop shows having that structure.