Episodic vs. Serial

Sitcoms are something we have all come to love. They are usually an hour and a half long, are funny and tend to all be either episodic or serial (mostly episodic.) When a sitcom is episodic, it always ends where it begins, there is not much of a character arc, and there is an individual lesson within each episode. Each episode tells a different story every time with the same cast of characters while characters rarely develop or change and the stories tend to follow a basic formula. The story is always complete in one episode, meaning the viewer does not need to watch the episodes in a sequence to know what is going on. Serial sitcoms on the other hand, tell stories that develop over a period of time and the viewers have to tune in every time in order to know what is going on. Each episode is predictable and is likely to rise and ask a central question. Both of these types of sitcoms generally are developed from the same sitcom genre, they use reoccurring characters in common environments. The environments, such as a home or a workplace, are usually chosen in a way that they will be able to relate to the viewer.

One of my all time favorite sitcoms is "Full House." This type of sitcom would be considered an episodic sitcom because each episode is a new story. This show is basically about a single father, Danny Tanner, who in need of help to raise his three daughters asks his rock musician brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis and his comedian best friend, Joey Gladstone to move in with them. The show is filled with humor and inspiration, as we watch how three men try to raise three little girls. For the most part it is shot from the comfort of a homie house and is family oriented. The house gives the viewer a sense of humbleness and averageness, something the viewer can relate to. That is one of the reasons I love this show because it is about a humble family facing the typical problems families encounter on a daily basis, and it enables me to feel connected and comfortable.

Below is a scene from "Full House" and as

you can see in the background, the house is

 portrayed very homie and average.