Beats, Episodes, and Arc

The average Prime-Time Serial, or PTS, often follows certain characteristics, as described by Newman, to effectively create narrative breaks and storyline arcs that engage and absorb the viewership. The multitude of story-telling units known as beats formulate acts that are broken into four pieces, so that a viewer is kept both enraptured during the television show, and tuned to the channel during commercials. By allowing both introductions to new characters and situations, as well as recapping significant aspects and characteristics of the show, beats help to make the storyline a cohesive and interesting piece for the audience (Newman, 17).

In Episode 17, “Two Stories” from the 7^th season of House M.D., the apparent ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ plot structures easily distinguish beats from one another. With one plot each, the beats are set parallel to changes in the plots. For instance, when the storyline shifts from the medical story of a patient that is being treated by Dr. House to a conversation between House and two children whose relationships mirrors that of House and Lisa Cuddy to a class that House is wrongfully presenting a career day lecture to, beats can be easily distinguished, and plot differences can be seen. With a total of 30 beats over the course of 4 acts, there are 7-8 beats per act, each lasting about a minute and a half each, with some shorter or longer than others. The beats remain consistent in characters present and the setting in which the scene is taking place in order to recap characters and personalities. For example, House is the only character present in each beat, and each plot. On the other hand, the doctors in plot ‘A’ are not in plot ‘B,’ much like the kids in plot ‘C’ are not present in plot ‘B’ even though they are part of the same class of students. This separation allows for the viewership to separate the characters based on their storylines and plots, as well as juxtapose the situations and experiences of each plot in order for contrasts and comparisons to be seen.

The major storylines are that of Dr. House and the two children that he encounters while waiting to see a school principle. At the end of the episode, it becomes apparent that the lives and relationship of the young girl and boy sharing a bench with the old, witty, and sarcastic House are not so different from him and his girlfriend, Dr. Cuddy. More interestingly, the storyline of the two children is resolved at the end of the episode, while House’s storyline with Cuddy is not. This is demonstrative of the fact that in the next episodes Cuddy and House’s relationship will continue to be shown and evolve, while the two children from “Two Stories” will probably not be seen again. As a reoccurring theme in House M.D., the ‘B’ and ‘C’ plots are usually resolved while the ‘A’ plot is left half unfinished—the medical aspect of the show comes to an episodic conclusion while the serial nature of the background stories of the doctors is almost a separate narrative. The coinciding of all of these plots as well as both the serial and episodic nature serve to make the show novel and easy to follow for a first time viewer, as well as interesting and engaging to a fan that is familiar with all of the drama and background storyline.

Much like the story lines themselves, character arcs are generally opened in each episode of House M.D. for “subplot” characters, while the main characters (the doctors) are shown through a seasonal journey. This helps to solidify and recap the fact that the doctors will be present in most episodes, and will have the same personalities and characteristics throughout. The other characters however are both introduced and extricated within the same episode in order to keep each new episode fresh and innovative.

When analyzing “Two Stories,” it is clearly evident that even though there is a narrative closure at the end of each episode, a dramatic and long-term story that spans across multiple episodes is also seen in the background amidst the main characters. In the end, this perfect balance allows for an entertaining and thought-provoking show that has the ability to appeal to a wide audience.

Works Cited

Newman, Michael Z. From Beats to Arcs: Toward a Poetics of Television Narrative The Velvet Light Trap – Number 58, Fall 2006, pp. 16-28

“Two Stories”. House M.D. Fox Television, 2010. Web. 02 Mar 2011.<http://www.hulu.com/watch/217830/house-two-stories&gt;