Narrative in TV Drama - Spooks

A couple wake up and go downstairs to breakfast. They do not realise that they are being watched by terrorists. They carelessly discuss sensitive MI5 information that they do not believe is compromised in the comfort of their own home, the terrorists listen in intently from their car parked nearby. The couple get ready to leave for work, triggering the terrorists to make a move. They enter the house, a struggle takes place and the couple are taken hostage, but are unaware that MI5 have also been listening in and have been aware of the terrorist’s movements, as part of a secret investigation. Scene cuts to MI5 HQ who know what is going on and prepare for a swat team to enter the building. The terrorists try to get information out of the couple and then plan to kill them as revenge for the deaths of their relatives, but are taken by surprise when the swat team quickly enter and save the couple, arresting the terrorists.

Narrative Conventions used:
Beginning, middle and ending:
At the beginning there is equilibrium, a couple in the security of their home, relaxed, in a happy mood.
In the middle there is disruption, the couple are interrogated by the terrorists, fear of being killed, very tense moment – unaware of MI5’s knowledge of their situation, don’t know if MI5 will successfully rescue them.
At the end, equilibrium is restored and there is a resolution – the couple are saved unharmed, and the terrorists are apprehended.

Characters – some good, some bad:
Good characters are the couple and the MI5 agents.
Bad characters are the terrorists.

Happy ending:
This episode ends happily as the couple are saved and are unharmed. The terrorists are also caught, which if interrogated could provide MI5 with further information.
However despite the fact that equilibrium is restored, it won’t be the same as before. The couple may have lost trust in the people that they work with – placed in a dangerous position. Also the trauma of the experience – coming so close to death.

Why do most stories end happily?
A happy ending is generally what an audience expects and wants. TV is watched for entertainment, and therefore most stories end happily to please the audience, a sad ending can often be distressing and aren't usually favoured. People watch TV as a form of escapism and a release from everyday life; they don’t want to be reminded of the harsh realities of life. They also provide a relief for the audience who sympathise with the characters and want a resolution that they can be happy with.

Spooks S3 E10:
This feels like the beginning of a narrative. Why?
The narrative starts with an ordinary, everyday morning. Equilibrium is established and we see a happy couple, beginning their day with seemingly no threat of anything going wrong - until we see the terrorists.

What starts as an ordinary, everyday morning, is suddenly threatened – a standard way of beginning a narrative. Why?
Beginning this narrative in a standard way means it establishes the normal way of living, the equilibrium, in preparation for the disruption that will arise. This allows the audience to understand what will be threatened and what effect this will have on them. In Spooks, we empathise with this family and see that their happiness will suddenly be threatened by this event that will take place. The audience knows this, therefore the tension is heightened as the characters are unaware of what is waiting for them.

Audience involvement through the danger that is set up. We are automatically being encouraged to take sides. Binary opposition?
Binary opposition of good and bad is used in this episode of Spooks. The audience is encouraged to take sides through this use of binary opposition of the characters. We know to take MI5’s and the couple’s sides as the terrorists are portrayed as the bad characters, choosing innocent people for revenge. The young couple are in love, are living normal lives, seeming happy and are the innocent party in this. Whereas the terrorists are shown to be the bad characters as they are plotting against them and eventually kidnap them, killing one MI5 agent and planning to kill other people.
Later in the episode however, this opposition is made less clear as the female terrorist shows signs of weakness and regret. Adam realises this and targets her, resulting in the restoration of equilibrium at the end.

What are the different narrative structures associated with the following TV drama forms?
Single drama/film: Margaret;
Two-nighter: Trial & Retribution;
Soap (continuing drama): EastEnders;
Serial: Bleak House;
Anthology series (self-contained episodes, each based on different characters): Skins;
Long-form series drama: Lost;
Long-form series drama with some narrative experimentation: 24