The Formulaic and Episodic X-Files and Supernatural Essays -- Televis

The subjects of this study, The X-Files (Carter, 1993-2002) and Supernatural (Kripke, 2005-), can be seen as innovative pioneers of narrative complexness and of the monster-of-the-week (MOTW) concept. Mittel identifies narrative complexity,At its most basic level, narrative complexity is a redefinition of episodic forms under the influence of serial narrationnot necessarily a complete merger of episodic and serial forms but a shifting balance. Rejecting the need for plot closure within every episode that typifies conventional episodic form, narrative complexity foregrounds ongoing stories across a ambit of genres. Additionally, narrative complexity moves serial form outside of the generic assumptions. (Mittel, 2006, p.32)The monster-of-the-week concept is rather self-explanatory, but can be described as telling standalone stories that literally feature a monster, or enemy, every week however, The X-Files have challenged the serial, standalone nature of the concept (Kruse, 1997-8, p. 110).The X-Files stars FBI agents, Mulder and Scully, as they take charge in investigating the X files (cases that pass through unknown phenomena). Mulder, the believer, and Scully, the sceptic, face corrupt government officials and monstrous mutants while trying to uncover the meaning to unknown phenomena that otherwise, cannot be explained. The episodic and formulaic serial allow Mulder and Scully to face phenomena after phenomena while being spliced with an undercurrent of the more serial format of a greater mytharc concerning government corruption and of the alien colony of earth. Supernatural tells the story of Dean and Sam Winchester, brothers-in-arms, who also, within formulaic and self-contained episodes, hunt monsters... ...d Everyday Life in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In M. Hammond and L, Mazdon, eds. 2005. The Contemporary picture Series. Edinburgh Edinburg University Press, pp.159-182.Hodges, L., 2008. Mainstreaming Marginality Genre, Hybridity, and Postmodernism in The X-Files. In J. P. Tellote, ed. 2008. The Essential Science Fiction Television Reader. Kentucky Kentucky University Press, pp.231-246.Mittel, J., 2007. Film and Television Narrative. In D. Herman, ed. 2007. The Cambridge Companion to Narrative. Cambridge Cambridge University Press, pp.156-171.Mittell, J., 2006. Narrative Complexity in Contemporary American Television. The Velvet Light Trap, 58(32), pp.29-40 Nixon, N., 1998. Making Monsters, or Serializing Killers. In R. Martin and E, Savoy, eds. 1998. American Gothic New Interventions in a National Narrative. Iowa Iowa University Press, pp.217-236.