The formula for shows like this isnt a tricky one. True Blood, like Lost, Game Of Thrones and all soap operas, is an arc-based narrative. That means that each season should tell a continuing story, known as an A-plot. Usually your protagonists and antagonists propel the A-plot while your supporting cast carry the B and C plots, adding grace notes and/or comic relief to the overall story. Its not rocket science, is it? Arc-based narratives that work successfully can be massive hits, because the audience is compelled to watch every episode as soon as its aired to see what happens next. Its not reliant on gimmicks or single, very popular characters to hook the viewers. Of course these plans can be wrecked when creative teams change, or if shows are cancelled before they have a chance to really get going. Or, as in this case, when B and C plots become overly intrusive, taking valuable storytelling time away from the A-plot, resulting in a messy narrative with no focus or clear agenda. When True Blood began to sprout plot lines all over the place around season three, it started to show all the signs of an arc-based narrative running off the rails. The supporting cast develop their own season-long B and C plots that almost never intertwine with the A plot. Tara is in despair after her boyfriend is killed, while Jason and Andy cover up said murder and Jason becomes involved with a clan of incestuous were-panthers. Were. Panthers. Sam gets into his trailer-trash shifter family-reunion, and obsesses over his dark past (which, given the overall tone of the show, is really more of a slightly grey past). Arlene gets pregnant and thinks her dead serial killer ex has possessed the foetus (as anyone would), while Lafayette and Jesus hook up and play around with V (which always goes well in this show), and there's more. All of these unrelated plot lines are allowed to swim alongside each other, taking up valuable time. Youre honestly not sure whats happening from episode to episode. It's as if youre watching four or five different shows at once. And then most of season three's B and C plots continue into season four and beyond with barely a pause for breath, despite the fact that theres a year long jump in the narrative between the two seasons. It makes absolutely no sense. Of course, another way for arc-based narratives to derail is when showrunners begin telling the story with no idea as to where its heading
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
