7.1 Central themes and messages

Central themes and messages are the backbone of compelling television series. They provide depth, meaning, and emotional resonance to the stories we watch. From universal human experiences to social commentary, these themes shape characters, drive plots, and leave lasting impressions on viewers.

Writers must skillfully weave themes throughout their series, from pilot to finale. By crafting powerful messages, avoiding heavy-handedness, and evolving themes across seasons, they create rich, multi-layered narratives that keep audiences engaged and invested in the characters' journeys.

Types of central themes

• Central themes are the core ideas, messages, and underlying meanings that a television series explores and conveys to its audience
• These themes can be universal human experiences, social and political commentary, or character-driven journeys that resonate with viewers on a deep level
• Identifying and effectively weaving central themes throughout a series is crucial for creating compelling, thought-provoking, and emotionally engaging television

Universal human experiences

Top images from around the web for Universal human experiences

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  Why story will always beat statistics — Paul Taylor – Duncan Stephen View original

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  Storytelling Through Experience Design – Sherwin Torres – Medium View original

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  360 Essentials: A Beginner’s Guide to Immersive Video Storytelling – Open Textbook View original

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  Why story will always beat statistics — Paul Taylor – Duncan Stephen View original

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  Storytelling Through Experience Design – Sherwin Torres – Medium View original

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Top images from around the web for Universal human experiences

• 

  Why story will always beat statistics — Paul Taylor – Duncan Stephen View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Storytelling Through Experience Design – Sherwin Torres – Medium View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  360 Essentials: A Beginner’s Guide to Immersive Video Storytelling – Open Textbook View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Why story will always beat statistics — Paul Taylor – Duncan Stephen View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Storytelling Through Experience Design – Sherwin Torres – Medium View original

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• Themes that tap into the shared aspects of the human condition, such as love, loss, growth, and the search for meaning and purpose
• Explore the common struggles, triumphs, and emotions that people from all walks of life can relate to (coming of age, facing mortality, overcoming adversity)
• Examples include the theme of found family in Friends and the exploration of grief and loss in Six Feet Under

Social and political commentary

• Themes that address and critique societal issues, power dynamics, and cultural norms
• Shed light on topics such as racism, gender inequality, corruption, and the impact of technology on society (systemic injustice, media manipulation, class divide)
• Examples include the examination of the war on drugs in The Wire and the portrayal of women's rights and empowerment in The Handmaid's Tale

Character-driven themes

• Themes that emerge from the personal journeys, internal conflicts, and transformations of the central characters
• Explore the complexities of human nature, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of choices and actions (redemption, self-discovery, the cost of ambition)
• Examples include Walter White's descent into moral decay in Breaking Bad and Don Draper's struggle with identity and the past in Mad Men

Identifying central themes

• Recognizing and understanding the central themes of a television series requires close analysis of the pilot episode and attention to key elements such as storylines, character arcs, and visual motifs
• By examining these aspects, writers can identify the core ideas and messages that will serve as the foundation for the entire series
• Identifying central themes early on allows writers to create a cohesive and purposeful narrative that resonates with audiences

Examining pilot storylines

• Analyze the main plots and subplots introduced in the pilot episode to uncover the underlying themes they explore
• Look for patterns, parallels, and contrasts in the storylines that hint at the larger ideas and messages at play (the pursuit of power, the consequences of secrets, the clash of ideologies)
• Example: The pilot of Lost introduces themes of redemption, fate vs. free will, and the struggle between science and faith through its various storylines

Analyzing character arcs

• Study the introduction, goals, conflicts, and transformations of the main characters in the pilot to identify the themes tied to their personal journeys
• Examine how the characters' backgrounds, motivations, and relationships reflect and embody the central themes of the series (the price of success, the search for belonging, the weight of legacy)
• Example: The pilot of The Sopranos establishes themes of family, loyalty, and the American Dream through Tony Soprano's struggles as a mob boss and family man

Recognizing visual motifs

• Pay attention to recurring visual elements, symbols, and imagery in the pilot that reinforce and communicate the central themes
• Analyze how the cinematography, production design, and visual storytelling techniques contribute to the thematic tapestry of the series (use of color, framing, juxtaposition)
• Example: The pilot of Mr. Robot employs visual motifs of masks, mirrors, and screens to underscore themes of identity, duality, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion

Conveying themes through writing

• Once the central themes of a series are identified, writers must skillfully integrate them into the fabric of the show through various storytelling techniques
• Effective thematic writing involves using dialogue, scene construction, and symbolic imagery to subtly convey and reinforce the core ideas and messages
• By weaving themes seamlessly into the narrative, writers create a rich and multi-layered viewing experience that engages audiences on both an emotional and intellectual level

Theme-reinforcing dialogue

• Craft character dialogues that organically touch upon and explore the central themes of the series
• Use subtext, metaphors, and key phrases in conversations to subtly communicate the underlying ideas and messages (discussions about morality, philosophical debates, personal revelations)
• Example: In the pilot of The West Wing, characters engage in rapid-fire dialogues that touch upon themes of idealism, public service, and the challenges of governing

Thematic scene construction

• Structure scenes and sequences in a way that visually and emotionally conveys the central themes of the series
• Use the setting, character actions, and plot developments within a scene to create thematic resonance and underscore the core ideas (juxtaposing contrasting elements, paralleling character journeys, creating symbolic turning points)
• Example: In the pilot of Breaking Bad, the opening scene of Walter White's frantic desert ride sets the stage for themes of desperation, moral transgression, and the consequences of choices

Symbolic imagery and metaphors

• Incorporate visual symbols, motifs, and metaphors throughout the series that serve as thematic touchstones and deepen the narrative's meaning
• Use recurring images, objects, or visual patterns to subtly reinforce the central themes and create a cohesive aesthetic (use of colors, animal symbolism, weather and natural elements)
• Example: In the pilot of Mad Men, the recurring image of characters smoking cigarettes serves as a metaphor for the themes of deception, addiction, and the façade of the American Dream

Developing thematic messages

• Beyond identifying and conveying central themes, writers must also craft clear and compelling thematic messages that leave a lasting impact on the audience
• Thematic messages are the key takeaways, lessons, or insights that the series aims to impart through its exploration of the central themes
• Developing strong thematic messages requires a delicate balance of subtlety and clarity, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions while still guiding them towards the intended meaning

Thesis vs theme statements

• A thesis statement is a concise, arguable claim that encapsulates the main idea or purpose of a work, while a theme statement is a broader, more universal truth that the work explores
• In television writing, thesis statements are often used to pitch and summarize the core concept of a series, while theme statements serve as the guiding principles for the narrative's thematic exploration
• Example: A thesis statement for Breaking Bad could be "a high school chemistry teacher turns to a life of crime to secure his family's future," while a theme statement could be "the consequences of moral compromise and the slippery slope of evil"

Crafting powerful messages

• Develop thematic messages that are thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and applicable to real-life experiences and issues
• Craft messages that challenge assumptions, inspire reflection, and encourage viewers to see the world from new perspectives (the importance of empathy, the complexity of human nature, the power of hope and resilience)
• Example: The thematic message of The Wire could be summed up as "the systemic failures of institutions and the cyclical nature of poverty and crime in urban America"

Avoiding heavy-handed preachiness

• Strike a balance between conveying thematic messages and allowing the audience to interpret and engage with the material on their own terms
• Avoid overtly didactic or moralistic storytelling that feels preachy or condescending to the viewer
• Instead, trust the audience's intelligence and ability to discern the underlying themes and messages through the characters' actions, choices, and consequences (showing rather than telling, leaving room for ambiguity and personal interpretation)
• Example: The Sopranos explores themes of morality, family, and the human condition without explicitly passing judgment on its characters or spoon-feeding lessons to the audience

Weaving themes into series

• Effectively integrating central themes into a television series requires a careful and deliberate approach that spans from the pilot episode to the series finale
• Writers must establish the core themes in the pilot, develop and evolve them across multiple seasons, and ultimately bring them to a satisfying resolution in the end
• By weaving themes consistently and cohesively throughout the series, writers create a sense of narrative unity, emotional depth, and thematic resonance that keeps viewers invested and engaged

Establishing in the pilot

• Introduce the central themes of the series in the pilot episode through the main characters, storylines, and world-building elements
• Plant the seeds of the core ideas and messages that will be explored and developed throughout the series (introducing character flaws and desires, setting up central conflicts and mysteries, establishing the tone and style)
• Example: The pilot of Lost introduces themes of redemption, faith vs. science, and the struggle between good and evil through the characters' backstories, the mysterious island setting, and the central conflict between the survivors and the Others

Evolving across seasons

• Develop and deepen the central themes across multiple seasons by introducing new characters, storylines, and challenges that expand and complicate the core ideas
• Use character arcs, plot twists, and shifting dynamics to explore different facets and implications of the themes (testing characters' beliefs and values, introducing new perspectives and moral dilemmas, raising the stakes and consequences)
• Example: Over the course of its seven seasons, Mad Men explores and evolves themes of identity, societal change, and the dark underbelly of the American Dream through Don Draper's personal and professional journey, the changing cultural landscape of the 1960s, and the shifting power dynamics within the advertising agency

Resolving in the finale

• Bring the central themes of the series to a satisfying and meaningful resolution in the series finale
• Tie together the various thematic threads and character arcs in a way that feels earned, emotionally resonant, and thematically cohesive (providing closure and catharsis, answering lingering questions, leaving a lasting impact on the audience)
• Example: The finale of Breaking Bad resolves the themes of moral decay, the consequences of choices, and the pursuit of power through Walter White's ultimate fate, the resolution of his family's storyline, and the symbolic imagery of his final moments in the meth lab

Central themes in genres

• Different television genres often explore distinct sets of central themes that are inherently tied to their conventions, tropes, and storytelling styles
• Understanding the common themes associated with each genre can help writers create series that both embrace and subvert audience expectations
• By tapping into genre-specific themes while also putting unique spins on them, writers can create fresh and compelling series that stand out in the crowded television landscape

Drama and prestige themes

• Dramatic and prestige series often explore weighty themes that delve into the complexities of the human experience and the darker aspects of society
• Common themes include power dynamics, moral ambiguity, institutional corruption, and the personal toll of pursuing one's desires (the cost of success, the erosion of ethics, the weight of secrets and lies)
• Examples include the exploration of power and politics in House of Cards, the moral decay of the protagonist in Breaking Bad, and the psychological toll of violence in True Detective

Sitcom and romcom themes

• Sitcoms and romantic comedies often explore lighter, more optimistic themes that revolve around relationships, personal growth, and the humor found in everyday life
• Common themes include the importance of friendship and family, the search for love and belonging, and the challenges of navigating adulthood (found family, will-they-won't-they romance, personal and professional fulfillment)
• Examples include the theme of friendship and found family in Friends, the search for love and self-acceptance in The Mindy Project, and the balancing of personal and professional life in Parks and Recreation

Sci-fi and fantasy themes

• Science fiction and fantasy series often explore themes that revolve around the impact of technology, the nature of reality, and the hero's journey in extraordinary circumstances
• Common themes include the consequences of playing God, the blurred lines between human and machine, and the struggle between good and evil in imagined worlds (dystopian futures, artificial intelligence, the corruption of power in magical realms)
• Examples include the exploration of the dangers of technology in Black Mirror, the hero's journey and the battle between light and dark in Game of Thrones, and the nature of identity and humanity in Westworld

Themes of iconic pilots

• Many iconic television pilots are remembered and celebrated for their effective establishment and exploration of central themes that set the stage for the entire series
• By analyzing the themes of successful pilots, writers can gain insight into how to introduce and develop compelling ideas that resonate with audiences
• Examples of iconic pilots with strong thematic foundations include Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Mad Men

Breaking Bad's moral decay

• The pilot of Breaking Bad introduces the theme of moral decay through the character of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime to secure his family's financial future after being diagnosed with terminal cancer
• The episode establishes Walter's desperation, his willingness to cross ethical boundaries, and the slippery slope of his descent into the criminal underworld
• The pilot sets the stage for the series' exploration of the consequences of moral compromise, the corrosive nature of power, and the blurred lines between good and evil

The Sopranos' American dream

• The pilot of The Sopranos introduces the theme of the American Dream through the character of Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss struggling to balance his criminal life with his family responsibilities
• The episode establishes the series' exploration of the dark underbelly of the American Dream, the cost of success, and the moral contradictions of the protagonist's dual identities
• The pilot sets the stage for the show's examination of family dynamics, loyalty, and the psychological toll of living a life of crime

Mad Men's identity and change

• The pilot of Mad Men introduces the themes of identity and societal change through the character of Don Draper, a successful advertising executive with a mysterious past in the 1960s
• The episode establishes Don's charisma, his talent for manipulation, and the secrets he keeps from his colleagues and family
• The pilot sets the stage for the series' exploration of the changing cultural landscape of the 1960s, the façade of the American Dream, and the personal and professional reinvention of its characters