![]() Namely style, entertainment factor, building tension, character depth, plot, and character arc.Ĭharacter is key to any type of storytelling, but especially ongoing storytelling. Introducing him in the pilot likely wouldn’t have worked because it would have competed too explicitly with the show’s gritty introduction.Īvoiding the second episode slump comes down to a few things. In episode 2, however, we’re introduced to Jaskier the Bard, a bit of goofy comic relief in a stormy wartorn world. The Witcher, for example, introduces us to quite a somber, serious and sometimes sad trio of main characters in Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri. If she goes radio silent in episode two, audiences will be confused, disappointed, and probably lose interest.Įqually as important, your second episode proves the tone works for your story, or at least proves that the concept can carry various tones if you need it to. It’s awesome if we hear Sally Sue’s snarky internal monologue throughout the pilot, but you better be able to prove she still has enough sarcasm for the rest of the show. It’s also where you prove that you can keep your writing style and voice going. The second episode is also your opportunity to show off how well you can transition from episode to episode, and whether your show is more episodic or serial in nature. They find clues that someone’s been attacked in Sally Sue’s town - how long before they realize it’s her? Perhaps this is where you lay the foundation for the secret society hunting werewolves, led by a roguish and gorgeous werewolf hunter (to be played by Ian Summerfield). It might also be where you hint at potential vehicles for guest stars. The second episode can also be where you introduce additional secondary characters that you couldn’t quite fit into your pilot. If Sally Sue gets clawed by a werewolf in your opening episode, does she start showing signs of transformation in your second? Perhaps you told us in the pilot that she’s not the only creature in town perhaps there are a number of Crow’s Shadow residents hiding supernatural secrets and now you get to introduce a couple of the more important ones. It is also proof that you can keep that story going, not only in terms of the concept, but in terms of the various throughlines, subplots, and character arcs you set up or hinted at in your pilot. What Is A Second Episode?Ī second episode is the next chapter of your ongoing story. ![]() Feature ideas and series ideas are different down to their marrow and one of the most common mistakes young writers make (in their loglines, if nowhere else), is to present a feature idea as if it will sustain a series. When the pilot ends, we should know the tone, the format, and why your story needs hundreds of episodes to be explored. It becomes the blueprint for the rest of the series. What’s going to keep this thing ticking episode after episode, week after week, year after year? It also sets up your world, establishes the rules and limitations of that world, and establishes the engine of the show. It introduces your very flawed, but watchable characters, what they want, and what they’re up against. In it simplest terms, a TV pilot is the opening chapter of an ongoing story. Then we’ll do the same for a second episode and explore how you can avoid the post-pilot slump with your own show. Photo courtesy of NetflixĪs a quick recap, let’s look at what a pilot is and what it’s supposed to do. Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) in Squid Game. Audiences might tune in for the cool concept, slick hook, or original world of the pilot, but how do you keep them coming back for more once those things are established? With more and more shows hitting the air and streaming services every single day, it’s becoming clearer just how important that second episode is. Either way, the show goes on, and you need to be prepared to keep it going. That’s really where the importance of a second episode – or at least planning for it – lies. And getting staffed on a TV show means potentially writing the second, third, or twenty fifth episode of an already established series. Selling your pilot today means writing the second episode tomorrow. Regardless of whether you’re still trying to break into the industry or you’re inches away from signing on the dotted line with a network, the point of all the work we’re putting in is to keep working, to get additional work on shows in the future. Granted, most of the heavy lifting of the show occurs in the pilot, but don’t neglect the other episodes. Although your TV pilot is essential to introduce the entire television series, some writers don’t always spend a corresponding amount of time on the subsequent episodes. Many TV writers spend an inordinate amount of time crafting the perfect pilot episode.
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