Death in Paradise (BBC1)
Death in Paradise is an example of a crime drama. Each episode follows the investigation of a murder which is eventually solved at the end of the episode, this is typical of crime dramas as it is typical for them to follow a new crime each episode rather than one for the whole series. There are also running storylines throughout each series which is conventional of dramas because they often have multiple storylines at the same time in order to give the characters more of a back story and make them more likeable to the viewer. Death in Paradise also has comedic elements to it which is different to many crime dramas as they tend to be more serious because they can follow some quite intense topics whereas this show combines the serious element of a murder with some funny events and characters. Each episode is an hour long which allows for enough time for them to solve the murder as well as have other storylines. There are 8 episodes in each series.
Uses and Gratifications Theory:
Escapism- The show's comedic elements satisfy escapism because they make the show more entertaining and interesting to the viewer. It is set on a fictional island and there are many characters who appear throughout the series which gives a sense of escapism because people are able to feel a connection to the characters and it's almost like they're there which can make the viewer escape from their normal life.
Personal identity- The show features a range of characters, each episode introduces around 4 new characters. This means there is some form of representation for all ethnicities, genders and cultures throughout the series so people can feel they can identify with someone in the show.
Personal relationships- People are able to talk with other people who watch the show about who they think the murderer is and this opens up a discussion amongst friends and family.
Surveillance- This show satisfies surveillance because it gives the viewer an insight into the work of detectives which is something most people will never experience but would find interesting. It is also set in the Caribbean which is interesting for a British audience because it is a very different lifestyle to the typical one here.
Looking for Alaska (BBC3)
Looking for Alaska is a show based on a book with the same name by John Green. It is aimed at around 16-20 year olds because the main characters are around this age so the audience is able to relate to them. It follows the story of a boy joining a new boarding school and how he deals with the events of being a teenager and getting into trouble, it includes themes such as drugs and alcohol. It follows different characters as well as the main character and shows how they all deal with high school and getting older. There are 8 episodes in the series, each one around 50 minutes in length which is conventional of the drama.
Uses and Gratification Theory:
Escapism- The show provides escapism by containing a lot of action and many of the things that happen are gripping and exciting, it involves the characters getting in trouble so it is exciting to find out how they get away with it or what will happen next.
Personal identity- This show's main characters are teenagers which is similar to the target audience, this means the audience can relate to the characters and they feel represented. They can also relate the events in the show to their own life.
Personal relationships- People who watch this show may choose to talk to each other about their favourite characters or what they believe will happen next, it can start many different discussions that relate to the content of the show.
Surveillance- Many of the events in the show are things that a lot of teenagers wouldn't personally experience because they're quite extreme and unusual so the audience find it intriguing. In general it is interesting to the viewer because they get to see what life is like for teenagers in a different environment to the one they're used to.
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