Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of ‘quality TV’ – can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?

Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of ‘quality TV’ – can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?

Using the 9 characteristics that Wilcox and Lavery (2002) use to identify 'quality t.v', I can identify Vampire  Diaries as ' quality T.V. Vampire Diaries was first released September 10, 2009. It is a supernatural drama t.v series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the novel with the same name written by L.J. Smith. The series is about a teenage girl whose life is changed forever when she meets and starts dating a Vampire. This leads to the discovery that the reality she knew was surrounded by the supernatural; witches, Vampires, spells. The main character faces all these supernatural challenges at the same time she is fighting evil and trying to get through high school and have a relationship. 

Some of the characteristics of 'quality t.v' as described by Wilcox and Lavery (2002) that are applicable to Vampire Diaries is that the show has an ensemble cast, the show has memory, the show has a past, we remember the beginning and how it began but it keeps moving forward and developing both the characters and the overall arc or story. It also 'creates it's a new genre' by mixing in with Gothic Romances, supernatural and drama. 

Like with Buffy, the sexual content is also high. We follow Elena Gilbert through her journey in the show, the clothes she wears are not too provocative but the relationship between her and the Salvatore brothers is highly charged and often fueled with sexual tension. Vampire Diaries is also considered 'quality t.v' because it is literary based on the books by L.J. Smith. The subject matter could also be considered controversial because of the show appeals to a adolescent audience as well as adults. The depiction of what a high school girl does and appears unsupervised by any adults, similar to Buffy. Vampire Diaries also shows a characteristic towards realism, being based on a typical American high school girl, with the usual drama of popularity, relationships and an annoying younger brother. 

The only other characteristic that Vampire Diaries could be identified with would be the fact that within the overall story arc of Elena and her good vs evil battle each episode has it's own arc and within that episode the smaller arc is resolved or leads then into the wider arc that covers the entire season. It grows with each episode, having numerous aspects with the characters individually or as a group.

References

Wilcox, R. & Lavery, D. (2002). Introduction, in R. Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.

The Vampire Diaries. Retrieved 31, October 2014. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vampire_Diaries

Popular Genres: Cult Television PPt. Retrieved 31 October, 2014. From AUTONLINE Blackboard.