Media studies – TV
Narrative


Media Language Page 26 - 27
WJEC

Can you identify the various stages of the narrative in Episode 1 of The Bridge?


TODOROVIAN STRUCTURE -

EQUILIBRIUM

Although the episode begins with body on the bridge, there are elements of equilibrium e.g. Saga is successfully focused on work, Martin is married with a family

DISRUPTION

Discovery of the body of Kerstin Ekwall (politician), further disruption - discovery that the legs of the body belong to a different woman, Monique Brammer (prostitute and drug addict)

RECOGNITION

We don’t fully know yet but the voice on the CD at the end of the episode hints at this: ‘our part of the world would be wonderful if we solved our problems. I would like to point out five in particular. This is a beginning …’

RESOLUTION

Again – this is beginning but it’s a 10 episode series so there is no resolution yet

EQUILIBRIUM

Unlikely to occur until the final episode of the series when the killer is caught

Would we expect full closure in an episodic drama? Cliffhangers?

Are all these stages completely realised in Episode 1? Why?

We would not expect complete closure because of the serial nature of the narrative. Story arcs (e.g. Saga’s backstory, the murders, Saga and Martin’s relationship, Stefan and Veronika’s situation) will continue over a number of episodes.

There should be cause/effect links throughout the narrative. Can you identify these?