Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Preferences, etc! I'll be reading through these over the course of the next few days!
2 months ago (edited) | 55
I think the primary factor is length of the series. I don't want more than the first 5-10% of a series to be laying the foundations. But a long, slow-burn series can have plenty of time dedicated to world-building early
2 months ago | 92
Honestly being thrown into a ongoing story is hard to pull off if there isn't a connection to the characters in the first episode. But once pulled off it has the potential to be ever-expanding lore that one can imagine.
2 months ago | 20
Edgerunners 1's intro was effective because it had both in a single episode. It wasn't a PERFECT introduction (ideally I would've wanted to see more of Gloria for example), but it was a very effective one that helped establish the setting while also thrusting you immediately into the hell of the Pondsmith Cyberpunk universe.
2 months ago | 19
The bottom choice definitely. I'm currently obsessed with Andor and that lands so well because you know who Cassian is. He also got a feature-length film before the series, and that probably helped, but its first episode really drives home who he is.
2 months ago | 4
An interesting question. I'd say what I like in a series is a little bit of exposition with the lore, world, characters, etc at the start, then quickly pivot to plot and rising action. I love and appreciate when a series juggles it's plot and action with it's lore, world building and characters well, it's a really hard thing to nail and it's something I aspire to do.
2 months ago | 4
Entirely depends on what the show is about, how long it is and what needs to be fitted into a (possibly) small amount of episodes. But i do love worldbuilding
1 month ago | 1
World building and character development and arc makes the characters, tone, and setting feel more real and makes the story more emotionally engaging. However, in any great story, there is a conflict that gets introduced by the 3rd episode or sooner that makes people engaged and interested. I can't wait to see what you're creating, Yukko. Thank you
2 months ago | 1
Transformers G1, as old as it is, has a great 3-parter introduction that introduces every character and lets us see the setup for ever episode yet to come. It's great.
2 months ago | 1
There definitely needs to be some plot building in the first few episodes. Depending on the writing, the first episode or two could totally be just characterization and world building, but if it is then imo it needs to hint at/foreshadow and create a groundwork to set up the main plot.
2 months ago | 1
For me I would say the biggest thing is to introduce a couple of character, tell just enough that I want to keep watching to learn more about who they are.
2 months ago | 0
starting the conflict in a story as soon as possible is generally more beneficial for like 99% of stories as that is where the entire interest of a story comes from and what hooks you on it there are situations where the opposite is true like how DELTARUNE wants to setup arbitrary patterns just to break your expectations and get a big emotional effect out of it but unless you have an exact reason for it you should never have "filler" in a show and should think about how you can communicate everything the viewer needs to know to get into the story as soon as possible in a way that is both concise and engaging
2 months ago | 1
Depends on the genre I guess but I usually prefer to get to know what the world is like before we are introduced to the plot and heroes. Make the world feel liver in, like it has history. It makes me care a lot more.
2 months ago | 3
Always like when we start off right into it. Even most movies do this for a hook then go back but I definitely like having to figure out a characters motivation from being just in the world rather than having a long boring setup like akin to the new superman movie or helluva boss or even the OG original trilogy star wars that has the opening Darth Vader scene. All right in the middle. Tho if your not super into lorecrafting maybe something from the beginning would work better.
2 months ago (edited) | 2
I like knowing who the characters are and the kinda tone of the show in the first 3 episodes. Most of my storytelling experience relates to table top rpgs so gently easing the players in with little vignette like side quests helps to get them moving towards the end goal how I'd like. Be it serious or silly or brutal or combat optional.
2 months ago | 0
I will take a solid foundation over immediate action any day. Your foundation is how you make clearly defined characters and establish a setting which you can then build upon, release secrets, make narrative links etc. I've been watching Frieren lately and personally that feels like the platinum standard for world building as it employs a unique partly concurrent/partly retrospective approach. So I would rather be patient and wait for action. Because patience is workable. Once a narrative is set, it's hard to change. Besides, a low gradient of progression makes the climax all the more satisfying. The more I write the more I appreciate these storytelling techniques. It's made me better and hopefully your narrative will be amazing too. Sending good vibes to you Yuko! ❤📒
2 months ago | 0
I’d say if you can balance both, it can help open it to a lot of audience. I personally get to the point because I am trained by my dad to do so, in dnd nonetheless.
2 months ago | 1
I think my ideal first 3 episodes of a series would be -The main character is summoned to a fortified city by his estranged father and is forced to pilot a giant robot to fight a mysterious monster. -After a traumatic battle, the main character struggles with isolation, his role as a pilot, and adjusting to life with his new guardian. -The main character faces another monster attack, protects his classmates during the battle, and begins to show signs of emotional strain despite his success. i'd love a show like that
2 months ago | 1
My partner and I are working through Frieren finally, and the emotional impact from just seeing the world through Frieren’s perspective in those first few episodes is just phenomenal. 100% give me characters and a world I can get invested in over a well crafted plot hook and storyline
2 months ago | 0
YukkoEX
If YOU could choose, what would you want the first three episodes of a series to be
2 months ago | [YT] | 1,519