4.4 Resolution and denouement
6 min read•august 20, 2024
and are crucial elements in TV writing. They provide closure to the story, tying up loose ends and resolving conflicts that have been building throughout the episode or season.
A well-crafted resolution satisfies the audience while potentially setting up future storylines. It showcases , reinforces themes, and delivers emotional impact, balancing action with reflection to create a satisfying ending.
Resolution of the central conflict
Protagonist's final actions
Top images from around the web for Protagonist's final actions
Conflict Management Styles | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
When you can't manage the conflict - Praxis Framework View original
Is this image relevant?
Conflict Management Styles | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Protagonist's final actions
Conflict Management Styles | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
When you can't manage the conflict - Praxis Framework View original
Is this image relevant?
Conflict Management Styles | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- Protagonist makes crucial decisions that directly impact the outcome of the central conflict
- Takes decisive steps to confront the antagonist or resolve the main problem
- Demonstrates growth and applies lessons learned throughout the story
- May make sacrifices or difficult choices to achieve their goal
- Actions often involve a climactic confrontation or a pivotal moment of change
Antagonist's ultimate fate
- Antagonist faces consequences for their actions, which can range from defeat to redemption
- May be vanquished, captured, or neutralized by the protagonist
- Could experience a change of heart or realize the error of their ways
- In some cases, the antagonist may escape or remain a looming threat for future storylines
- Their fate should be a logical result of their actions and the protagonist's efforts
Subplots and loose ends
- Subplots are resolved, tying up loose ends and providing closure for secondary characters
- The resolution of subplots should contribute to the overall theme and narrative
- Some subplots may intersect with the main plot, influencing the central conflict's outcome
- Minor character arcs are concluded, showing the impact of the main story on their lives
- Skillful resolution of subplots adds depth and satisfaction to the overall narrative
Emotional impact of resolution
Catharsis for the audience
- The resolution provides emotional release and satisfaction for the audience
- Built-up tension and suspense are relieved through the resolution of conflicts
- Audiences experience a sense of closure and fulfillment after investing in the characters' journeys
- Catharsis can evoke feelings of joy, relief, sadness, or bittersweet emotions, depending on the story
Character growth and change
- The resolution showcases the character development that has occurred throughout the story
- Protagonists demonstrate newfound strengths, insights, or personal growth
- Characters' relationships may have evolved or strengthened as a result of their shared experiences
- The resolution highlights how characters have changed from who they were at the beginning of the story
Themes reinforced through resolution
- The resolution often reinforces and drives home the central themes of the story
- Characters' actions and the outcome of conflicts reflect the story's underlying messages or morals
- Themes such as love, sacrifice, redemption, or the human condition are emphasized through the resolution
- The audience is left with a clear understanding of the story's thematic purpose
Pacing and timing of resolution
Building to the climax
- The resolution is preceded by a well-paced buildup to the story's climax
- Tension and stakes are gradually increased, creating anticipation for the final confrontation or resolution
- Pacing is carefully crafted to maintain audience engagement and emotional investment
- The climax serves as the peak of the story's emotional and
Balancing action and reflection
- The resolution strikes a balance between action-packed moments and quieter, reflective scenes
- Action sequences resolve physical conflicts and provide visual excitement
- Reflective moments allow characters to process events and express their emotions
- A well-balanced resolution satisfies the audience's desire for both excitement and
Avoiding rushed or drawn-out resolutions
- The resolution should feel earned and well-paced, neither rushed nor unnecessarily prolonged
- Rushing the resolution can leave the audience feeling unsatisfied or confused
- Drawing out the resolution for too long risks losing the audience's interest and diminishing the impact
- The ideal pacing maintains the story's momentum while allowing sufficient time for conflicts to be resolved
Denouement and falling action
Aftermath of the central conflict
- The denouement explores the immediate consequences and aftermath of the story's climax
- Characters react to the resolution of the central conflict and process the events that have transpired
- The impact of the conflict's resolution on the story world and its inhabitants is shown
- The denouement provides a bridge between the climax and the characters' new reality
Characters' new normal
- The falling action shows how characters adapt to their new circumstances post-resolution
- Characters' lives and relationships may have changed as a result of the story's events
- The new normal may reflect growth, loss, or a shift in the status quo
- The audience gains insight into how the characters will move forward beyond the story's end
Setting up future storylines
- The denouement may hint at potential future conflicts or storylines
- Unresolved subplots or new challenges can be introduced to create anticipation for future episodes or seasons
- Characters' decisions or actions in the falling action may have consequences that set the stage for new narratives
- The groundwork for future character development and world-building can be laid in the denouement
Crafting a satisfying ending
Fulfilling audience expectations
- A satisfying ending meets the audience's expectations while still providing some surprises
- The resolution should align with the story's established tone, genre, and themes
- Audiences expect payoff for the emotional investment they have made in the characters and their journeys
- The ending should address the central questions and conflicts posed throughout the story
Surprising yet inevitable resolutions
- The best resolutions are both surprising and inevitable, striking a balance between the two
- Surprising elements keep the audience engaged and prevent predictability
- Inevitable aspects ensure that the resolution feels earned and true to the story's internal logic
- Foreshadowing and careful plotting help create a sense of inevitability while still allowing for unexpected twists
Leaving room for interpretation
- A satisfying ending may leave some elements open to interpretation, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions
- Ambiguity can be used strategically to encourage discussion and engagement with the story beyond its conclusion
- Open-ended aspects of the resolution should be intentional and serve the story's themes or character arcs
- Leaving room for interpretation can make the story more memorable and thought-provoking for the audience
Resolution in episodic vs serialized storytelling
Resolving episodic conflicts
- In episodic storytelling, individual episodes often have self-contained conflicts that are resolved within the episode
- Episodic resolutions provide closure and satisfaction for the audience on a smaller scale
- These resolutions may tie into larger character arcs or themes, but the primary focus is on the episode's specific conflict
- Episodic resolutions allow for a sense of completion and the ability to enjoy episodes as standalone stories
Advancing season-long arcs
- Serialized storytelling involves overarching storylines that span multiple episodes or an entire season
- Resolutions in serialized stories advance the larger narrative and character arcs
- Each episode's resolution may contribute to the progression of the season-long arc, providing pieces of a larger puzzle
- Serialized resolutions often leave some elements unresolved, creating anticipation for future episodes and seasons
Balancing closure and cliffhangers
- Effective serialized storytelling strikes a balance between providing closure and leaving cliffhangers
- Some storylines may be resolved within an episode or season, offering a sense of satisfaction to the audience
- Cliffhangers are used to create excitement and anticipation for upcoming episodes or seasons
- The balance between closure and cliffhangers keeps the audience engaged and eager to continue following the story
- Well-crafted cliffhangers pose new questions or introduce new conflicts that propel the narrative forward
Key Terms to Review (19)
Callback: A callback is a narrative device used in storytelling that refers back to a previously established element, often bringing closure or humor by connecting earlier moments to the current plot. In the context of resolution and denouement, callbacks can effectively tie together character arcs, themes, or plot points, creating a satisfying conclusion for the audience by reminding them of earlier setups and how they have evolved over the course of the story.
Character Growth: Character growth refers to the transformation and development of a character over the course of a narrative, often resulting from their experiences, conflicts, and interactions. This change can be positive or negative and is typically influenced by the character's flaws, which are confronted and resolved through the story. Understanding character growth is crucial as it ties into how characters evolve during their journey and how this culminates in the resolution of their arcs.
Cliffhanger: A cliffhanger is a narrative device used to create suspense by ending a scene, episode, or season at a critical moment, leaving the audience eager to know what happens next. This technique is particularly effective in engaging viewers, as it encourages them to return for the resolution and builds anticipation throughout the story.
Comedy: Comedy is a genre of literature, film, and television that aims to entertain and amuse the audience through humor, often involving exaggerated situations, witty dialogue, and the clever use of language. It typically explores themes like social norms, relationships, and human flaws, providing a light-hearted perspective on serious topics while offering resolution through laughter.
Denouement: Denouement refers to the final resolution or outcome of a story, where the complexities of the plot are unraveled and the main conflicts are resolved. It comes after the climax and ties up loose ends, providing closure for the audience. The denouement can highlight the consequences of characters' actions and often sets the stage for potential future developments.
Drama: Drama is a genre of narrative fiction that depicts realistic characters, settings, and events meant to evoke emotions from the audience. It often focuses on conflict, character development, and themes that resonate with human experiences, making it a crucial element in storytelling.
Emotional Payoff: Emotional payoff refers to the emotional satisfaction or impact that an audience feels after a significant moment in a story, especially during key events such as rising action, climax, and resolution. It is crucial for engaging viewers, as it ties together character arcs, plot developments, and thematic elements, leading to a memorable viewing experience. This payoff can vary in intensity and can evoke a range of emotions, helping to create a deeper connection between the audience and the story being told.
Emotional resonance: Emotional resonance refers to the ability of a story or character to evoke strong feelings and connections in the audience. It is crucial for creating impactful narratives that linger in viewers' minds, influencing their perceptions and reactions. This connection enhances the overall experience, making moments more memorable and compelling, which is essential across various storytelling elements, including conflict resolution, pacing, visual storytelling, and adherence to genre expectations.
Flashback: A flashback is a narrative technique that interrupts the chronological flow of a story to present events that occurred at an earlier time. This method is often used to reveal character backstories, provide context for motivations, and deepen emotional connections, making it a crucial element in storytelling that enhances character development and plot structure.
Moral Resolution: Moral resolution refers to the ethical outcome of a story, where the characters' actions lead to consequences that reflect their moral choices. It highlights the significance of right and wrong within the narrative, often culminating in a conclusion that reinforces moral lessons or themes. This aspect is crucial for creating a satisfying emotional payoff for the audience, as it allows viewers to reflect on the moral implications of the characters' journeys.
Narrative arc: A narrative arc is the structure of a story that outlines the progression of events and character development from the beginning to the end. It typically includes a setup, conflict, climax, and resolution, helping to create a satisfying emotional journey for the audience. This arc connects various story elements, such as character growth and thematic exploration, making it essential in shaping how stories unfold across different mediums.
Pitch: A pitch is a concise presentation of a television show idea, designed to capture the interest of producers, networks, or studios. It outlines the concept, main characters, tone, and overall vision for the series. The effectiveness of a pitch can determine whether a project moves forward, making it a critical component in the development process of episodic and serialized storytelling, resolution arcs, and franchises.
Redemption Arc: A redemption arc is a character development journey where a character experiences significant growth and transformation, usually moving from a state of wrongdoing or moral failure to one of integrity and redemption. This journey often involves overcoming personal flaws and obstacles, ultimately leading to reconciliation with oneself or others, which ties closely to character growth, resolution of storylines, and thematic exploration of moral dilemmas.
Resolution: Resolution refers to the part of a story where the conflicts are resolved, and the characters' journeys reach a conclusion. It serves as the final piece of the narrative puzzle, tying up loose ends and providing closure to the audience. A well-crafted resolution not only resolves the main plot but also highlights character growth and thematic elements, solidifying the overall impact of the story.
Table Read: A table read is an event where the cast of a script reads through the material aloud, typically in a casual setting, to get a sense of how the dialogue flows and how the characters interact. This process is crucial for assessing the script's overall tone, pacing, and emotional impact, allowing writers and producers to identify areas that may need adjustment before production begins.
The power of friendship: The power of friendship refers to the deep emotional bond and support that friends provide one another, significantly impacting their personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being. This theme often emerges in storytelling, especially during resolution and denouement, where characters come together to overcome challenges, reconcile differences, and celebrate unity. It highlights how friendships can influence character arcs and contribute to meaningful conclusions in narratives.
Theme culmination: Theme culmination is the moment in a narrative where the central theme reaches its peak or fullest expression, often during the resolution phase of the story. This point highlights the characters' journeys, choices, and conflicts, culminating in a significant realization or transformation that ties together the narrative threads and reinforces the thematic message.
Thriller: A thriller is a genre of fiction that evokes excitement, suspense, and tension, often involving crime, psychological elements, or high-stakes situations. This genre captivates audiences by building anticipation and maintaining a fast-paced narrative, making it essential in storytelling where resolution and denouement are crucial for satisfying the audience's need for closure. Thrillers often hinge on strong loglines that encapsulate the central conflict and hook potential viewers, while successful films and franchises in this genre consistently deliver gripping narratives that keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Viewer satisfaction: Viewer satisfaction refers to the emotional response and overall contentment of an audience after engaging with a television show. This concept is crucial in determining whether viewers feel that their expectations were met, which can influence their likelihood of continuing to watch a series or recommending it to others. Achieving high viewer satisfaction involves a successful resolution of storylines and character arcs, ultimately affecting the audience's connection to the show.