Metaphysical Drama at the Downturn of Peak TV

This chapter examines the emergence of "metaphysical drama" as a distinctive trend in serialized television during the waning years of "peak TV." It focuses on four representative series—Devs (FX/Hulu), Russian Doll (Netflix), Undone (Amazon), and The Leftovers (HBO)—which transc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Castrillo-Maortua, P. (Pablo)|||/items/b5fec873-1277-4924-923e-6a0ebb3226a7, García-Martínez, A.N. (Alberto Nahum)|||/items/943f6505-d635-447d-a86c-2faf57c261f5
Tipo de recurso: capítulo de libro
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/116008
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/116008
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Television
Series
Metaphysics
Aesthetics
TV-Series
Descripción
Sumario:This chapter examines the emergence of "metaphysical drama" as a distinctive trend in serialized television during the waning years of "peak TV." It focuses on four representative series—Devs (FX/Hulu), Russian Doll (Netflix), Undone (Amazon), and The Leftovers (HBO)—which transcend traditional genre boundaries to explore existential and spiritual themes. These shows challenge perceptions of material reality, using innovative narrative structures, aesthetic techniques, and symbolic mise-en-scène to engage with metaphysical concepts such as the nature of existence and the search for meaning. Drawing from aesthetic cognitivism, the study argues that these series provide cognitive and emotional insights by blending content and form, fostering a deeper understanding of human spirituality. While not unique to television, this trend leverages the medium's temporal and visual capabilities to create profound narrative experiences. The chapter situates metaphysical drama within broader theoretical contexts, offering a framework for analyzing its thematic and aesthetic contributions.