Do TV Series Writers Apply First Principles Of Thinking?

2025-06-03 17:16:00 318

3 Answers

Cassidy
Cassidy
2025-06-07 15:47:24
Having analyzed hundreds of scripts, I believe the best TV writers absolutely employ first principles thinking, though they might call it 'finding the heart of the story.'

When crafting 'Mad Men,' Matthew Weiner went back to basics by exploring how advertising manipulates human desires rather than just depicting 1960s nostalgia. The writers of 'Black Mirror' start each episode by asking fundamental questions about technology's impact on society before developing plots. This method allows them to create standalone stories that feel both innovative and universally relatable.

Showrunners like Dan Harmon (creator of 'Community') even formalize this process through story circles that force writers to identify core emotional arcs. Animation writers do this particularly well—'BoJack Horseman' reduced existential dread to its essence, then rebuilt it with anthropomorphic animals. This thinking style explains why some shows feel profoundly original while others just rehash familiar tropes.
Miles
Miles
2025-06-08 17:19:19
From my experience discussing narrative techniques with fellow fans, first principles thinking manifests in TV writing through character-first approaches.

Writers of 'Fleabag' didn't set out to make a typical comedy—they started with raw honesty about female loneliness and built outward. 'Succession' boils down to the primal struggle for paternal approval, dressed up in billionaire drama. Even genre shows benefit from this; 'The Last of Us' worked because it focused on the fundamental bond between protector and child, not just zombie action.

This approach separates memorable series from forgettable ones. When writers ask 'what truly makes this story matter?' before worrying about plot mechanics, they create shows that linger in viewers' minds long after watching.
Sophie
Sophie
2025-06-09 22:58:15
I've noticed TV writers often use first principles thinking without even realizing it. They strip down complex narratives to their core emotional truths, rebuilding them in fresh ways. Take 'Breaking Bad' for example—it’s fundamentally about a man’s descent into darkness, but the writers deconstructed typical antihero tropes to create something groundbreaking. Similarly, 'The Good Place' started with the basic question of what makes someone good or bad, then built an entire philosophical comedy around it. This approach helps avoid clichés and keeps stories feeling original while staying emotionally resonant.
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