TV Series and the Pandemic: How Will Characters Respond to the Coronavirus?

The current global pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to our world. As television production resumes, many viewers are curious about how their favorite series will address this new reality. Will characters deal with the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdowns, or will the pandemic be completely ignored? Let's delve into the possibilities and predictions.

Medical Shows and the Pandemic

Medical shows like Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, Chicago Med, New Amsterdam, and The Resident are likely to incorporate the pandemic into their narratives. These series often focus on medical professionals and the challenges they face in their daily lives. With the ongoing crisis, addressing the virus and its effects on the medical community becomes an essential part of the storyline.

Chicago Med can provide a unique perspective on the pandemic, given its setting in a major city and the real-life experiences of its cast and crew. This could lead to authentic and relatable storylines, highlighting the strain on hospitals and the dedication of healthcare workers.

Police Procedurals and Social Behavior

Police procedurals like Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., and SWAT may explore the impact of the pandemic on societal norms and public behavior. Episodes could focus on how citizens respond to lockdowns, quarantine measures, and other public health guidelines. The series might also address the financial and emotional toll of the crisis on families and communities.

New Amsterdam, as a medical drama set in New York City, stands to have one of the most compelling stories to tell. The besieged healthcare system and the high-stakes environment make it an ideal setting to depict the challenges of treating patients with coronavirus and navigating the complexities of a global pandemic.

Socially Appropriate Storytelling

While acknowledging the pandemic in a series is crucial, it is important to do so with sensitivity and taste. Too soon for crass humor or light-hearted content about a global tragedy. As Seal Team shows, effective storytelling should prioritize the well-being and experiences of the characters involved. For instance, a "bottle episode" could be an effective way to dive deep into a single location or situation, allowing the audience to experience the impact of the pandemic on the characters' lives.

Showrunners should aim to create a balanced and respectful portrayal of the pandemic. Engaging in conversations and collaborating with experts in the field can help ensure that the storylines are both accurate and empathetic. One of the best approaches would be to treat the pandemic as a critical subplot or arc within the larger narrative, rather than a one-off episode or immediate fix.

Other Series

Series set in different worlds, such as NCIS, Magnum PI, or Broke, may choose to ignore the pandemic altogether, as the settings are far removed from the contemporary world's reality. These shows often have their own unique timelines and storylines, making it easier for them to bypass the current global issues.

Soap operas might still write about the disease but with a focus on daily lives and personal struggles. Sci-fi shows, such as those set in alternate eras or other planets, will generally ignore the pandemic. However, they might reference it in a historical context, providing a unique perspective on the impact of a global crisis on different societies and cultures.

In conclusion, how TV series choose to address the coronavirus and the lockdowns will largely depend on their genre and themes. Medical dramas, police procedurals, and series set in the real world in 2020 will most likely acknowledge and incorporate the pandemic. For those series set in other eras or alternate realities, the focus will be more on character interactions and personal struggles rather than the current global crisis. As we move forward, the sensitivity and tastefulness of storytelling will be key in addressing the ongoing pandemic.