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A great deal of preparation is needed in order to write a compelling review for a television show. Here are some tips for writing a review that is thorough and informative:
Watch as many episodes of the television show as you can starting with the pilot episode. Write down your initial reactions to the show while you are watching it. Identify the genre, the intended audience, and similarities to other TV shows. Also pay attention to the premise, relationships, the writing, and note if the episodes follow a certain theme. Ask yourself if you feel invested in any of the characters or if you desire to watch more episodes to see what happens within the relationships.
Research all aspects of the show. Imdb.com is an excellent source for TV and film research. Find out whom the creators of the show are and if they created any other shows in the past. Look up all the writers and see what shows/movies are on their credits. Mark down the names of all the series regulars (main actors) and find out what kind of film/TV shows they’ve worked on. This will give you a great deal of information on the shows potential viability and explain stylistic choices that are apparent in the show. It is also good to do this research after you watch the show in order to not let the information influence your initial reactions.
Introduction
Start the review with in engaging hook that will get the reader’s attention. It will help to mention the big stars that are meant to attract people to watch the series. Also include important information like the network it plays on and what genre it best falls under.
Summary
Summarize the basic premise and concepts of the show. Give a basic rundown of the pilot and any subsequent episodes that reveal important information about the main characters. Discuss the main relationships between the characters and how they all tie together within the world of the show.
Positive/Negative
Analyze the positive aspects of the show and all the elements that stood out to you. This can be the certain relationships, character chemistry, clever writing, camera style, etc. After that, discuss the elements that struck you negatively or facets of the show that can be improved. Although a review is very much your opinion, try to objectively analyze with specifics examples and facts in order to not sound bias.
Conclude
Wrap up the review in the final paragraph by stating whether you recommend watching the show or not. This section of the review can be the most opinionated and it will give you the opportunity to “drop the bomb” on how whether you think the show will last or not. Your readers want to hear your opinion, but avoid coming across as too insulting and overly negative (it can alienate readers who are fans of the creators/actors previous work).
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