Analytical task- Hawaii Five O

We are going to watch an episode of Hawaii Five-O

How does the programme show the Crime Drama genre?

This programme shows the Crime genre as it has many typical features. One of these features is that the setting is in a prison, all the cops have guns and it has all the things you would expect police to have in it. This programme shows drama as it uses dramatical music in the background to make it more exciting and to entice the audiences attention it also has tough characters throughout as they are normally associated with crime. It also follows the typical characters in a crime/drama films by having a villain, heroes, an ambiguous character and helpers. Also using sound effects while violence is occuring adds more effect to it and makes the audience hear every punch. The obvious signifiers that are used are things such as a prison jumpsuit, flashing red and blue lights, prison guards and undercover cops which are the typical things you would see in a prison which makes it more realistic. The editing makes things look very quick and by changing the angles throughout the violence it adds more effect as it links well with the dramatic music in the background.

Does the episode follow a recognisable narrative structure? (Todorov or McKee)

The narrative starts off with a flashback and not in chronological order. This is done to add a sense of mystery to it and to draw the audience in to continue watching so they can find out how that happened and how it is all going to unfold. This creates a sense of confusion for the audience which makes them want to continue watching also as it adds to the suspense and this is what makes it dramatic from the start. The episode also has drama at the end of every part before going for an advert. This is done for the same effect and so that the audience dont get bored and continue watching because it makes them want to carry on  watching. It follows a typical drama by having twist and turns throughout. This unfolds in the same way as many dramas do which makes it very easy for the audience to know that this is a drama.


How does the programme use enigmas?

The programme uses enigmas by having a flashback. This is done to baffle the audience and this is done in a good way as it draws the audience in right from the start and gives them a bit of a background behind the episode which is about to be shown. They also confuse the audience when Chin Ho Kelly is in the prison and for people who regulary watch this, they know that Chin is a Detective Lieutenant and works for the police so this confuses them even more as they would never expect someone who works for the police to be found inside prison when he hasnt done anything that is really bad. It also uses enigmas at the end when Kono gets into Adams phone at the end which shows you that Kono doesnt trust Adam and shows he has a dodgy past. This makes the audience be in shock and by doing this it adds a sense of questioning to it as its not normal to collect all the data off your boyfriends phone which shows there is a lot to be answered in future episodes.


What evidence is there of both a series and a serial (series tell a different story each episode, serials have on going stories (like soap operas)

The evidence that this is a series is that at the end we see that they are all laughing and nothing really dramatic happens at the end which would lead on to a new episode with the three main characters meaning that there must be something new happening the next week. This is clear to the audience as they know they cant leave out the main characters stereotypically in any programme therefore something different must be happening. The evidence this is a serial is at the end when Adam is pouring the wine and Kono gets all the information off his phone and then it ends as they are cuddling on the couch and she has a guilty look on her face and you can tell that this is going to be an ongoing story as there is too many questions to ask and she hasnt checked the messages which makes the audience want to watch the next episode to see what developments happen.