TV Drama Plots

Over the years there have been many dramas on TV. Some were westerns, some were police or private investigator shows, some were medical dramas, some were about lawyers. There may be a few other genres. Regardless, there are several standard plotlines that are recycled over and over. Sometimes they have to be slightly modified to fit the genres or era but they are very recognizable. Listed below are some of those plots. 

• The star, (a cop, sheriff, PI, doctor), is falsely accused of a major crime. Sometimes they are even convicted before miraculously finding the real culprit in the last five minutes. This usually involves escaping from custody to get the real bad guy.
• The main character or guest star has a twin or someone who looks exactly like them. Of course, one is good and one is evil. Usually, the bad one pretends to be the good one. Sometimes the good guy uses the identical appearance to infiltrate the evil gang. Somehow, they can even fool spouses or lovers.
• The cattlemen vs the homesteaders, sodbusters, farmers, or sheep ranchers. A goodhearted hired gun changes sides and fights for the farmers. Barbed wire is usually involved.
• Every TV private eye was hired by a precocious kid who offered a couple of bucks to solve some easy case. The case always leads to something much bigger involving real bad guys. 
• The fake and corrupt prophet/healer/preacher/cult leader was always good for an episode or two. 
• The psycho killer who was put away by the star (cop or PI) is freed, paroled, or escapes from prison or mental hospital. He then stalks the star to seek revenge. Often involves loved ones of the star being taken hostage. 
• In westerns, there was always the prejudiced army colonel or major or cattle rancher or settlers who have a grudge against the Indians. A past massacre is often involved. The star, the only voice of reason, finally gets the two sides together and they all live happily ever after. This was basically the entire premise for every episode of the old TV show Broken Arrow. 

  

  Broken Arrow

• We often have a brilliant doctor who is an alcoholic. The doctor turned to booze, or drugs when they couldn't save a loved one. He/she usually recovers to perform an almost impossible procedure and miraculously saves someone in the last part of the show. 
• The cop/private investigator star or his best friend is accused of murder. One shady witness is enough to convict them despite years of exemplary service. It's touch and go for most of the episode, but the star and/or his buddy is always cleared eventually.
• It's not an official private eye episode unless the star gets hit over the head. No concussion protocol was needed. 
• The star goes undercover, is almost exposed but talks his way out of it. When his cover is finally blow in the last five minutes, it's too late for the bad guys. 
• A once brilliant lawyer due to alcohol and/or some family tragedy becomes useless and maybe broke. Some underdog persuades him to take a hopeless case against the richest person or corporation in the area. This broken-down lawyer with a staff of one part-time person defeats the huge rich law firm and their rich powerful client.

This is certainly not a comprehensive list of the overly pat recycled plots. I'm sure you all have your examples. Plots you recognize within the first three minutes of the show and can almost quote the dialog that will follow. There are even some of these plots that are recycled over and over again in the same series. How many truly distinct storylines did Gunsmoke have?

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