Mystery box show

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In episodic television, the term mystery box show or puzzle box show refers to a genre of high concept fiction that features large and complex stories based on enigmatic happenings and secrets, with multiple interlocking sub-plots and sets of characters that eventually reveal an underlying mythos that binds everything together. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Lost and The X-Files have been cited as early examples of mystery box TV. [5] Other examples of the mystery box genre include Dark, Fringe , Westworld, The OA , Heroes, Manifest , 1899 , Severance , Stranger Things , Yellowjackets , and From .

J. J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof have been cited as examples of creators of multiple mystery box shows. [6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ Power, Ed (21 November 2022). "From Lost to 1899: the headache-inducing rise of 'mystery box' TV". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "How Manifest Succeeds Where Other Mystery-Box Sci-Fi Shows Have Failed". pastemagazine.com. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Johnston, Dais (11 November 2022). "'1899' review: Netflix's ambitious 'Dark' follow-up is a drag to watch". Inverse. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Herson, Kellie. "The biggest mystery on TV is how every show became a puzzle box". The Outline. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Grauso, Alisha (5 March 2021). "Debris Can't Be The Next X-Files Until It Fixes Its Modern Sci-Fi Problem". ScreenRant. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Stewart, Sophia (22 May 2018). "The Evolution of the Mystery Box". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Hey, J.J. Abrams: It's time to open up the mystery box". The Week. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2022.


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