Quality TV Series in the Millennial Screen Age
Zagreb: Jesenski i Turk CeKaPe, 2017.
Critical Reception
Many books have been written about the phenomenon of the rise of TV series as a dominant narrative form, but one of the best books on this topic is not written in English by an American theoretician, but in Croatian by a Croatian expert on TV series. Given that the author is a recognized screenwriter with many years of experience in the television industry, as well as a playwright and sociologist, this enabled her to have unique perspectives on media research, so the book offers interesting insights from three different methodologies: from the perspective of television scriptwriting and production, both theoretical and practical , from the perspective of sociological theory, as well as emotionally engaged viewers. Nevertheless, a penetrating and thorough approach to the matter is given here through a humorous style and wit that make this book a real pleasure to read. As a rich source of information and knowledge both for sophisticated filmmakers and students, as well as for the interested viewer, Quality TV Series is a great achievement worthy of all praise and wider international recognition.
Tatjana Samopjan, AM Journal of Art and Media Studies
In short, there is an invaluable text in the middle. If we thought we knew everything about television and series, with the book “Quality TV Series” it becomes clear to us that we are closer to knowing nothing.
Dragan Jurak, Modern times
Sanja Kovačević’s approach is lucidly interpretatively complex: she equally considers the dramaturgical complexities of the selected series, their psychological and sociological foundations, as well as the special historical and production conditions of their appearance, the systems of work on them, and reception contexts. Her book was written with thorough research, familiarity with a wide range of relevant literature, a wide range of series and obviously her own active, screenwriting experience; it is full of information about the specific circumstances of the creation of the series, subtle interpretation analyses, and all of this is given in a clear and flowing style, which makes the author’s obvious meticulousness intriguing.
From the review by Hrvoje Turković, prof. Ph.D. filmology
“Quality TV series ” is the first book in South Slavic languages that deals with contemporary high-quality production of television series… Kovačević shows how and why, in its context, these series were a step forward and an innovation. How, for example, The Sopranos broke the ethical norms and identification patterns of American TV, how David Simon broke genre rules and plot structuring conventions in The Wire . Between these five blocks, she includes – like some metatextual stunt – three “commercial breaks” in which she deals with theoretical doubts about TV series. In the first “break” she deals with the issue of the pilot, the beginnings and endings of the series, in the second with the question of authorship, and in the third with fan communities and transmedia storytelling. Kovacevic devotes a small chapter to the rise and success model of Danish TV production. This chapter is extremely interesting and very instructive for Croatian TV industry, so it’s a shame that the author – when she already had it up her sleeve – didn’t add more such material.
Jurica Pavičić, Jutarnji list
All these series reflect, each in its own way, on the decline of the welfare state, that is, on the process that the author calls “wild individualism” that erodes social solidarity. A citizen in Western societies is, as well as an anti-hero in series, infected with moral cynicism, he/she finds no reason to make sacrifices for something more than his/her own interest, but instead creates an image of oneself as a victim of neo-capitalism, where almost anything is allowed for the rich. “Quality TV series” is extensive, but very interesting reading for all those who follow current series as well as for all who think critically about their meaning and the power structure they demonstrate.
Donatella Gasparini, Rijeka City Library
It is possible to argue with what is exposed between the covers of this book, some of the theses may call for an “inner dialogue” between the reader and the author, but above all it must be emphasized that Kvalitetne TV series, despite its uniqueness in the entire post-Yugoslav region, provides a fluent edition , with plenty of relevant illustrations of what has been established and said, as well as a fine balance between the audience’s passion and calm theoretical analysis of this topic.
Zoran Janković, Serbian Center of Serbia
“Quality TV Series” is a rare and valuable book and an important contribution to film essays. The author thoughtfully and analytically analyzes, shows knowledge of the medium she writes about, denounces and argues sequences, meticulously presents theses and antitheses, organizedly explains the complex structures and less visible mechanisms that make up the television industry using concrete examples of justifiably praised television series. Rich and informative, accurate, reviewed and concise, the title “Quality TV Series” will serve many people in further research. This study of the powerful television machinery will tickle the attention of viewers, forcing them to study television series more studiously and to watch them again, but from a much deeper and more analytical perspective.
Miroslav Cmuk, FILMOVI.hr