Book excerpt: In this book, Marco Ianniello investigates the complex art of television drama screenwriting, arguing that the screenplay itself, rather than the final product, is at the heart of the current success of the genre. Bridging a crucial gap between theory and practice through textual analyses of various case studies, Ianniello expands on television story structure theory and screenwriting practice by foregrounding story construction and character development in the serial drama. The development of these key frameworks – structure and character – will enable both screenwriting scholars and practitioners to better identify, assess, critique, and craft the complexities of the television drama screenplay.