List of nonlinear narrative television series
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Nonlinear narrative is a storytelling technique in which the events are depicted, for example, out of chronological order, or in other ways where the narrative does not follow the direct causality pattern of the events featured, such as parallel distinctive plot lines, dream immersions, flashbacks, flashforwards or narrating another story inside the main plot-line.{{cite book|last=Ames|first=M.|title=Time in Television Narrative: Exploring Temporality in Twenty-First Century Programming|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|year=2012|isbn=978-1-62674-450-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwobBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT106|access-date=2020-06-25|page=106}}
In television, there are several examples of works that use this kind of narrative, although not all of them use it in the same way. In spite of it being more commonly used on dramas, it can also be found on comedies.
This technique is used for different purposes, such as serving as a narrative hook, to mimic human memory or to explore the past of the story without leaving its present completely aside. In addition, not all television series use this technique in the same extent; some of them use it only in certain episodes, e.g. Fringe, others only in certain seasons, e.g. Breaking Bad, while others do throughout their entire run, e.g. Lost.{{cite book|last=Kallas|first=C.|title=Inside The Writers' Room: Conversations with American TV Writers|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=978-1-137-33813-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LERyBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT155|access-date=2020-06-25|page=155}}
1950s
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| 1959–1963
| ABC | | |
1980s
1990s
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| 1990–1991
| Drama | ABC | |"[https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/oct/12/twin-peaks-return-fans-weird-america Twin Peaks fans party on as show plots return to weird heart of America]". The Guardian. Retrieved on September 30, 2015 |
| 1993–2002, 2016–2018
| Drama | FOX | Features nonlinear narrative with several flashback episodes. | |
| 1994–2004
| Friends | Sitcom | NBC | Features several flashback episodes such as "The One with the Flashback", "The One With The Invitation", and "The One with All the Thanksgivings" |
| 1997–2003
| Supernatural teen drama | The WB | Features nonlinear narrative particularly from season 2 onwards |
| 1999–2004
| Angel | Supernatural drama | The WB | Features flashbacks |
| 1999–2007
| HBO | Features flashbacks in certain episodes, such as "Down Neck" |
2000s
2010s
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=2013=
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| 2013–present
| Action drama | The series features several flashbacks, while its extra episodes (or OVA) are all anachronic. |
| 2013
| Thriller | Star TV | | |
| 2013–2014
| Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | Fantasy drama | ABC | | |
| 2013
| Soap opera | NBC | | |
| 2013–2015
| Hannibal | Drama | NBC | Especially season 3 |
| 2013
| Drama | CBS | | |
| 2013–2017
| Science fiction | Especially season 4 |
| 2013–2019
| Netflix | Mainly through the use of flashbacks |
| 2013–2018
| Fantasy drama | The CW | Extensive use of flashbacks |
| 2013–2019
| Drama | Features flashbacks | {{cite web | title='Ray Donovan' recap: Nothing can go right when a Donovan's getting married | website=EW.com | date=2017-08-14 | url=https://ew.com/recap/ray-donovan-season-5-episode-2/ | access-date=2020-06-24}}{{cite web | last=Tallerico | first=Brian | title=Ray Donovan Recap: Unforgiven | website=Vulture | date=2019-12-30 | url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/ray-donovan-recap-season-7-episode-7-the-transfer-agent.html | access-date=2020-06-24}} |
=2014=
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=2016=
=2017=
=2018=
=2019=
2020s
=2020=
=2021=
=2022=
= 2023 =
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| 2023–present
| Mystery drama | Peacock | Each episode features a different case with flashbacks revealing clues |
| 2023
| The Fall of the House of Usher | Horror miniseries | Netflix | The narrative shifts between past and present to unravel the story |
| 2023–present
| Post-apocalyptic drama | HBO | Features non-linear storytelling through flashbacks to character backstories |
| 2023–present
| Silo | Science fiction drama | Incorporates flashbacks to explore the history and mystery of the silo |
| 2023–present
| Frieren: Beyond Journey's End | Fantasy anime | Features heavy use of flashbacks |
= 2024 =
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| 2024–present
| Sunny | Comedy/drama | Features flashbacks and a flashback episode |
| 2024
| Historical comedy drama | HBO | Features flashbacks |
See also
References
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