# Procedural — Series Sub-Type

> Case-of-the-week format. Investigation/process-driven. Often crime, medical, legal.

## Defining elements

- Case-of-the-week structure
- Process-driven (procedure)
- Largely standalone episodes
- Recurring cast solving cases
- Audience-friendly (jump-in any episode)

## Examples

- Law & Order (franchise)
- CSI franchise
- NCIS
- House M.D.
- The Good Wife
- Bones
- Criminal Minds
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (procedural comedy)

## Structural conventions

### Case-of-the-week
- New case opens episode
- Investigated through episode
- Resolved by episode end

### Procedure shown
- Real-feeling investigation
- Steps taken
- Process visible

### Recurring framework
- Same team, same setting
- Audience knows the format
- Comfort in repetition

### Subplots through season
- Light personal arcs
- B-stories slow burn
- A-story always case

## Voice / style

- Procedural language
- Authentic to profession (research)
- Clean editing
- Established formula

## Episodes

- 42 min (network) typical
- 22 per season usually
- Long-running often (10+ seasons)

## Procedural beats

```
COLD OPEN (0-5 min)
- Crime committed (often shown)
- Or body discovered
- Hook the case

ACT 1 (5-15 min)
- Team gets case
- Initial investigation
- Suspects identified

ACT 2 (15-30 min)
- Deeper investigation
- Twists
- Personal subplot beat

ACT 3 (30-40 min)
- Final clue / breakthrough
- Climactic confrontation
- Case resolved

TAG (40-42 min)
- Wrap-up
- Personal beat
- Setup for next episode
```

## When to write

- Network broadcast TV
- Wide audience appeal
- Procedural craft
- Long-running potential
- Specific profession to explore
- Comfortable formula
