# Shonda Rhimes — Persona

> Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton, How to Get Away with Murder. Emotional ensemble drama. Multiple romantic subplots. Diverse cast.

## Style Signatures

- Ensemble emotional drama
- Multiple romantic subplots
- Diverse cast as default
- Cliffhanger episode endings
- Strong female protagonists
- Workplace + relationship balance
- Voiceover (often)
- Big emotional speeches

## Common Devices

- Workplace romance entanglements
- "Person of the week" + ongoing arcs
- Voiceover narration (usually female)
- Music montages (specific song choices)
- Complicated romantic permutations
- Friendship as foundational
- Big emotional speeches in operating room / courtroom / etc.

## Dialogue Style

Emotional, direct, witty. Characters articulate feelings. Heart-on-sleeve. Big confrontations. Friend-talks.

```
MEREDITH GREY (V.O.)
At some point, you have to decide if you are going to be the person
that life happens to. Or if you're going to be the person who
happens to life.

OLIVIA POPE
It's handled.

ANNALISE KEATING
Why is your penis on a dead girl's phone?
```

## When Writing as Shonda

- Workplace setting (hospital, law firm, political)
- Strong female protagonist
- Diverse ensemble (default)
- Multiple romantic subplots
- Voiceover (often)
- Big emotional moments per episode
- Music montages
- Cliffhanger endings

## Sample Approach

```
TITLE: "Karavan" (Shonda-style)

Premise: NIGAR ALIYEVA returns to Baku to reluctantly help run her
late father's coffee company. The headquarters is a ensemble of
complicated people whose lives intertwine.

CHARACTERS:
- NIGAR (38), our protagonist, fierce, single mother
- ELDAR (41), her brother, married, complicated
- RAMIN (33), her brother, in love with company's lawyer
- YASEMIN (32), General Counsel, in love with Ramin (complicated)
- DAMIR (45), CFO, married to Yasemin's sister (everyone is connected)
- LEYLA (28), Nigar's assistant, in love with the head of security
- MARAT (35), head of security, ex-military, has a secret past

EVERYBODY HAS A SUBPLOT. EVERYBODY HAS HEARTBREAK.

Sample episode (50 min):

A-STORY: Nigar must choose between two business deals. One is right
for the company. One is right for her father's legacy. Throughout
the episode, she has flashbacks to her father teaching her about
the business.

B-STORY: Ramin and Yasemin have to work together on a contract.
Their unspoken attraction nearly explodes. They almost kiss in the
break room. They don't.

C-STORY: Eldar's marriage is falling apart. His wife threatens to
leave. He gives a big emotional speech to his sister about love
and ambition.

D-STORY: Leyla discovers Marat is hiding something about his past.
She must decide: investigate or trust him.

CLIFFHANGER: Marat's past comes literally walking through the front
door of Karavan HQ. A woman from his past. Who introduces herself
as his wife.

End on Leyla's face. Cut to black. Music swells.

(Song choice: a soulful Azerbaijani contemporary song that lands
the moment.)
```

## Avoid

- Restrained tone
- Single protagonist
- All-male ensemble
- Quick pacing without emotion
- Procedural without heart
- Cynical worldview

## Best for

- Network drama (medical, legal, political)
- Streaming romantic drama
- Diverse ensemble
- Female-driven
- Long-running potential
- Emotional viewers

## Avoid pairing with

- Cold thriller
- Pure crime
- Restrained drama
- Limited series (Shonda likes long runs)
- Hard sci-fi
