Crime, drama, young adult, comedy, and action – these well-known genres have solidified their presence and frequently blend into or overlap with other categories. However, beyond these conventional genres, there’s a plethora of other storytelling forms to explore.
Even in Hollywood’s creative landscape, productions no longer adhere strictly to predefined formulas. Extraordinary storytelling genres have emerged. Some are officially recognized, while others carve out their unique niche due to the categorizations employed by streaming services. But which of these genres stand out as unconventional?
Mockumentary
This form of series comes in the style of a documentary, but it takes a hard look at itself and the subject. The latest example is probably Death to 2020, but Arrested Development, Stromberg, Real Rob and Lunatics are also examples. Even the German Netflix series “How to sell Drugs online (fast)” belongs to this category.
One of the reasons for the popularity of these series is that mockumentaries often offer a satirical and humorous perspective on topics that are normally serious or even frightening. By mixing fiction and reality, they convey a sense of authenticity and credibility, which makes viewers empathise more with the story and sympathise with the characters.
Mockumentaries are usually very creative and experimental in the way they tell stories. They do this by, among other things, integrating interviews with actors into roles or combining seemingly real documentary footage with staged scenes.
Dramedy
Does drama have to be exclusively serious and dark? No, because this storytelling style combines tragedy with humor. Most viewers have likely encountered at least one show of this type without even realizing it.
Here are some examples of dramedies:
- Ally McBeal – a classic in this genre.
- Better Call Saul – another example, aired on Pro7 in this country.
- Club of the Red Ribbons – surprisingly, this series, based on the book by Spanish author Espinosa, falls into the dramedy category due to its comedic elements.
- Desperate Housewives – a well-known classic in this field.
- Sex Education – its classification in this genre is unsurprising, with humor often overshadowing the drama.
- Orange is the New Black – a classic dramedy case.
Wikipedia alone currently lists 173 shows in this category, and it’s likely that the list is not exhaustive.
Military
This category also boasts its own unique shows, constituting a distinct genre within the medium. However, it becomes evident how categories often blend into one another. While only a few series focus solely on the military or military institutions, many involve the military or soldiers in some capacity.
Best examples of series set in war or military:
Special Ops: Lioness – CIA secret agents (superbly portrayed by: Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira) infiltrate a terrorist organization planning to assassinate the US.
Navy CIS – along with its various spin-offs. Like other shows in this genre, these often revolve around crime and have a military backdrop.
Band of Brothers – in contrast to Navy CIS, this series delves into historical narratives, tracking a battalion in the Second World War. ‘The Pacific’ also falls into this category.
The scenario changes when considering documentaries in serial format. The typical selection and training documentaries featuring Navy Seals and other elite units can be categorized as military documentaries, depending on the channel or streaming service.
The topic of military or war in series refers to content that usually depicts military conflicts or acts of war. These are often characterised by a variety of features. They often show military conflicts in various locations, such as battlefields, warships, aircraft and cities, along with the various aspects of warfare such as combat, wounding, tactics and strategy.
Series on these topics usually focus on soldiers and their fight against the enemy. Human emotions such as fear, courage and comradeship are often thematised. The majority of these films contain a strong patriotic component. They show the soldiers as heroes fighting for their country.
Series genres without real classification
A glance at the home page of Netflix or Disney Plus / Star brings more series genres to light. However, these are not true genres, as long as the term “true genre” is equated with classically recognised.
Some examples of mixed genres:
- Exciting entertainment from … – this category is quite common on Netflix. These are simply genre series from specific countries or regions. The ‘exciting’ can easily be replaced with tragic, humorous, frightening and other adjectives.
- Strong women – this section has become very popular. It too does not offer a glimpse into a real genre of series, but presents series that showcase strong women in a prominent form.
- LGBTX – if at least one series character belongs to the LGBTX community, the series can appear in this section.
The difference to real film genres is that the content of the series is less important for this classification than the characters or the origin of the series. This is also revealed in the next unofficial series category.
Casino series
Series in the context of casinos or gambling also do not fall under the classic genre categories. Mostly, these series show clearly recognizable overlaps with other series genres. Here is a list of some casino series. For those looking to explore exciting casino-themed games with amazing bonuses, you can check out this site: https://www.richardcasino3.com/promotions.
These shows are primarily set in casinos or their vicinity:
- CSI: Las Vegas – indeed, this show falls into the casino category. Located in Las Vegas, it frequently incorporates elements of the casino world, with gambling often serving as a backdrop for criminal cases.
- Las Vegas – aptly named after the gambling capital, this series spans five seasons, offering viewers a glimpse into the daily operations of a fictional casino. While it revolves around Las Vegas, it leans more towards the city itself rather than gambling. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing.
- Caesars Challenge – dating back to 1993, this show unfolds at Caesars Palace Casino. It takes the form of a reality game show, with the host dressed as a Roman gladiator. While entertaining, it differs from contemporary series as we know them today.
- The Casino – a documentary series, this production delves into the process of owning a casino in Las Vegas. It adopts the format of a reality show, shadowing two millionaires.
- King of Vegas – featuring six professionals and six amateurs competing in poker and blackjack, this show appeals to those who relish watching the games. It’s worth noting that this series, though enjoyable, hails from an earlier era, and what was considered groundbreaking then is now commonplace, thanks to online streaming.
Indeed, the casino and gambling landscape has yet to witness a dedicated series, but these portrayals offer entertaining insights.
Conclusion – the fascinating world of series landscapes
Today’s shows—and by extension, the genres they represent—are nothing like what they used to be. This transformation is positive, as this diversity turns the streaming landscape itself into a genuine genre. Viewers can explore numerous categories and always stumble upon something entirely novel.
Diversity is as abundant in series as it is in gaming. The offerings in this genre are certainly lavish in terms of entertainment. Who knows, perhaps someday we’ll witness a casino-themed series presented in a Game of Thrones style. After all, new poker heroes are already emerging through online platforms and reality or casting shows.
