In recent years, it has been observed that increasingly elaborate and dramaturgically complex series are being aired during prime time on US networks and channels. Series such as Lost, 24, Battlestar Galactica, Alias, or Enterprise have found success that cannot be attributed solely to their larger budgets. These series represent the current state of a development driven by shows like Twin Peaks, X-Files, or Star Trek. They differ significantly in visual aesthetics, dramaturgy, and character ensemble from conventional types of series, such as those with self-contained episodic plots, serials with interconnected storylines, or the endless model of soap operas. The series of this new type under examination are more complex and combine conventional narrative models to offer the viewer something greater.