TV series have gained explosive cultural significance in recent years. They have long replaced film as the leading entertainment medium and, consequently, as a means of social distinction. The fields of literature, media, and communication studies have recognized this increase in importance and have developed television research as a new focus, especially in the English-speaking world. This volume aims to contribute to linking existing television research with the social sciences and to promote discussion in the German-speaking area. It adopts a thematic approach to emphasize the social science component of the studies: it focuses on the increasingly popular figures of zombies, vampires, aliens, ghosts, monsters, and other fantastic others in recent years.