What is intertextuality's role in TV drama analysis?

• A. It refers to the text's internal rhythm
• B. It draws on other texts, genres, tropes
• C. It is about production budgets
• D. It concerns only original content

Answer: (B)

Intertextuality in TV drama analysis is about how a show speaks to other texts—films, books, earlier series, or familiar genre conventions. It looks at references, allusions, pastiche, or homages that shape how we understand the narrative, characters, tone, and themes. By tracing these connections, analysts can see how a drama situates itself within a broader media landscape, comments on genre expectations, or uses audience recognition to layer meaning. For example, a crime drama might echo classic detective fiction or use a familiar procedural trope to signal a certain mood or critique of the genre. These links influence how viewers interpret the work and reveal how it engages with or challenges audience expectations. The other options describe unrelated aspects: internal rhythm concerns pacing and structure, production budgets deal with money and resources, and focusing only on original content ignores how texts borrow from others.