Subplot Basics

What this episode covers

On April 22, 2023, Kasie and Rex took on subplots: the types, uses, and instructions thereof. We’ve done plot twists, internet grab bag, and outlines so far this month. We’ve been all over the map. And the madness continues this week as we take on subplots: that un-talked-about thing that writers know they’re supposed to know but pretend they don’t know. Watching The Goldbergs I was reminded of the power of subplots: shadow point making. When a story has a specific idea its working on, the subplot reflects that idea, reinforces it. No place is this done better than in the sitcom The Goldbergs. An episode we watched this week (that was probably from like February since we DVR them) had two storylines: 1) Erica and Jeff have a debate about whether Jeff’s parents are “fun” for the baby to spend time with, they challenge his parents to step up their game and they meet the challenge; they don’t however, explain how exhausted they are afterwards; 2) Pop-Pop is expected to move out, back into his own apartment that has been repaired, but he doesn’t want to; he doesn’t express his desire to stay, instead, he tries to behave in a way that elicits the invitation to stay.