A deep analysis into Serial\u2019s narrative structure demonstrate the complexity of podcasting. The narrator, Sarah Koenig makes each episode in this series self-contained and a puzzle piece to the overarching story of Adnan\u2019s involvement in Hae\u2019s murder. The producer uses various narrative techniques to create a story that is coherent, well-paced, and interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The narrator, Koenig, does a good job sewing all the episodes together so that they all form one coherent story. She achieves this by using cliff hangers at the end of each episode. Sarah concludes episode 4 with the phrase \u201c\u2026so how exactly did they corroborate it. Next time on Serial.\u201d This phrase achieves two things, it compels listeners to tune in to the next episode and provides a bridge between successive episodes. More specifically, these cliffhangers link the information of one episode to the next by concluding what was explained in episode 4 and forming a focus point from which the next episode can expand on. It is such a small detail that goes a long way since it eases one part of the story to the next <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way, that these episodes are sewed together is by keeping the core fabric of the story the same in each episode. Other than the obvious, that these episodes are about Adnan Syed\u2019s trial, they also have other commonalities among them. Episodes 3-6 all have to do with Adnan\u2019s cell phone records. These records, as Koenig put it, are the strongest evidence against Adnan. In episode 4 the phones calls are discussed in relation to Jay\u2019s testimony and how they corroborated his story; in episode 5, the state used the cell records to create a timeline of Adnan\u2019s whereabouts the day of the murder; in episode 6, certain phones calls are used to as evidence against Adnan. Therefore, each episode builds a clear image for listeners and increases the need to listen to the next episode. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although season one of Serial is only about one case, the author follows certain measures to make each episode self-contained. One way that Koenig achieves this, is by being conscious of what facts will develop the story and what facts will distract from the topic at hand. This is shown in episode five, at around 17 minutes, when she promises listeners that she will come back to the importance of a particular piece of evidence in a future episode and continues to review only the relevance of a call to the time schedule created by the state. With this phrase, Sarah makes a clear line of where one episode starts and ends, she does not mull over facts pointlessly but makes an active effort to keep her story straight and to the point. In my opinion, this has a positive effect on listeners, making the podcast faster in pace and easier to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another example of this is seen in episode four where the focus of the story is on Jay\u2019s testimony. In this particular episode, the amount of time that Adnan Syed is heard talking to Koenig is reduced to two short clips. The majority of audio clips are from police records in which Jay is being interrogated. Conversations between Jay and police officers populate the second half of the episode making them the focus of the entire episode. Effectively, the way that the episodes are structures make for an easy listen for audience members and a lasting impression. These interrogations themselves are a very effective at captivating a listeners attention because they are filled with suspense and emotion and put the listener at the heart of the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From episodes one through six, Koenig does a great job of making the podcast interesting. A key narrative technique that really develops by episode six is Koenig\u2019s usage of her phone conversations with Adnan in the podcasts. These conversations make this podcast very entertaining, since they give listeners the opportunity to make their own conclusion about Adnan through the way he talks and answers Koenig\u2019s questions. Koenig says that she shares all her evidence with Adnan to try to catch him in a lie and by including this audio she brings listeners along with her to equally scrutinized Adnan, making the podcast more interactive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Serial is created with such finesse that it is difficult to stop listening to it after an episode ends. It has this effect because in each episode Koenig foreshadows information of future episodes as well as recalls information from previous episodes making the podcast a single story told in chronological order. Also, Koenig uses evidence effectively to support each point she makes, and her continued use of interview audio keeps listeners engaged and eager to find out what happens next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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