The Wound and the Villain

As a story consultant, one of the things that I do is study the season arcs of television shows. Two shows that I’ve watched recently that had very noteworthy season arcs were THE NIGHT MANAGER and HAPPY VALLEY. The noteworthy strengths in both shows are the arc of the wound for the central character and how the powerful and compelling villain keeps the protagonist in a constant state of conflict.

I’ve always known that the arc of the wound makes us feel the story. When you combine this with an adversary who is a true threat, it takes story to a whole new level. When the audience feels the story at this level, it creates a desire to return to the show.

In HAPPY VALLEY, Catherine’s wound has to do with her daughter’s suicide after giving birth. In the series arc, Catherine discovers from her ex-husband that Tommy Lee Royce—the man she believes raped her daughter, leading to her daughter’s pregnancy and eventual suicide—is being released from prison.

In this series, the villain caused the wound that is fueling the protagonist. This is a very powerful series dilemma. The question being debated throughout the season is whether Catherine will take the law into her own hands and find the justice that she seeks.

The series arc involving Tommy Lee Royce centers on a kidnapping. This is the primary case that drives the season. What we learn is that Catherine’s wound could be experienced all over again in a different form by the time the finale arrives.

Tommy Lee Royce is an exceptionally strong antagonist. We witness both his brokenness and his capacity for evil through the young woman who is kidnapped. We also glimpse a deeply human side to his darkness when he begins communicating with the son he never knew he had until his release from prison. Throughout Season One, he creates countless internal and external obstacles for Catherine to confront. The season works so well because, in the finale, we truly feel every thread coming to a head. The answer to the season question is finally revealed.

In THE NIGHT MANAGER, there is a very powerful wound that we experience in the first episode with Jonathan Pine. The trauma of his loss is what fuels his pursuit throughout the season. The villain is the international arms dealer Richard Roper.

Jonathan’s initial trauma is caused by a choice he makes after learning that the arms deal is about to take place. Following this devastating loss, a British intelligence officer recruits him to infiltrate Roper’s inner circle. Jonathan must become a criminal himself in order to achieve his goal.

The wound of Jonathan’s loss is further magnified through the pilot arc by his relationship with Roper’s girlfriend, Jed. Jonathan’s desire for love begins to interfere with the mission, creating tremendous obstacles in his conflict with Roper. The dynamic between Pine and Roper, combined with our understanding of Jonathan’s wound, is what emotionally draws us into this incredibly gripping series.

I believe that the key to a successful television series is the combination of these two components. When executed well, the series trigger and dilemma establish the protagonist’s wound. In doing so, they set up the internal story and create an arc of internal stakes.

When you pair this with a strong villain, the audience gains a constant sense of the worst that could happen throughout the series. This creates momentum and sustained tension. It is the combination of the protagonist’s internal wound and the external force of the villain that leads to undeniable drama. That is what keeps the audience coming back.