Meaning
What does Bottle Episode mean?
Bottle Episodes are becoming increasingly popular among television series, as they are an inexpensive way to produce quality content.
A “Bottle Episode” is one that is typically confined to one setting and has limited cast members, usually featuring only the regular characters of the show. This type of episode is typically used as a filler between other more expensive episodes, or as a way to focus on character development without too much of a story arc.
As such, bottle episodes often have a slower pace and more dialogue-heavy scenes which allow viewers to get to know the characters on a deeper level.
While these episodes may not be the most exciting in terms of plot advancement, they can provide important insight into the relationships between characters and provide viewers with valuable information about their motivations and personalities.
Interestingly, “Bottle Episodes” are a well-liked genre among fans, with many being top rated in the history of a show. A popular example of this is the Season 5, Episode 14 of Brooklyn Nine Nine, titled The Box.
Origin
What's the origin of Bottle Episode?
“Bottle Episode” originated from the expression “Bottle Show”, a term coined in the 1960s by Leslie Stevens, the creator of the TV series The Outer Limits.
Over the following decades, “Bottle Shows” and “Bottle Episodes” gained a large prominence among directors and producers, due to the fact that they are easy to realize and cost-efficient.
Spread & Usage
How did Bottle Episode spread?
The history of television provides us with countless examples of “Bottle Episodes”, dating back to the 1960s.
One of the earliest of these is the third serial of the Doctor Who series, titled The Edge of Destruction, which ran in February 1964.
Since then, various top-rated series have aired a “Bottle Episode”, including Friends, Star Trek as well as Breaking Bad.
