One of the greatest attributes attached to the melodramatic genre is that it holds a wide variety of styles, settings, and characters. The criteria, like every other film or television show revolves around the dramatic conflict and how the characters deal with it. The evolution of this genre is constantly being revised by those who insist on testing its limit - whether it be shifting the setting to the workplace as seen on West Wing or E.R., or having unique interaction between family members by creating a generation gap seen on Dawson's Creek. Although the discussions of how the family melodrama differs from the family sitcom is focused on interaction with others, it has become increasingly clear that both formats have varied their family oriented structure to the interaction between coworkers and partnerships. One melodrama that exemplifies this is the hit series, Felicity.
By presenting a unique coming of age story that struggles to deal with mature relationships, expanding the notion of family with a tight-knit gap of students, and creating an atmosphere that binds them together for a four year period has helped shape up within the evolution of this genre. .
First and foremost, what makes Felicity stand out as a melodrama is creating a lovable character that enters a foreign environment alone (with the exception of following her high school crush) and is basically forced to find connections with fellow students. Besides the initial fact that I relate on some level to the collegiate experience, the interaction with the characters is one that everybody would envy. Never has there been a series that has successfully begun and ended within that four year time period. .
The episode I watched that exemplified the dynamics of the interaction between college students was filmed the second to last season as the series finale. The main story that centered the episode was Noel's (Felicity's best guy friend) graduation from college along with the confession of his love for her.