How To Write Narrative Triplets In The Style Of Serenity

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

A Narrative Triplet is where a concept or a theme is launched in the first use, established in the second, and then resolved in the third. It can make a good beginning, middle and end to your story. Use of a Narrative Triplet makes the experience of reading it or watching it more satisfying for the audience.

The first appearance of a Narrative Triplet represents something about the character or the story. It is then repeated in the second act to emphasise the point. In the third act, it’s inverted to demonstrate the end of the arc that has been used through the story.

Narrative Triplets can be intense, sexy, dramatic, anything you like. The one I’m going to be analysing in this blog post is a funny one, which is Narrative Triplets in the style of Serenity.

First Use Of The Narrative Triplets In The Style Of Serenity

Jayne Cobb, played by Adam Baldwin, is the tough guy on the team of space pirates who fly around in a ship called Serenity. During the introduction to the characters, the ship’s captain, Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is giving them all the plans for their mission and Jayne Cobb is pestering to take grenades with them. Mal says no grenades, because they’re robbing the place not blowing it up.

This initial reference to Jayne’s grenades works as a demonstration of their characters. Jayne as a trigger happy tough guy who loves to use weapons. Mal as more focussed on the mission. In and of itself, the reference works for character introduction.

Second Use in Serenity

In the second mention of the grenades, they’re on the planet. During their mission, the monsters they’re scared of, the Reevers, which are undead zombie things, attack them. During their escape, when they’re riding on a little buggy with Jayne being dragged along behind trying to avoid being eaten by the Reevers. He shouts to Mal that it sure would be useful if they had some grenades with them.

This second reference is satisfying and funny, harking back to the reference at the beginning of the film.

Third Use In Serenity

The third mention of the grenades is at the end of the film. Mal and Jayne are back to back, surrounded by Reevers and to fight for their lives. As they’re about to trap some behind closing doors, Mal asks Jayne if he brought some this time. Jayne nods, throws grenades through the door, and blows up the Reevers as the doors close.

The third use does the job they need to do, by getting rid of a load of the Reevers, and draws the beginning of the story into the end to make a satisfying connection. It enhances the story and rewards the audience for paying attention, and provides a funny moment in a tense fight scene that is entertaining.

How To Use Narrative Triplets In The Style Of Serenity

With Narrative Triplets, any of the moments through the story can work in isolation. Characters can be established, fight scenes can be completed. You don’t need to use these incidents in a Narrative Triplet style for the story to still work and make sense, and the same results to happen.

However, when you make sure that there’s this running thread through your story, and the moments call back so the final reference is so much more entertaining and satisfying. It elevates the quality of your whole story.

You can edit a narrative triplet into your story during editing. Insert a moment in the first act and repeating it in the second to emphasise a state. Revert it in the third act to enhance the final sequences of your story.

Different Types of Narrative Triplet

There are different ways of using Narrative Triplets. They can be representative of your character’s arc, such as in Joker. Make a climax fight scene more satisfying, such as in Spider-Man. Or be purely for the sake of entertainment and humour, such as the Narrative Triplets in the style of Serenity.

In all cases, the use of the Narrative Triplet enhances the story, and it’s easy to replicate in your own if you’re willing to take the time.

More From JJ Barnes:

I am an author, filmmaker, artist and youtuber, and I am the creator and editor of The Table Read.

You can find links to all my work and social media on my website: www.jjbarnes.co.uk

Buy my books: www.sirenstories.co.uk/books

Follow me on Twitter: @JudieannRose