Hanna – Episode 6

This post analyzes the Amazon Prime television series Hanna using the 5 Commandments of Storytelling and the Editor’s 6 Core Questions from the book The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

This post contains spoilers from the Amazon Prime television series Hanna, so make sure you watch the show before you read further.

The 5 Commandments for Episode 6

Inciting Incident

Marissa finds Sophie’s family

Progressive Complication/ Turning Point

Marissa uses Sophie’s phone to trick Hanna into meeting her, then threatens Sophie and her family if Hanna doesn’t come quietly.

Crisis

Does Hanna run or show loyalty to Sophie and obey Marissa?

Climax

Hanna goes with Marissa

Resolution

Marrisa calls Jerome to help with extraction, but before Jerome can secure Hanna, Eric finds them and is able to escape with Hanna in a helicopter.

Value Shift

This value shift for the episode as a thriller is a -/+. At the beginning, Hanna is recaptured and at the end she is rescued by Eric.

Conventions and Obligatory Scenes for the Action Genre

Obligatory Scenes

Hero’s All is Lost Moment, when he must change his approach in order to salvage some form of victory – I’m still hoping there will be a big all is lost moment near the end.

Hero at the Mercy of the Villain – Too early yet.

Hero’s Sacrifice is Rewarded – Too early yet

Conventions

Hero, Villain, Victim clearly defined – Hero – Hanna; Villain – Marissa; Victim – Maybe Hanna too? (To be determined)

The hero’s object of desire – stop the villain and save the victims

The Power divide between the hero and villain is very large – Hanna is alone, with only her father’s training; Marissa has many resources and men and an agency behind her

Speech in praise of the villain – To early yet, though Erik has warned Hanna that Marissa is dangerous.

Summary

The story makes sense, though the fact that Eric knows how to fly a helicopter is kind of hard to believe. Hanna should still have doubts about trusting him, but I get that she trusts him over Marissa. So far, I’m liking the series, only 2 more episodes. I hope the writers don’t get lazy with the end.

More Story Analysis

If you want to see more applications of the Story Grid methodology, below are links to my analysis of various novels and television shows in blog posts and podcasts:

Story Grid Showrunners Podcast – Parul, Melanie, and I analyze hit TV series using the Story Grid methodology.

My blog posts analyzing other Television series – my person take using the Story grid 5 Commandments to look at my favorite TV series – Jack Ryan, Batgirl, For All Mankind, Hanna, and more.

Novel analysis – I analyze some of my favorite books using the Story Grid 5 Commandments and 6 core questions – First Blood, Old Man’s War, Waylander, and more to come!