Answered By: Elaine M. Patton Last Updated: Apr 17, 2023 Views: 282
MLA citations follow the same basic checklist regardless of format: name of source, what larger work it's part of, whether it's part of a numbered series (season and episode number in this case), who made it, and when it was made.
For example,
"Name of Source (Episode Title)." | "Act of God." |
Name of the Overall Show, | The Crown, |
Numbers, | season 1, episode 4, |
Producer,* | Netflix, |
Year of Release, | 2016, |
Location. | https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678. |
*Because Netflix is the producer as well as the release platform, we're not creating a second container. An example of this is provided at the bottom of this entry.
Put together, the citation looks like:
"Act of God." The Crown, season 1, episode 4, Netflix, 2016, https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678.
In-text citations would look like...
- Parenthetical: ("Act of God"). ("Act of God" 24:30-25:12).
- Narrative: In the episode "Act of God," a character gives a speech emphasizing the "something something" (24:30-25:12).
Including Other Contributors
TV shows are a collaborative effort, and you can choose to include various key people -- especially if you want to focus on a particular aspect of the work.
To expand on the preceding example,
"Act of God." The Crown, created by Peter Morgan, directed by Julian Jarrold, performance by John Lithgow, season 1, episode 4, Netflix, 2016, https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678.
MLA 9th edition discusses "key contributors" who should always be listed in a citation (translators and editors) as well as those who should "generally" be listed (film directors, music conductors, and groups like dance companies and choirs) [MLA 5.39]. Occasionally you may use these key contributors in the Author element if you're focusing on their choices.
Jarrold, Julian, director. "Act of God." The Crown, created by Peter Morgan, performance by John Lithgow, season 1, episode 4, Netflix, 2016, https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678.
Other types of contributors that you can include as needed (such as the "performance by..." in the example above) will generally not be used in the Author element [MLA 5.41].
What about a show on Netflix that is not a Netflix original?
This will still be very similar to the preceding examples. The same guidance about contributors and performances also applies.
"Name of Source (Episode Title)." | "Venom of the Red Lotus." |
Name of the Overall Show, | The Legend of Korra, |
Numbers, | season 3, episode 13, |
Producer,* | Nickelodeon Animation Studio, |
Year of Release, | 2014. |
Name of the Streaming Platform, | Netlfix, |
Location. | https://www.netflix.com/watch/80027563. |
"Venom of the Red Lotus." The Legend of Korra, season 3, episode 13, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, 2014. Netlfix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80027563.
"Venom of the Red Lotus." The Legend of Korra, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, season 3, episode 13, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, 2014. Netlfix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80027563.
"Venom of the Red Lotus." The Legend of Korra, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, directed by Melchior Zwyer, season 3, episode 13, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, 2014. Netlfix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80027563.
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