Episodi

Episodi is the plural of episodio in Italian; it denotes individual units of content in media or discrete events within a sequence. In television and radio, an episodio is a single installment released as part of a season or series.

Etymology: From Italian episodio, derived from Latin episodium, ultimately from Greek, the term has long been used to describe insertions in a narrative and later, units of programming.

Media usage: In TV, episodes have numbers indicating season and episode; pilots are often marked as “episodio pilota” or simply “pilot.” Length varies by format, typically around 20 to 60 minutes. Some series follow an episodic, self-contained structure, while others are serialized with ongoing arcs. Streaming platforms frequently release entire seasons at once, altering traditional viewing rhythms.

Other uses: In medicine and psychology, an episode refers to a distinct occurrence of symptoms, such as a seizure or a panic episode. Outside health contexts, the term can describe a notable incident within a sequence of events in journalism or crime reporting.

In scholarly and critical contexts, episodic structure influences pacing, cliffhangers, and character development, and it is often contrasted with serialized or anthology formats. The concept of an episodio thus spans storytelling, broadcasting practice, and diagnostic language, reflecting how sequences are divided and experienced.