A bottle is a narrow-necked, rigid or semirigid container that is used to hold liquids and semiliquids. It is usually fitted with a close-fitting stopper or cap to protect its contents from spills, evaporation, or contact with foreign substances. Bottles come in many shapes and sizes, and they are often made of glass or plastic. They can also be translucent, opaque, or clear and may feature markings on their sides or bottom to help identify the contents of the bottle.
While a bottle is commonly associated with beverages, it can be used to hold a wide range of items. For example, bottles can be filled with medicines or other household chemicals, and can also be used to store foods. Regardless of their purpose, however, bottles are typically manufactured by means of a machine. Krones AG, for instance, manufactures a number of machines that can be used to create plastic bottles. Their Contiform 3 model, for example, combines stretch blow molding and filling capabilities in one unit that is known for its accuracy and efficiency.
Bottles can be crafted from a variety of materials, including glass, plastic, and metal. Glass bottles, which are generally colored to add branding elements, offer high levels of protection for their contents while also retaining attractive transparency and gloss. However, they are fragile and can break easily. Their disposal contributes to waste, as they can’t be recycled indefinitely and many are discarded by consumers after just a single use.
Plastic bottles, which are more common than their glass counterparts, have the advantage of being lighter and cheaper to make. However, they do not protect their contents as well as glass and are susceptible to damage by light and heat. They are also not as good at holding liquids in a thin layer, so their contents tend to lose consistency over time.
The most popular type of plastic bottle is polyethylene terephthalate, better known as PET. Its resin code, which is indicated by a triangle that resembles the recycling symbol, is 1, and it’s currently one of the most widely recycled plastics. While some plastics can be recycled only a few times, PET can be recycled into new bottles again and again without losing its quality.
It would be convenient if there were an episode category called a “bottle episode.” Unfortunately, it’s not possible to conflate all episodes that don’t follow the conventions of other, more established show formats into such a category, as that would be meaningless. Moreover, defining a term such as bottle episode would only lead to confusion and arguments over what does or doesn’t count. That’s why it is important to carefully consider the criteria for an episode to be referred to as a bottle one. The goal is to find a definition that makes sense, both in terms of narrative impression and behind-the-scenes necessity. This article will examine some of the most popular options for a bottle episode and discuss why each is suitable for such a designation.
