Nthing the recommendation for Everything Bad is Good For You. The charts illustrating narrative complexity are comfortingly nerdy.

Also, amusingly, the story-arc/continuity aspect of "nerdfotainment" reminds me of a women's studies course I took in college...traditional "women's" film, books, etc. tend to emphasize a similar kind of thinking, with characters in complex social environments. Your reference to P&P is right on the money there!

The lunchroom where I work has a TV, and there's a group of women who follow one of the soaps, and OMG, following the complexity of characters.... These are also some of the longest-running shows on TV, period, not just years but DECADES. (4th oldest TV show: Guiding Light. 56 years. Only news shows, Disney, and pro bowling (?!) are in the same league.)

Y'all nerd dudes are just catching up. ;)

Oh, and for story arcs, impressive continuity, and all-around nerdy weirdness, I highly recommend The Venture Brothers.