So it's basically a semi-open writing assignment, but you must choose where to specify that also fits within the umbrella of the question. Like "Analyze the role of a character in Dante's The Inferno" just added an extra degree of freedom with the character being analyzed whereas "Analyze the role of Virgil in Dante's The Inferno" is now a semi-open writing assignment. The open writing assignment gives the advantage of allowing you to write about something you know well.

My English teacher from senior year would always tell us to read the question several times and to even underline it. He said we often get lost in our own train of thought when writing and many forgot to answer the initial question. Always remember to actually answer the question.

Allusion to a well known television show is being used to draw a personal connection to the reader. Perhaps to make this seem like an amiable guide rather than an instruction manual.