In this way a pop era liaison becomes a series of sentimental episodes (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
soap opera
'in this way a pop era liaison becomes a series of sentimental episodes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'in this way a pop era' is the wordplay.
'in this way' becomes 'so'.
'so'+'a'+'pop'+'era'='SOAP-OPERA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for soap opera that I've seen before include "Long-running story supposedly true to life" , "that might involve The Woolpack?" , ""Coronation Street", for example" , "Regularly broadcast series" , "Sentimental TV serial, sounds clean" .)