Since its inception, the Star Trek franchise’s scriptwriters have experimented with many different types of storytelling. From narratives that include non-linear timelines and episodes that build upon one another, the writers offered viewers a variety of ways to experience the stories.
While series like Picard include episodes that are linked together to tell a story and reveal information and plot points over several episodes or even an entire season, Star Trek truly shines with episodic storytelling because this type of narrative, where an episode’s story is self-contained, has several advantages for viewers.
Episodic scripts are more effective in introducing a show to new fans
Introducing friends to Star Trek can be tricky, especially when it comes to choosing an episode that is both enjoyable and allows new viewers to get to know Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew without needing any prior information (although if you’re already a Star Trek fan, chances are your friends have heard plenty about these characters!)
Stand-alone episodes from the original series, like “The Devil in the Dark” (S01E26) and “The Trouble With Tribbles” (S02E15) introduce characters, their motives and abilities, and give newer viewers a better idea of who they are as people rather than focusing on plots that continue into other episodes.
Episodic storytelling makes for improved character development
Sometimes, character development can get lost in a story that’s told over several episodes or contains information from previous narratives.
The driving action that is needed to tell a longer or more involved story sometimes harms character development, which is necessary for a show to succeed in the long run.
Episodic stories often become fan favorites
Ask any Star Trek fan about their favorite episode—the one that offers comfort, familiarity, and even a feeling of safety—and that fan will likely name a self-contained story. This isn’t unusual because episodic fare is simple to consume. These are also episodes that fans likely enjoy having on in the background while they take care of household chores, much in the way others enjoy music during that time.
No matter the series, Star Trek is a comfort for fans who want to imagine a better future for humanity, where species cooperate, make allies, and band together as a Federation to protect the peace. While some of today’s Star Trek content relies more on serialization, episodic storytelling has more advantages and tends to endure longer in the minds of the fans.
More from Redshirts Always Die: