Star trek Mystery show

[MAGolding]

Episodic television in general isn't really a good medium for mystery stories. Watch any random network police procedural, and the murderer can usually be figured out by picking out the most recognizable name in the guest cast, or sometimes there's a character the detectives chat with near the beginning who doesn't show up again until near the end, at which point it's guaranteed to be because they are the murderer. Sometimes that character is the recognizable guest star, thereby making their guilt obvious. I've even heard there are some situations where the producers are pursuing a particular actor to guest star on the show, and they actually mandate the only way they'll agree is if they get to play the murderer.

For example, I had such an experience watching an episodes of The Commish, (1991-1960) . in the episode "Nothing to Fear but Fear..." I immediatley decided who the perpetrator was as soon as I saw the actor. Was it an actor who played villains all the time? No, I had only seen that actor portraying good characters before. But that actor had been listed as one of the guest stars in the opening credits but hadn't shown up until a scene where the perpetrator was likely to be in.

 

[dupersuper]

The Commish, (1991-1960)

The Commish was a time travel show?

 

[Shawnster]

We know who the murderer is, generally before the show starts; as you mentioned, it's probably the biggest name in the guest starring cast

That was why the short lived tv series "Motive" appealed to me. The opening teaser of each episode clearly identified the victim and the murderer. So, right from the start the audience knows who done it, so they can be entertained as the story explains the motive.

Dramatic irony is the storytelling concept where the audience has knowledge the characters do not, or vice versa.

 

[Swedish Borg]

How about a Cardassian mystery show where everybody is guilty and you have to find out of what?

 

[MAGolding]

The Commish was a time travel show?

My typo. The Commish was on from 1991 to 1996. Sorry if I comfused you.

 

[Disposable_Ensign]

Personally I'm less of a fan of those stuffy Masterpiece Theatre "manor house" type detective stories, and more of a fan of gritty, hardboiled gumshoe stuff from the 1940s. But perhaps the two approaches could be combined, as we saw with Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin in Rex Stout's books.

Kor

Yes! I forgot to add that. I love Nero Wolfe (well actually I prefer Archie, character-wise). Perhaps the Klingon crime solving duo, NiQ and Noggra charleS.

 

[publiusr]

So, right from the start the audience knows who done it, so they can be entertained as the story explains the motive.

Dramatic irony is the storytelling concept where the audience has knowledge the characters do not.

I might play with that a bit…with the enemy of the victim being blamed…and there having been attempts in the past…but after the perp is executed or whatever… footage of a Pakled accidentally knocking the victim over the railing on the way to a buffet emerges.