STSNW's episodic storytelling or STD and STP's Serialized Seasons

[TRON JA307020]

Since STSNW premiered I think its been the best of the new shows. They pack a lot of story in the episodic format. Basically there is very little filler material per story like we get in the serialized stories. One of my favorite half hour shows is Adam 12. That show was made in the 1960s and 70s and for its 25 minute runtime excluding commercials they packed a lot of story in each episode. Plenty of meaningful dialigue, tight story telling and episodes you could mull over after they completed. So far STSNW has been successful as they are able to give us a bit about the crew and what they are doing usually in the first 5 or 10 minutes(i.e. having a dinner party in pikes quarters for the crew) then we get straight to the adventure. So far they are doing good at the writing. I hope they keep it that way. I've never been a fan of a straight serialized show with one adventure stretched over 480 to 500 minutes. So take the poll and give your thoughts on what type you like or if you like both. Enjoy.

 

[fireproof78]

Both. Always both.

 

[Mechanoid1]

I agree that an episodic format requires a concise story with the viewer hopefully getting gratification in the end. 2 parters in-between seasons make for epic cliffhangers.
Serialized plots can work. They need however to keep plot continuity, pacing, .... everything Discovery and Picard have struggled to accomplish.

 

[valden]

both can work u just need great writing for both. Buffy the vampire slayer was serialized with each season building to a big bad. TNG was more more episodic with sometimes 2 paters like the best of both worlds but it was great

Discovery is terrible in writing. SNW is decent so far but like many who wonders that because it is still kurtzman , it has the chance to turn from average to terrible.

 

[Jedman67]

I legit don't get the hate for Discovery. I'm in the middle of S3 now, and I find it to be compelling. S3 leans more into arcs rather than serialized.
It's far from flawless, but once you get past the Klingon war in S1 and the first few episodes of S2 it's a very compelling show. I do think SNW knocked it out of the park with the first 2, but there's room for a dud.

 

[Jadeb]

I have no objection to the idea of serialized Trek, but so far the serialized shows have yet to tell a complete story I found truly satisfying. SNW is 2 for 2.

 

[Jedi Marso]

I think my preference is for character arcs and some overarching show elements to be serialized, but the overall format to be episodic. Much like what DS9 did very well.

I also like the idea of a lot of 2 and 3 part episodes to give stories some fleshing out and breathing room.

 

[Noname Given]

They should just do what ENT did in its 4th season. Develop stories and find a couple that they can fit and tell well within their 10 episode seasons. If something can be told well in one, two, or three episodes; pick some good ones and go to it.

The Galactic Spanning Emergency paradigm that both STD and STP have used to date has lead t some real duds WRT episodes. You can tell when they get to the "yeah, we need to pad things a bit here to stretch it to take the entire 10 episode season" stage; and that sucks.

 

[Mudd]

As far as Star Trek's concerned, I much prefer the episodic. It's in the DNA of the thing, and virtually all of their attempts to do long arcs are full of narrative failure.

I like arc-based TV a great deal, when the writing is intriguing and clever. Perfect plotting is not absolutely required, but an overall sense of story is a must. Earlier this year I really enjoyed Reacher, and I'm looking forward to season four of Westworld, right now.

 

[Jedman67]

They should just do what ENT did in its 4th season. Develop stories and find a couple that they can fit and tell well within their 10 episode seasons. If something can be told well in one, two, or three episodes; pick some good ones and go to it.

The Galactic Spanning Emergency paradigm that both STD and STP have used to date has lead t some real duds WRT episodes. You can tell when they get to the "yeah, we need to pad things a bit here to stretch it to take the entire 10 episode season" stage; and that sucks.

Picard, I gave up on S1. S2 I sort of lost interest. I"ll probably finish it eventually.
Voyager, DS9 and TNG suffered tremendously from padding. Having to fit 5 acts within a 45 minute episode is tough, especially when you're doing 20 odd episodes each season.
(As an example, the Gul Dukat-Kai Winn romance was one of the worst storytelling arcs, in terms of story and execution, in Star Trek history)

 

[Kaelef]

I fully expect SNW to do some combination of the two. As long as the writers are up to the task, then I'm all for it.

 

[Vger23]

I really don't care at all, if the story is good, it's good. If it takes 13 episodes or 13 minutes...just make it good. How you get there and how long it takes is not an issue for me.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

I have no objection to the idea of serialized Trek, but so far the serialized shows have yet to tell a complete story I found truly satisfying. SNW is 2 for 2.

Ya that's how I feel. I looked most of PIC S1 but the majority of the new arc driven shows I haven't been into.
The DS9 mix in the later seasons was the best so far.

 

[ToddCam]

I can definitely enjoy serialized storytelling. But what is more important to me is that a story with a continuing set of characters included means something.

 

[The Habs Fan]

I like the mixture. If they all were episodic it’d get old fast.

 

[valkyrie013]

Yes.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I like the episodic best and maybe have some small arc plots running through or revisit certain characters or plots later in. But like my Adam-12 example. That show was great about stuffing in more than ones situation in a episode and usually halving a main plot situation. They crammed a lot in those 25 minutes. The episodes managed to be entertaining and thought provoking. After I watched STD season 4 I pretty much stopped thinking about it and honestly all the seasons. STP the same. Just too much filler. I mean I had enough of that stupid chateau flashbacks. So boring.

 

[WarpFactorZ]

I like both. I think it's a refreshing change to go back to episodic adventures like we had in the olden days of TV. They still are careful to maintain continuity across the board, which is great. I look forward to seeing Pike's beep-beep reflection appearing in the strangest places...

SCENE: PIKE'S BATHROOM. THE CAPTAIN GOES TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND LIFTS THE LID. HE SEES HIS GROTESQUE WHEELCHAIR-RIDDEN SELF IN THE WATER.

PIKE: Oh, come on! Can I have just one minute to myself?

 

[Agony_Boothb]

As a wise mexican girl once said 'why not both?'

 

[Campe]

I prefer serialized storytelling. I think you can get into some complex character issues that can be dug into a little deeper than in episodic television. However, I will admit that Star Trek hasn’t done a great job doing a serialized story quite yet. But I have found both the arc-based and serialized stories on Star Trek entertaining even if the episodes I’ve watched so far for SNW have been better.