Overarching Plot?

[krikat]

I just started watching the original series for the first time (I'm a complete star trek newb), and I find a lot of the episodes enjoyable, but does any sort of overarching plot ever develop, or is each episode an isolated story, other than character development?

The reason I'm asking is I'm tempted to skip around, both within the original series, and maybe even watch some of the next generation. Would I be missing anything if I did that? I'm only up to episode 10 in the original series, but it seems like they're just randomly stumbling through space. Am I wrong? Are the other series the same way? Are there any episodes in the original series that I should watch so I'm not saying "huh?" when I watch the next generation?

 

[Haytil]

There's no overarching plot - they tended not to do that kind of thing on TV shows back then. Feel free to hop around.

The only episode of TNG that explicitly references TOS in any major way is "The Naked Now," which is a semi-sequel to TOS's "The Naked Time," which you've probably already seen already (and really don't have to to watch the TNG one).

Of course, "The Naked Now" is from Season 1 of TNG, and I'd advice generally avoiding that season in the first place...

 

[Tan Ru]

TOS for the most part ARE stand-alone episodes.

I would watch them in production order or even broadcast order. Jumping around in a single season might not be a bad idea, but jumping around all three seasons might confuse you a little bit I think.

 

[Evil_Kirkneivel]

My feeling is you could skip around in The Original Series at will, because there really are no character or plot arcs. Keep in mind, however, that season 3 was, for the most part, produced by a different and inferior set of people, therefore in general the scripts and direction are not as good as the other two seasons.

In regard to Next Generation, I would probably recommend that you watch them in order, not because of any strong character or plot arcs (although there are a few arcs, such as the Borg arc and the Q arc), but just to get a feel for the evolution and improvement arc of the show. (It is very generally agreed that seasons 1 and 2 are sub-par, with perhaps season 3 being the best or the start of the best - or maybe that is just my opinion).

 

[Warped9]

The character development is rather loose I'd say. Kirk is somewhat more formal in the first season and then loosens up during the latter part of the first season and into the second. The Spock/McCoy banter develops during the first season and then carries on throughout the series as does the Kirk/Spock friendship which is more apparent during the second season. Indeed all the characters come across somewhat more at ease and familiar with each other as the series progresses, but that may be due more to the actors becoming more familiar with one another and that familiarity creeping into their onscreen performances.

No story arc or arcs, but that wasn't the intent of the show.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

There is no story-arch, but the character development is important sometimes.

For example, in The Trouble with Tribbles many in-jokes were made at the expense of the characters themselves. Without knowing the characters and their "quirks", the episode would not be as enjoyable.

Also, Mudd's Women should be watched before I, Mudd, and Balance of Terror spehaps hould be watched before The Enterprise Incident, although no specific information needs to be known from Balance of Terror.

 

[erastus25]

It's rare that the characters even refer back to previous episodes. The only times I can recall offhand are in By Any Other Name when Spock mind controls the lady and Kirk refers back to the events on Eminar VII (A Taste of Armageddon), Turnabout Intruder when Janice/Kirk tries to prove that she is really Kirk by referring to past missions and again in By Any Other Name when Kirk says "we've been there before" in reference to the galactic barrier (he's referring to Where No Man Has Gone Before).

I feel like I'm missing one. Help, anybody?

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I think Sulu refers to the Horta in a later episode, plus I think Kirk uses the Corbomite bluff a second time.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Dohlman]

Of course, "The Naked Now" is from Season 1 of TNG, and I'd advice generally avoiding that season in the first place...

LOL!! When TNG first came on, I hated it so much I refused to watch it. But then I went through SF withdrawal and had to watch SOMEthing with spaceships. And PBS began playing a curious show called Blake's 7...

 

[Procutus]

It's rare that the characters even refer back to previous episodes. The only times I can recall offhand are in By Any Other Name when Spock mind controls the lady and Kirk refers back to the events on Eminar VII (A Taste of Armageddon), Turnabout Intruder when Janice/Kirk tries to prove that she is really Kirk by referring to past missions and again in By Any Other Name when Kirk says "we've been there before" in reference to the galactic barrier (he's referring to Where No Man Has Gone Before).

I feel like I'm missing one. Help, anybody?

Well, there were the two appearances by Harry Mudd, the only recurring character that I recall. I seem to recall that Koloth was meant to be a recurrning character, but that never did happen.

And of course, Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln were intended to have their own series as well.