On the origin of the "Gimmick Episode" in SNW...(Spoilers)

[Tosk]

I would call Those Old Scientists a gimmick episode, since it's a time travel episode

And I would counter that the whole "Cartoon characters do a crossover with live-action" is the bigger gimmick there.

 

[Fire(BOO!)]

if the 5 seasons of strange new worlds did the old school full season 22 episodes style there would probley be alot of gimmicks and genres

like a british spy movies episode a comic book episode a 80s teen movies episode a 90s teen movies episode a 90s slasher episode a gen z episode a wall street stock market epsiode a alfred hitchcock epsiode a university seroeity pleges episode a south america style telenovela episode a mexican style telenovela episode a tgif sitcom episode a 60s hippies episode

and even returned ones like a muppets episode a musical epsiode a film noir episode a murder mystery episode a event horizon epsiode a american soap opera episode a hangover episode a fairy tales episode

I know I've said this before, but you really should watch DS9 before making comments like this.

 

[Smear-Gel]

And I would counter that the whole "Cartoon characters do a crossover with live-action" is the bigger gimmick there.

Thought of that, but that feels unavoidable given the other show. It technically is but not quite it's fault if that makes sense. I guess they could have done some live action version of the LD scenes or cut out that stuff, I will say Im still mad we never saw a live action Cerritos.

 

[Rahul]

"time travel episode", "holodeck episode", "beach episode" are genre episodes.

"Puppet episode", "musical episode", "black and white episode" are gimmick episode.

The distinction is a bit fuzzy, and sometimes there are only gimmick "elements" (Zombies, real-time countdown) in otherwise typical "genre" episodes.

But for the the main difference is weather it would naturally be part of the franchise, or sticks out in a "meta" way.

I.e. Picard visiting DS9 is just a crossover. Sisko visiting 60s Kirk is a gimmick. (And both are great btw)

 

[Frightscape One]

"time travel episode", "holodeck episode", "beach episode" are genre episodes.

"Puppet episode", "musical episode", "black and white episode" are gimmick episode.

The distinction is a bit fuzzy, and sometimes there are only gimmick "elements" (Zombies, real-time countdown) in otherwise typical "genre" episodes.

But for the the main difference is weather it would naturally be part of the franchise, or sticks out in a "meta" way.

I.e. Picard visiting DS9 is just a crossover. Sisko visiting 60s Kirk is a gimmick. (And both are great btw)

Particularly when the gimmick is the only example of its kind in the franchise. Like the musical episode, puppet episode, black and white episode, or soap opera episode.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The question is, is the type of episode what it's about or the way it's made?

"What it's about" is a genre. "The way it's made" is a gimmick.

 

[Frightscape One]

The question is, is the type of episode what it's about or the way it's made?

"What it's about" is a genre. "The way it's made" is a gimmick.

Well, with the examples I listed above, it's how they are made.

 

[eschaton]

Particularly when the gimmick is the only example of its kind in the franchise. Like the musical episode, puppet episode, black and white episode, or soap opera episode.

I'd agree here. Prior to SNW, Trek has had plenty of horror episodes, so just doing a horror episode, while off-format, doesn't feel as gimicky.

Similarly, Trek has dabbled in westerns in the past, so it wouldn't feel like a big gimmick to do it again. And just about every series has done romance of the week.

But if this is one of those "first time Trek does ____" episodes, it does feel like the premise itself is an attempt to gain eyeballs, rather than entertain the existing audience.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Every type of episode had a first; maybe it's just that those firsts didn't seem like such a big deal because nobody was calling them gimmicks.

 

[Frightscape One]

Every type of episode had a first; maybe it's just that those firsts didn't seem like such a big deal because nobody was calling them gimmicks.

One of the definitions of gimmick:

A trick or device used to attract business or attention.


So yes, an entirely black and white episode (for example) and marketed as such is absolutely a gimmick. Especially in a franchise with nearly 1,000 episodes.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I meant that back when TOS did its first "(insert type of gimmick here) episode", it wasn't scrutinized in exactly the same manner as current TV is - not having all of 1970-2026 TV to compare it to, no social media, etc.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Particularly when the gimmick is the only example of its kind in the franchise. Like the musical episode, puppet episode, black and white episode, or soap opera episode.

Everything was the only example of its kind at one point.

 

[Frightscape One]

Everything was the only example of its kind at one point.

Which leads back to one of the actual definitions of a gimmick that I already stated, and those examples are precisely that.

 

[David cgc]

Everything was the only example of its kind at one point.

Yeah, twenty years from now we'll have threads debating which of the five muppet episodes of Star Trek was the best.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Yeah, twenty years from now we'll have threads debating which of the five muppet episodes of Star Trek was the best.

That's what happens when you let them get away with one. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile!

 

[fireproof78]

Yeah, twenty years from now we'll have threads debating which of the five muppet episodes of Star Trek was the best.

The one with Pilot.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Yeah, twenty years from now we'll have threads debating which of the five muppet episodes of Star Trek was the best.

Assuming we're not all feral ghouls, under the lash of intelligent apes or running from killer robots by then, I expect fierce, passionate debates as is befitting our station.