TNG's Series Arc

[Trekker4747]

Many TV series have a "Series Arc" also often times called a "Series Bible" filled with the intent and goals of the series over the course of its lifetime. More often than not the first epiosde/plot arc of the series will set this tone.

To me, TNG's "Series Arc" as outlined in the pilot movie (Encounter at Farpoint") is showing the audiance how far and how much Humanity has achieved in the intervening years between "now" and the time frame of the series (the late 24th century.)

Nearly episode of the series is designed around this concept, the enlightenment of mankind, peace, utopia and paradise on Earth, and human beings continually working to "better themselves" and "the rest of the galaxy."

All of this is set up in the first episode when Q puts Humanity on trial for our savage past and it is up to Picard -through the continuance granted at the end of the episode- to "prove" to The Q (and we, the audiance) how far man has come since the times shown us by Q (the Napolean era, WWII era, and the mide 21st century.)

How do you feel about TNG's series' arc?

 

[Doug Otte]

I think you're confusing "arc" with "theme." An arc is a general development of plot or character throughout a series. A theme is an underlying meaning of an artwork.

Your question is rather vague, but Roddenberry's theme that you outlined is one of the eternal points of interest that makes Trek a cultural icon. It might be unrealistic for the real world, but it's aspirational.

Doug

 

[Art Vandelay]

Read this yesterday and I was about to post the same comment as Doug Otte, that you meant to say overall theme instead of arc.

To me it always seemed that TNG had two different themes that complement each other very nicely:

1. A utopian future, a golden age of exploration.
2. A look at all the different facets of the human condition: ethics, morality, the very quality of life. The latter was the at core of most Data episodes.

 

[Anwar]

I think TNG's arc slowly became more of "how does one maintain a utopia where the outside world is not a utopia?", seeing how the series became a bit more darker and less golden after "Best of Both Worlds".

 

[CaptainStoner]

I think the Worf story is the first clearly defined story arc, first bit of serial storytelling in TV Trek. It begins right in the first season and follows a real story arc each time an installment appears, while at the same time allowing Worf to appear in the interludes as normal.
There is another looser arc with the Wesley character and his transition from acting ensign to the Academy, to his involvement with the Traveller.
What am I missing? A very vague, but occasionally touched upon romantic arc with Riker and Troi. That one is pretty wispy but does create one of the few crew tension type dynamics in TNG when it comes up.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I think TNG's arc slowly became more of "how does one maintain a utopia where the outside world is not a utopia?", seeing how the series became a bit more darker and less golden after "Best of Both Worlds".

Agreed, though it was still rather utopian even after The Best of Both Worlds. It was DS9 what really shook that premise.

I think the Worf story is the first clearly defined story arc, first bit of serial storytelling in TV Trek. It begins right in the first season and follows a real story arc each time an installment appears, while at the same time allowing Worf to appear in the interludes as normal.
There is another looser arc with the Wesley character and his transition from acting ensign to the Academy, to his involvement with the Traveller.
What am I missing? A very vague, but occasionally touched upon romantic arc with Riker and Troi. That one is pretty wispy but does create one of the few crew tension type dynamics in TNG when it comes up.

You are correct, of course. I don't know how I could have forgotten about the whole Klingon arc - although it fizzled out after Redemption. Sure, Alexander returns to the Enterprise, but even though Rightful Heir features Gowron it doesn't really advance that particular story. Heck, it introduced the Kahless clone but we never saw him again afterwards.

I think Data also has a definite arc - albeit a non-serialized one. We get to see him explore many different aspects of humanity and grow. For example, I like to think The Measure of a Man, The Offspring and The Quality of Life build upon each other.

 

[Flexdog]

Well lets see

Barclay he went from nothing to a wuss and then hero in Voy, thats gotta be an arc though not my favorite.

The Klingon empire was definatley well expanded, better than the Romulans

But yeah Worf was the best, Wes was an OK arc, Laforge never really got his due other than a nerd, i mean he always got the ship together but never the women.

Guinan got a little justice in Times Arrow, but more could of been done with her.

Tomalok the Romulan could got more play too.

As well as the Binars, Zakdorn, Mott the Barber, The Crew ( Not the Officers ), Other non-Starfleet personal other than the kids.

 

[The Old Mixer]

O'Brien went from no-name background character, to background character with a last name and odd bits of character business on the show, to supporting character with a full name, family, and substantial roles in some episodes, to being spun off as a main-credits regular on a new show. Does that count as an arc?

 

[Rhaenys]

I know he is very unpopular, but Weasly had an arc too, didn't he? He went from a genious boy who always wanted to go to Academy and everyone thought he is going to be very succesful there, to a student who realized that Starfleet is just not the right thing for him.

 

[The Old Mixer]

^And years later wound up back in Starfleet again, though nobody bothered to explain how or why....

 

[CaptainStoner]

O'Brien went from no-name background character, to background character with a last name and odd bits of character business on the show, to supporting character with a full name, family, and substantial roles in some episodes, to being spun off as a main-credits regular on a new show. Does that count as an arc?

I don't think it does. A "story arc" seems to be defined by an ongoing story between episodes. With O'Brien, and all of the characters really, it is a case of character development that builds over the series. The story arcs are wispy even with Picard, Riker, Data, Troi, Geordi, each of them have a few thin threads but they seldom turn into strong story arcs between episodes. This was largely the wish of GR. So we get things like Picard's resikkan flute appearing in a later episode, but there's not much else connecting the episodes.
The Worf story, on the other hand, is more a serial.
Classic strong examples would be Dr. Who, which are all multi-part serials.

 

[The Old Mixer]

^By that definition, I'd have to argue that every Worf episode starting with first season doesn't contribute to a defined arc, but also falls under character development. The only defined story arc is the one between "Sins of the Father" and "Redemption, Part II".

 

[CaptainStoner]

I think you're right, then. I remembered the Worf episodes being more strongly connected but I think it is only those 3 that are really serialized.

 

[The Old Mixer]

There's also the fourth season episode in which Worf kills Duras--title escapes me OTTOMH.

 

[Anwar]

"Reunion", the one where Worf found out he was a dad.