SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses plot — and musical! — developments in Season 2, Episode 9 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” currently streaming on Paramount+. Since premiering in 2022, “Star …
Hey thanks for the well thought out and detailed reply.
As much as I don’t want to just say “well I guess we like different things” and just leave it at that, I think it does come down to how one defines episodic and rewatchable.
I think your hotel room example is a perfect example of this. I’d be very happy to put on a random episode of Strange New Worlds or Lower Decks in the same way I would with TOS, TNG, or VOY. The other shows (like Prodigy, Discovery, or Picard) I would want to rewatch the whole season to get the satisfying story (like DS9 or ENT).
I also think that you’re correct that character development in TOS was more about learning who the character was, rather than watching them grow. I feel TNG had character growth episode-to-episode but, like you said, I can see how it’s much more prevalent and important to the episodes in SNW.
Like I said, I hate saying this, but I think it just comes down to preference. I think I could watch a random episode of SNW and enjoy it the same way I would TNG or VOY. Maybe because I’ve already seen the episodes so I’m enjoying the alien of the week knowing that I don’t need to see the resolution of the season long arcs. For the same reasons, though, if I recommend TNG to a friend, I always recommend watching it in order, even from the really bad first couple seasons.
You are absolutely correct in it being personal preference. I agree I’d definitely watch a random SNW over some of the others. Honestly i think (and this probably goes for everyone else with my view) it’s more about just missing 90s TV. 30 episode seasons that you dont have to schedule your life around. There are TNG, TOS, VOY episodes i watch all the time and some it’s been years since i last saw. Same goes for pretty much anything from that time period that i rewatch now. I think that’s the underlying issue, no one makes episodic shows anymore unless it’s a reboot. Just wish this reboot was the same.
Hey thanks for the well thought out and detailed reply.
As much as I don’t want to just say “well I guess we like different things” and just leave it at that, I think it does come down to how one defines episodic and rewatchable.
I think your hotel room example is a perfect example of this. I’d be very happy to put on a random episode of Strange New Worlds or Lower Decks in the same way I would with TOS, TNG, or VOY. The other shows (like Prodigy, Discovery, or Picard) I would want to rewatch the whole season to get the satisfying story (like DS9 or ENT).
I also think that you’re correct that character development in TOS was more about learning who the character was, rather than watching them grow. I feel TNG had character growth episode-to-episode but, like you said, I can see how it’s much more prevalent and important to the episodes in SNW.
Like I said, I hate saying this, but I think it just comes down to preference. I think I could watch a random episode of SNW and enjoy it the same way I would TNG or VOY. Maybe because I’ve already seen the episodes so I’m enjoying the alien of the week knowing that I don’t need to see the resolution of the season long arcs. For the same reasons, though, if I recommend TNG to a friend, I always recommend watching it in order, even from the really bad first couple seasons.
You are absolutely correct in it being personal preference. I agree I’d definitely watch a random SNW over some of the others. Honestly i think (and this probably goes for everyone else with my view) it’s more about just missing 90s TV. 30 episode seasons that you dont have to schedule your life around. There are TNG, TOS, VOY episodes i watch all the time and some it’s been years since i last saw. Same goes for pretty much anything from that time period that i rewatch now. I think that’s the underlying issue, no one makes episodic shows anymore unless it’s a reboot. Just wish this reboot was the same.