The model worked back when episodes were self contained. I don’t need to see seasons 1-20 (or whatever they’re up to now) of The Simpsons to understand the latest episode. Old Star Trek was the same. You didn’t need a huge back story. Kirk/Picard and chums were the good guys. The guy with the plastic on his face and angry eyes was the bad guy. It was easy.
But stretching a simple story over 10 seasons of gradually declining quality is nonsense. By their own logic we can only have a conclusion when the quality has declined to the point that nobody cares what happens. Might as well not even have an ending at that point.
Couldn’t get into Lower Decks. Not interested in ‘comedy’ ST. As for SNW, I watch it, but not sold on it yet. I watched TNG episode “The Bonding” today. Nothing after ENT (S3 and S4) has approached the level of writing of that episode. Except maybe that one S2 episode of SNW. You know exactly what episode I’m talking about. It’s the only episode.
The model worked back when episodes were self contained. I don’t need to see seasons 1-20 (or whatever they’re up to now) of The Simpsons to understand the latest episode. Old Star Trek was the same. You didn’t need a huge back story. Kirk/Picard and chums were the good guys. The guy with the plastic on his face and angry eyes was the bad guy. It was easy.
But stretching a simple story over 10 seasons of gradually declining quality is nonsense. By their own logic we can only have a conclusion when the quality has declined to the point that nobody cares what happens. Might as well not even have an ending at that point.
The new Star Trek, Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, both go back to the standalone episodic model. And they are the best since DS9.
They have a DS9-style balance where there is an overarching story, but it’s usually not the focus. The Lower Deckers are now Lieutenant junior grades.
Couldn’t get into Lower Decks. Not interested in ‘comedy’ ST. As for SNW, I watch it, but not sold on it yet. I watched TNG episode “The Bonding” today. Nothing after ENT (S3 and S4) has approached the level of writing of that episode. Except maybe that one S2 episode of SNW. You know exactly what episode I’m talking about. It’s the only episode.
The musical one!
Haha I refuse to watch that one. Cannot believe they wrote a musical for Star Trek. Ridiculous.
The Simpsons is now on season 35.