3: The Iliad vs. The Odyssey

Serialization in Star Trek.

When it comes to discussion of serialization in Star Trek, Deep Space Nine is the go-to series—at least prior to Discovery and Picard. The Original Series was famously episodic, and The Next Generation, for the most part, followed that same pattern. DS9 itself barely moved away from the model in its first season, but then things started to change. By the time Voyager came along, the winds of serialization were blowing. But how do these two Next Generation spinoffs compare when it comes to story and character threads that span the seasons?

In this episode of Interphase, host C Bryan Jones is joined by Chris Chaplin to discuss the history of serialization in Star Trek—especially comparing Deep Space Nine and Voyager—through plot threads, character arcs, interaction with various species, and more. We also break down the narrative structure of the two series season by season. Lastly, we ask the question, “Is Star Trek episodic by nature?”

Host
C Bryan Jones

Guest
Chris Chaplin

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)