Building a series around a single episode concept is the quickest way to fail

Building a series around a single episode concept is the quickest way to fail

As a long-time Star Trek enthusiast who’s been through the trials and tribulations of the Federation since the original series, I must admit that Lower Decks left me feeling like a Vulcan lost in the Bajoran wilderness. The show, while it had its moments, never quite managed to find its place among the stars.


Star Trek: Lower Decks, despite its flaws, managed to persist for as many seasons as it did by incorporating classic characters, plots, themes, and anything else reminiscent from past decades into its comedic adventures, which resemble Rick and Morty in style. As the animated series approaches its conclusion after five seasons, it doesn’t seem to have made a significant mark on the broader Star Trek universe.

Although Lower Decks didn’t attract many viewers on Paramount+, it still managed to stay due to the fact that streaming platforms and their investors were more focused on expanding their content libraries in its early days rather than immediate profit-making. If Lower Decks had been produced in 2023, it likely would have only lasted for one season.

Although Lower Decks may have had more seasons than some might think appropriate, the financial expectations from investors led to a decline in its longevity. Given its specific appeal to a particular audience, its graphic and messy nature made it less universally appealing. What set it apart was its resemblance to Rick and Morty rather than Star Trek: Prodigy, which resonated with its dedicated fanbase.

As a hardcore gamer, I’ve got to admit, the show I recently binged was heavily influenced by a classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode – “Lower Decks”. This series, much like that particular episode, centers around the lives of the less prominent crew members, usually not on the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D. While the original episode was engaging, stretching it over several dozen episodes seemed to dilute its initial charm a bit.

The production team realized that maintaining the format of exclusively featuring the lower decks crew wouldn’t work, given they made the main character the daughter of the ship’s captains. Many bridge crew members were already established as regular or recurring characters, making it more appropriate to focus on a show about well-known starship personnel rather than lesser-known ones.

One reason the show didn’t last as long is because it resembled shows like The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, where not much happened. This raises a concern about the new live-action comedy that Star Trek is producing, according to co-series creator Justin Simien (via TV Line).

As a gamer immersed in this cosmic adventure, I can’t help but notice the intriguing links between the new storyline and the alluring planet of Risa. Although it hasn’t been explicitly stated, there’s a strong suspicion that this upcoming narrative might draw significant inspiration from our old friends’ leisurely sojourn on Risa, as depicted in the captivating episode, “Let He Who Is WIthout Sin Cast The First Stone.”

The silly episode has a unique charm for many Star Trek enthusiasts, but given the limited appeal of shows like Lower Decks, which deviate from classic Star Trek themes, this concept might not last. Creating a Star Trek series based on ideas that aren’t typically associated with Star Trek could be a mistake. Lower Decks managed to stay for as long as it did because of the time period in which it was produced.

From now on, demonstrating a positive return on investment will become essential. This means you should be able to either attract new viewers or boost profits through increased viewing time. If you fail to accomplish this, your tenure may come to an end.

With some fans expressing doubts about the comedic series’ resemblance to classic Star Trek elements, one might ponder whether this new live-action show will retain enough Star Trek characteristics to keep its loyal audience, or if its unique twist could potentially alienate dedicated Star Trek enthusiasts.

If that scenario holds true, would it possibly attract a novel audience segment? Given Star Trek: Lower Decks as an indication, it probably won’t.

Read More

2024-08-19 03:23

Previous post Sword of Convallaria Review: A good blend of pixel with turn-based gameplay