A key figure behind Star Trek's classic era has likened the shortened seasons of modern TV to the equivalent of a Tinder relationship, and said he hoped the sci-fi franchise would return to 22-episode seasons.
I agree. We only had 2 episodes to see Spock and La’an get together, it felt like whiplash when we just saw him pining over Chapel. Looking back at shows like DS9 a season of romantic build up meant 23-24 45-minute long episodes with random encounters, drama, things left unsaid - which made the finales that much more enjoyable.
Not to compare too much, but look at Jim and Pam’s romance in the Office. Seasons 2 and 3 were long. It was meant to have us wanting the romance, to see every twist and turn. We had an entire episode for booze cruise, where we finally heard Jim admit it while seeing that they were obviously with the wrong people. We had entire episodes where there was reflection on just one moment of their relationship. You just can’t get that in a half-“season” 4 episode arc.
I think my favorite example is Brooklyn 99, and the Jake/Amy relationship.
First season introduces the idea (but really later on in the season that its apparent it could be more), season 2 is will they won’t they until a kiss at the end, season 3 they start a relationship, season 4 finishes with them moving in together, season 5 gets a proposal and the wedding, etc.
They take time developing the relationship as an idea, but they don’t do the silly “Oh no, misunderstandings made us break up again!” crap, just a progressing relationship over the course of the series.
I agree. We only had 2 episodes to see Spock and La’an get together, it felt like whiplash when we just saw him pining over Chapel. Looking back at shows like DS9 a season of romantic build up meant 23-24 45-minute long episodes with random encounters, drama, things left unsaid - which made the finales that much more enjoyable.
Not to compare too much, but look at Jim and Pam’s romance in the Office. Seasons 2 and 3 were long. It was meant to have us wanting the romance, to see every twist and turn. We had an entire episode for booze cruise, where we finally heard Jim admit it while seeing that they were obviously with the wrong people. We had entire episodes where there was reflection on just one moment of their relationship. You just can’t get that in a half-“season” 4 episode arc.
I think my favorite example is Brooklyn 99, and the Jake/Amy relationship.
First season introduces the idea (but really later on in the season that its apparent it could be more), season 2 is will they won’t they until a kiss at the end, season 3 they start a relationship, season 4 finishes with them moving in together, season 5 gets a proposal and the wedding, etc.
They take time developing the relationship as an idea, but they don’t do the silly “Oh no, misunderstandings made us break up again!” crap, just a progressing relationship over the course of the series.
I agree, that was a great one that I was happy to see took years to make
oh yea, like worfs/jadzia too like many seasons to fully develop, roms, obriens,etc.