7mo ago

A "test" to judge Star Trek shows

You've heard of the "Bechdel-Wallace test" and its potential value to some people in measuring various media in a given context.

I propose a measure we'll call the "Captain and Crew Test"....

I was enduring -- yes, that's the word I'll choose -- an episode of a certain Trek show and found myself thinking that I seem to enjoy Star Trek shows where the captain isn't the center of attention for the continued story, rather the crew as a whole (including the captain as professionally and relatively required) works together on the story of the day or is portrayed in multiple dimensions without the commanding officer present.

So, here's my attempt at codifying this "Captain and Crew Test":

The episode/show has to have at least two crew members (i.e. not the captain) essential to the story,
who interact with each other without the captain,
about the story without specific direction from the captain

I think these "rules" could use some adjustment and addition, but I think you get what I'm proposing/suggesting/inciting.

UPDATE 2024-07-04 04:35:34 UTC: Check out the quick and amazing work by @danielquinn@lemmy.ca to compile a subset of the percentage of lines for each character in a few Star Trek shows.

21 comments

I've seen this complaint a lot with some of the newer shows, but it doesn't really resonate with me. A good central character ought to be able to carry a show, and I don't hold Trek as being inherently different in that regard. In fact, I think the original series would have been an example of a show like that if Spock's popularity hadn't been taken into consideration by later writers. Even then, I believe it would have a pretty low "pass" rate compared to all the '90s series.
(Incidentally, since Burnham wasn't Captain until season 4, Discovery passes on a technicality for most of its run).
- .... Even then, I believe [TOS] would have a pretty low “pass” rate compared to all the '90s series.
  Agreed. I note elsewhere in this thread that I think TOS would struggle with this little "test" and it was THE Star Trek show when it all started.
  (Incidentally, since Burnham wasn’t Captain until season 4, Discovery passes on a technicality for most of its run).
  Indeed it would pass and I think the captains/crew of those seasons were well portrayed and balanced Burnham's presence as a character as well.
  I’ve seen this complaint a lot with some of the newer shows, but it doesn’t really resonate with me. A good central character ought to be able to carry a show, and I don’t hold Trek as being inherently different in that regard.
  As you say. And to be clear, I'm not taking this too seriously, nor is it meant to be a complaint. Just a measure I noticed in my own mind. I am still watching all the Star Trek made, whether it "passes" this measure or not.
  
  All fair, and I appreciate how much you're trying to avoid Trekkie infighting in this thread. I'm not always so conscientious about that, but it is, after all, just a TV show.

I like it, and I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that you're talking about Discovery. I've said in the past that the show should be called "Star Trek: Michael Burnham" as it would at least be more honest.
To be fair, I think every series has a lot of episodes that would fail this test, some of which were excellent, like DS9's "In the Pale Moonlight", and "Far Beyond the Stars" or TNG's "The Inner Light", but if used to assess a series, I think this could be a good metric.
- To be fair, I think every series has a lot of episodes that would fail this test, some of which were excellent, like DS9’s “In the Pale Moonlight”, and “Far Beyond the Stars” or TNG’s “The Inner Light”, but if used to assess a series, I think this could be a good metric.
  Indeed, "In the Pale Moonlight" is one I thought of which fails as well. I still think it makes a good measure to see how many episodes of a show pass/fail overall. Only to see if it's really about the whole crew or mostly one character. (Arguably, early TNG comes really close to being Star Trek: Wesley while mid/late TNG comes close to Star Trek: Data.)

Does this apply to Lower Decks, or do we just automatically pass them all?
- I'm not sure. Perhaps "Captain and Crew Test" isn't the right way to look at it either. ST:LD seems to do a good job of not focusing too much on one story or character per episode, so it avoids failure even if every character is "the captain".
  There would have to be some way of reworking the criteria to evaluate overall balance (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread) rather than just Captain and Crew, I guess.
  Regardless, that's a really good question. Hmmmm

I love this! Now you need to do an analysis like this one on Star Trek and the Bechdel-Wallace test!
I realize you’re not trying to predict quality, just personal enjoyability, but I do wonder how it relates to quality.
I actually think it might be slightly more predictive of the quality of a show overall than of individual episodes. But both ST:TOS and ST:TNG have many great captain-centric episodes that I’m not sure if it is predictive of episode quality particularly.
- I love this! Now you need to do an analysis like this one on Star Trek and the Bechdel-Wallace test!
  TOS is already a rough rewatch with some of its acting and portrayals of the future. I can't imagine how tough it would be to rewatch it through that lens. Haha!
  I realize you’re not trying to predict quality, just personal enjoyability, but I do wonder how it relates to quality.
  I don't mean for this to measure quality. To each their own, as they say. After all, it is just entertainment and I'm free to watch anything else or skip this or that episode. This is all just a fun observation for me, much like a discussion on the finer points of warp theory or Federation economics.
  Still, I'm glad it's something that clicked for you too. I figured there would be a number of people whose appreciation of Trek relates to this "test".

TNG's the inner light is one of its best episodes and it spectacularly fails this test.
- So very true. Such a great episode!

Counter-proposal: Same thing, except instead of crew members it's people from whatever non-Federation civilisation is involved that week.
- I like that too. I'm not sure it would counter these "rules".
  How would you propose phrasing a rule for that non-Fed criteria?
  
  It's just a thought. On further consideration I'd probably broaden it to any non-Starfleet faction. In cases where there is one involved in the plot I like it when they're portrayed in more depth than is usual.

There are so many episodes in all the series but here’s a few from Voyager: VOY: “The Chute”, “Dreadnought”, “Learning Curve”, “Meld”, “One”, "Once Upon a Time”, “Timeless”… the list goes on. Many other episodes focus on a single member of the crew, many times with the Captain not being an important part of the story at all.

I think most of ST:LD pass your test, if not all of them

Here's an addendum with a few great episode examples which might pass my "test".
TOS: "Amok Time", (arguably) "The Galileo Seven"
TNG: "Brothers", "Lower Decks", "The Measure of a Man"
DS9: "It's Only A Paper Moon", "Improbable Cause"+"The Die Is Cast", "The Magnificent Ferengi"
Other shows also have great episodes that pass, but I want to stop here for my examples so as to avoid showing my hand (too much) and stating which show(s) I think fail.
- You need to test bad episodes like Code of Honor, Up the Long Ladder, and Sub Rosa to see if they pass too, though.

I fully agree that your "rules" need adjustment, starting with the fact that you engineered them around your personal dislikes.
- As opposed to what? Your personal dislikes? Should Alison Bechdel have checked in with men first too?

21 comments