5. Some Form of Serialization
Of all the 24th century Star Trek shows, Deep Space 9 has aged the best as a series because of its use of serialization and continuity. Like many modern shows, it built plot and character arcs over seasons, building on what had been done earlier so that changes to the status quo had the most impact. Now serialization is seen as a requirement by TV audiences, which means that question must be asked what kind of serialization? In serialized TV, episodes typically have one of two structures: several plots that begin and end in the episode or a mix of plots that end in the episode and others that bleed over into other episodes. The former is ideal for weekly airing, while the latter holds up better in marathon viewing or a House of Cards style release. Where the show is released also has an effect on the shows serialization. If its on TV, going for a long, complicated overarching plot might not be a good idea; Star Trek might be a huge franchise, but TV executives have used tons of questionable logic to cancel shows before. A 24 approach (one major arc plot per season) might be better for TV, while a Trek show on Netflix or Hulu could get away with a more intricate story.