Star Trek 01.32–Post-Season 1 Analysis Part 1: Narrative Structure

In this episode: The first part of our post-season 1 analysis of Star Trek: The Original Series, with a focus on trends in narrative structure. Antagonist Type: There are more monster episodes than you might think, but the monsters and the villains are depicted in unconventional ways. Monster: 11/28 (39.2%) Villain: 9/28 (32.1%) Computer: 4/28 (14.2%) Other: 6/28 (21.4%) Science Fiction Element Spectrum: Only a quarter of episodes are heavy science-fiction; while more than a third have only one notable Sci-fi element Above Average (4+ elements) 1. Where No Man Has Gone Before (4) 9. What are Little Girls Made of? (4) 29. Operation Annihilate (4) 20.The Alternative Factor (5) 28. The City on the Edge of Forever (5) 15-16. The Menagerie (6) 22.The Return of the Archons (8) Below Average (1-2 elements) 3. Mudd’s Women(1) 10. Dagger of the Mind (1) 12 The Conscience of the King(1) 14. Court Martial(1) 27. Errand of Mercy(1) 4. The Enemy Within (2) 6. The Naked Time (2) 7. Charlie X (2) 21.Tomorrow is Yesterday(2) 26. The Devil in the Dark(2) Average (3 elements) 2. The Corbomite Maneuver 5. The Man Trap 8. Balance of Terror 11. Miri 13. The Galileo Seven 17. Shore Leave 18. The Squire of Gothos 19.Arena 23. Space Seed 24. A Taste of Armageddon 25. This Side of Paradise Conflict Resolution: A strong majority of the episodes end with the character coming up with clever solutions to get them out of their problem Wits: 12 (43%) (75%) Wits & Fists: 9 (32%) Fists: 4 (14.2%) Other: 3 (10%)