Star Trek: Discovery Will Not Have Standalone Episodes

CBS All Access is set to boldly go where no streaming service has gone before with next month’s Star Trek: Discovery. And as one of the series’ creators recently revealed, that platform will allow Discovery to take some narrative risks – including taking on a more serialized nature.

In a recent interview with TrekMovie, Alex Kurtzman addressed Discovery‘s narrative structure – as well as the lack of standalone episodes.

“The fact that we are on a streaming channel,” Kurtzman explained, “allows us to tell the stories in a different way. These are serialized stories. They are not stand-alone stories.”

Although Discovery‘s ensemble will be put in a wide array of situations across the show’s first season, Kurtzman hinted that the narrative effect of each episode will be felt. According to Kurtzman, this choice will allow the series to further develop its cast of characters in a new way.

“There is an emotional continuity,” Kurtzman revealed, “and characters are learning as they go. They don’t forget what happened last week. And that is really exciting.”

With modern television frequently using this episodic technique, Kurtzman expressed his excitement towards bringing Discovery into that fold.

“So in the way you would watch any series for the characters and for that approach,” Kurtzman added, “we get to do that here and that is really exciting.”

This isn’t the only updated choice that Discovery plans on making. From introducing the franchise’s first openly gay tv character to breaking one mandate from Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, the series is already taking quite a few risks. Judging by CBS’ excitement towards the project’s debut, it’s safe to assume that those changes will pay off.

Star Trek: Discovery premieres Sept. 24, 2017.

Set 10 years prior to the five-year mission of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Discovery follows the adventures of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new lifeforms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself. The series will feature a new ship, new characters, and new missions while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.