'Strange New Worlds'' latest episode is a soap opera spoof, but hasn't 'Star Trek' always been a soap opera in space anyway?

In the latest episode of Strange New Worlds, the series takes a turn into soap opera territory. This is not an uncommon trend for the franchise, which has often strayed from its traditional format of standalone episodes and focused storylines. The Original Series, for example, was more standalone, while later series like The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine featured serialized stories with ongoing character development, including relationships.

By the time of Voyager and Enterprise, interpersonal dramas were more prevalent, and even the more recent series, such as Discovery and The Next Generation, have shown a greater emphasis on character relationships. The new episode Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass highlights this trend, as it features overt references to soap opera conventions.

For instance, the crew's peculiar behavior and the presence of a counselor reminiscent of a daytime drama character add to the sitcom-like atmosphere. Furthermore, the episode delves into personal storylines, such as Captain Pike's unresolved feelings for Marie Batel, paralleling the kind of dramatic storylines often found in soap operas.

Thus, the question of whether Star Trek is inherently a soap opera is answered by the series' long-standing tradition of blending space adventure with interpersonal drama.