Written by: Goemagog

Beck doesn't seem to like it much when I rant about things sci-fi, so here goes.

I like Battlestar Galactica and I liked the first couple of seasons of Babylon-5. They both employ story arcs, common to soap operas but adopted by almost every science fiction show since Babylon-5 was created around one. The reason is that it gets everyone around Gilligan's Plot Paradox. Gilligan's Plot Paradox is that everything must be the same at the end of the episode. No matter what they do, they have to still be stuck on the island. This is why characters in military-themed shows only get transfered when the actor wants more money. Viewers didn't have to keep notes, and the shows are watchable out of order in syndication.

Story arcs promised a change to where things do change. Instead of an A and B storyline that only lasts the current episode and a C storyline that spans two or three, they go with soap opera sized storylines that span years. How long can these storylines be dragged out though?

I'm sure you've heard at one point or another a joke you've heard before, but told in such a way that the telling took much, much longer. If someone is telling such a joke and they drag it out too long, you'll get tired of all the build-up with no payoff. Each storyline has it's own plot structure, it's own build-up, and it's own payoff. The build-up is the easy part to do. The payoff is where most science fiction shows falter. Half-assed resolutions will only be bought into by die-hard fans would will brook no reality. Everyone else will feel disappointed that they spent so much time waiting for a payoff that was inadequate.

Goe, because suspension of disbelief weakens with time.