Paramount’s 5-Part Sci-Fi Series With Near-Perfect RT Score Proves The Value Of Episodic Television

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Paramount+’s popular new sci-fi series is a standout example of why traditional, episode-by-episode storytelling still matters, especially now that streaming services dominate TV. With the rise of platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max, the way stories are told on TV has changed a lot. While many streaming shows release all episodes at once, shows with self-contained episodes – like comedies and crime dramas such as the long-running NCIS and Law & Order franchises – are still mostly found on traditional network television, consistently delivering new installments each week.

Streaming services have brought us a huge amount of high-quality TV, more than anyone could possibly keep up with. Most of these shows are designed to be watched in seasons, typically with eight to ten episodes, though sometimes up to thirteen. While release strategies vary, many original series offer complex storylines that viewers can quickly finish by binge-watching over a few hours or days. This is particularly common with shows in the science fiction and fantasy genres.

Shows like Severance, Silo, Fallout, Pluribus, Dark, For All Mankind, Foundation, Stranger Things, Paradise, The Expanse, and even The Mandalorian have all built complex stories that unfold over many episodes and seasons, requiring viewers to invest a lot of time. While science fiction naturally lends itself to these sprawling narratives, it’s also interesting to see those big ideas explored on a smaller, more personal scale—using a familiar world to try out new storytelling styles. That’s the approach Paramount+ is taking with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score
Average 94%
Season 1 98%
Season 2 97%
Season 3 88%

Created as a continuation of Star Trek: Discovery and a prequel to the original Star Trek, Strange New Worlds returns to the hopeful, optimistic spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision. Unlike many modern shows, it uses the classic Star Trek format of self-contained episodes, alongside ongoing character arcs. Though it’s a streaming series with ten episodes per season (with a shorter final season planned), it successfully combines character development with exciting, imaginative, and engaging standalone stories.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Episodic Format Makes It More Accessible

In its first 30 episodes, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has impressively explored many different types of stories. From intense sci-fi adventures and space exploration to time travel, alien threats, and even lighthearted romances and musicals, each episode feels fresh. The show manages to keep viewers surprised, even when featuring recurring villains like the frightening Gorn or the enigmatic Vezda, all while serving as a prequel to the classic Star Trek series.

This storytelling style allows the show to explore various characters and plots – a standout example is a Season 3 episode where Captain Pike, Nurse Chapel, Uhura, and La’an Noonien-Singh are transformed into overly proud Vulcans. It also broadens the show’s appeal. While Strange New Worlds is definitely a Star Trek show for dedicated fans, it’s also a great starting point for newcomers and casual viewers to experience the optimistic spirit of Starfleet and the Star Trek universe.

Strange New Worlds manages to appeal to a wide range of viewers while still staying true to its core purpose and values. Each episode, even the most unusual ones, contributes to the growth of the characters and sets the stage for James T. Kirk becoming captain of the Enterprise. What’s impressive about the show is its willingness to experiment – the musical episode wasn’t for everyone, and the upcoming puppet-based episode is likely to be just as divisive.

The great thing about traditional episodic TV is that even if you don’t love one episode, the next one could be amazing. This ‘episode-of-the-week’ format is something we don’t see as much with today’s streaming shows that tell one long, continuous story. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds really captures that classic feel with its weekly releases.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Will Return For Two More Seasons

The fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will begin streaming on Paramount+ in July, with the usual ten episodes. The fifth and final season will have six episodes and will directly lead into the start of Captain Kirk’s command of the Enterprise. According to executive producer Akiva Goldsman, season four will be more focused on individual adventures and will explain why some of Captain Pike’s crew members aren’t part of Kirk’s team in Star Trek: The Original Series, rather than featuring a season-long villain.

This is a truly courageous and admirable decision for the show. It’s easy for series to get stuck in endless, ongoing storylines, especially when aiming for a big, over-the-top finale. However, the creators of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds clearly understand that telling self-contained stories is what makes the show so good. The Enterprise is all about “boldly going where no one has gone before,” and choosing a classic, episodic format for a major sci-fi show in today’s streaming landscape is a genuinely bold move.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 premieres on July 23, exclusively on Paramount+.

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2026-06-06 00:04