Flare Sci-Fi Forums: B-stories: welcome diversion or annoying distraction?

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Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :

What do you all think about B-stories? As far as I recall, TOS rarely, if ever, used B-story subplots. Instead, all scenes were in service of the main (and only) story. Howver, in TNG, they started having B stories. I always felt that B stories were a big distraction and a sign of the writing staff's not being able to fill up the entire 45 minutes with a single story. They needed to pad the episodes with half-baked, undeveloped B-story plotlines. Another reason, I guess, is to give each member of a large cast something interesting to do every week. Either way, I don't like B-stories.

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Posted by USS Vanguard (Member # 130) on :

Why did the vision put in the story about Homer and Lincoln's gold...- Bart
I guess the spirits felt the main vision was a little thin- Indian Casino Chief

Ahh, simpsons, will there ever be a situation where a relevant quote can't be acquired?
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[This message has been edited by USS Vanguard (edited May 20, 2001).]

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Doubtful.

Masao -- so, are you "for" or "against" story arcs in episodes? Just out of curiousity, because most arcs are told in "A"-plot, "B"-plot, and "C"-plot story form (look at DS9's last chapter).

While "B" plots didn't work so well on TNG, I think they worked great on DS9 -- look at "The Storyteller", for one ...

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Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :

I actually haven't seen much DS9 here in Japan, so I'm referring mainly to TNG B stories. I got no complaint with B stories serving a continuous story line. I just don't like stand-alone B stories in stand-alone episodes.

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When you're in the Sol system, come visit the Starfleet Museum

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

At first I thought you meant B-plot meant "budget" as in bad quality as in Ed Wood.

So what is the difference btw A-, B-, and C-plot forms, pray tell.

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old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

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Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

Well, the classic A-plot revolves around somethin major, but at the same time there may be a little sub-plot going on, usually revolving around character development.

Example: New Ground - A-Plot = Soliton Wave experiment; B-Plot = Alexander, Worf, Lwaxana, that Godawful Colony of Free Spirits, oh JesusfuckIhatethisepisodesoveryfuckingmuch!

Example: Message in a Bottle - A-Plot = EMH on the Prometheus, B-Plot = Tom trying to cope as medical officer; also potential C-Plot in that it introduces the Hirogen.

*tries to think of good DS9 example*

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Phasers

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

Ok, the standard format. One issue that is presented before the opening credits (is there a term for that 1-5 minute opening tidbit?) and then one or two subplots.

I'm ready for B and C now. In fact, can't wait!

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

A teaser.

The Parallax Colony was from "Cost Of Living," not "New Ground."

DS9 example is "Progress." A-plot: Kira tries to get Brian Keith to leave the moon of Jerrado within enlisting the help of Mr. French. B-plot: Nog & Jake become greedy motherfuckers as the huge-eared little troll takes his first steps towards a glorious career in the Quartermaster Corps.

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Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

Whatever. But such shite eps really paved the way for DS9; after all the endless schmaltz we really all just wanted to see a lot of shit getting blown up.

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Phasers

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

What's a B and C plot again???

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Better example: "Family"

A-story: Picard reunites with brother on Earth and considers new career move while finally putting the Borgification behind him.

B-story: Worf's human parents visit him on the Enterprise: they're concerned because he has isolated himself from them, and he doesn't want them to feel burdened by his discomendation.

C-story: Wesley "meets" his father via a message Jack recorded shortly before he died. Beverly isn't sure she wants Wesley to get the message.

Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

A-plot: Entire crew is in trouble

B-plot: single character has personal trouble

Conclusion: By amazing coincidence, the personal problem is solved and in some way helps to solve Plot A as well.

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Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

Oh, the other dispositions made me think that the whole episode is either A, B or C. But they can be baked into one?

How's this?

Noname Voy-ep.

A-plot: Ship is stalked by entity
B-plot: Janeway has trouble with Chakotay taking her orders and killing entity
C-plot: Neelix bugs Tuvok with corny entity-jokes.

In the end, Chakotay finds a way to pacify entity and makes up with Janeway, A and B is solved. Then Tuvok does some practical joke on Neelix in some pseudo-revenge way and whole senior staff starts laughing really blandly and false juust before end credits. C is done too!

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by Matrix (Member # 376) on :

Some Trek episodes were entirely B-plots however I right now I'm trying to remember a couple of example's titles.

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Nimrod: Yes. Within a single episode, the A-plot is the main plot. What the episode is about. The sort of thing that you'd read as the synopsis in the weekly television listings. The B-plot another story that's also happening, but it isn't the main thing. As mentioned, it's usually character development and such. Really, C-, D-, E-, F-, &c. plots are just multiple sub-plots. More than one B-plot, as it were...

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :

The episodes where plots B and C etc are 'resolved' by using the A plot and vice versa suck... they only work in Seinfeld!! ;o) i.e. The Soup Nazi... "NEXT!"

That Voyager A,B,C plot description above fitted some episodes of Voyager exactly.

The best episodes with multiple plots are the episodes with an A plot - with an ongoing B/C plot - that tie into other episodes - you can watch the episode - 'fresh' for the A plot - and pick up threads by grabbing on to the B and C plots and being taken for the ride. That is what happened when I got into the Practice. I watched Ally McBeal all first season - and then caught the cross-over with the Practice - I hadn't succeeded in getting into the Practice before that - and subsequently - after the crossover episode - I began watching!! DS9 did this... Babylon 5 did this... even TNG did this on occassion - but issues didn't necessarily get touched on again the very next episode - maybe not even for another year - when the writers felt they wanted to bring it up again - but it happened. The Voyager writers got this type of 'continuity' with the DS9/B5/The Practice type of continuity - where episodes link each other each or every few episodes. DS9 also did the TNG thing of bringing back threads now and again... i.e. Lwaxana Troi, Enabran Tain, Section 31, the Genetically Engineered people... They weren't the crux of DS9, but they were successfully retouched apon, in other episodes. I just wish they had touched apon a few other things.

Thomas Riker
Kai Opaka
T'Rul
Jadzia's family

Amongst other things.

Andrew

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Posted by Gaseous Anomaly (Member # 114) on :

'In The Cards' was the only episode where the main onrunning story took second place to a silly harmless little tale viz. the two plikes getting the card vs. the arc story of the coming Dominion War.

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