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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mallus" data-source="post: 924014" data-attributes="member: 3887">I thought that was all very well put...You're using a pretty strict definition of "morality play". But that's useful for these kinds of conversations. I still feel Sheridan's season's long struggle between his duty to authority and his duty to the truth {and humanity} fits into the classical Greek dramatic mode; I wasn't entirely kididng by referencing Oedipus and Antigone... I agree that the better a character represents a concept, an idea, the less well they represent an actual person. And vice-versa.The problem that I have with Trek as morality play is that its a very difficult mode to work in week after, year after year. If we're talking about the classic Greek use of catharsis to alleviate the {audience's} pressure over dealing with pressing social/philosophical issues, then there is a constant need for the stories to be revelevant to the audience. Morality plays only work if they address current, thus meaningful, moral dilemas {or the current incarnation of age-old moral dilemas}. Wouldn't you agree?Origial Trek did this in spades. The later series did not, with DS9 opting for the more "soap opera" approach. For the record, this is the same problem I have with the exploration of SF elements in SF television. Its mercilessly hard to write what amounts to a good, insighful SF short story for each episode. I think SF televison needs to fall back on the character development heavy soap opera approach as a matter pure practicality. Better good drama than the exploration of second-rate SF ideas...</blockquote>

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