Star Trek stories need characters to move the narrative forward from start to finish. It is worth taking a closer look at what purposes the characters may serve in conveying ideas or opinions to the audience. Think of this as reverse engineering of characters to see what makes them work in a story.

When you are watching episodes of Star Trek, you can ask yourself twenty questions to reverse engineer characters that you observe.  This set of questions also works when you evaluate Battlestar Galactica, as this demonstration using the character of Karl “Helo” Agathon will reveal.

What (if any) inner feelings, thoughts, or beliefs does the character’s dialogue or actions reveal?

What are the reasons behind the ways in the character is behaving?

What (if anything) does the character’s dialogue or actions reveal about what he or she considers important or desirable?

What particular things (if any) make the character appealing and credible?

When you compare a particular character of your choice with any other character, are there differences or similarities which seem important in understanding him or her?

What particular things (if any) make the character unique or special as compared to any other character in the episode?

What particular changes (if any) does the character undergo in an episode, or, from one episode to another?

What particular adjustments (if any) does the character make to new circumstances in an episodes, or, from one episode to another?

What (if anything) does the character reveal that proves he or she is able to face facts and be practical about things as they come along in an episode, or, from one episode to another?

What particular problems does the character face in the story, and what does he or she do to resolve that problem?

Is the character necessary to the story or the series, or could any character just as readily be substituted without really changing things?

Can you accept the character in the story as seemingly true and genuine, or is the character more make-believe or playacting?

What habits or customs or behaviors (if any) does the character reveal about the society to which he or she belongs?

What (if anything) new and different do you know now that you have watched this character in the story?

What (if any) feelings or emotions do you now have after you have watched this character in the story?

What (if any) changes of heart or mind did the character in the story seem to ask you to make?

What (if any) purpose does the character’s physical appearance and/or clothing serve in the story?

What (if any) purpose does the character’s name serve in the story?

What (if any) purpose does the character’s use of props or objects or hardware or equipment serve in the story?

What (if anything) about the character do you believe might be worth trying to equal in your own life?