<p>The rise of unnatural narratology has been one of the most remarkable developments in narrative studies since the turn of the 21st century. While this established yet still-debated field has garnered considerable scholarly attention and positive reception, it has also sparked significant debates. The current essay joins the ongoing discussions about whether unnatural narratology constitutes a legitimate paradigm in narrative theory. It first examines the foundational models of unnatural narratology and critically engages with the major debates surrounding this theoretical approach. It further demonstrates why unnatural narratology stands as a legitimate and significant domain of narrative research in narratology’s postclassical context. Unnatural narratologists have advanced narrative theory by challenging the universalist assumptions of traditional narratology and expanding the corpus of narrative texts under examination. These contributions have not only enriched narrative poetics but also fostered greater pluralism in narrative studies, which offers illuminating implications for future narrative research.</p>