Do you prefer a strong season arc or stand-alone episodes?

Necronomicon

I've been thinking about this lately, because I realised that most shows I don't get into are those that concentrate more on the story of individual episodes. Even a show that has an overall season arc, but still has a 'bad-guy of the week' type format. I never really got into any CSI, I lost interest in Supernatural. Lately I've been watching 'Burn Notice' and while I think it's a thoroughly enjoyable show, my one criticism is that it tends to restrict the 'burn' plotline until the last few mintutes after he deals with whoever he's helping in that given episode. (mind you, I'm only 4 or 5 in).

Having said that, a big advantage of stand-alone episodes is that you can tune in and out and it doesn't matter if you miss some episodes. I recently started watching Season 7 of Criminal Intent after missing Season 6, which I still haven't seen.

Do you prefer this format, or do you need to be left dying to see what happens next in a show?

matrim

I'd normally prefer a strong story arc. One of my favorite shows over the last couple of years has been dexter, which like alot of HBO shows has a shorter season but little or no filler so it's all about the story arc.

However, the non story arc episodes can also add to a show. Some of the best Stargate episodes weren't related to a story arc.

With shows that don't have a story arc, I'd often like them but they wouldn't have that must watch feel, so I'd only be watching them on and off.

ixoy

Overall my favourite shows are those that feature strong season (or even series) arcs - The Wire, Lost, Heroes, Twin Peaks, Babylon 5, etc.
I think the season aspect can really build up some great storylines but, if done wrong, it can also become very tired as writers force material that's only good for a few episodes and try and push it over a season, constantly introducing set backs or "twists" in an attempt to flesh it out - "Prison Break" is an example of this. Or how "The X-Files" myth arc became very irritating as it became increasingly clear they had no idea what the honey-alien-clone-bees-dipped-in-black-oil even meant. An arc without a plan can be worse than no arc.

Having said that, I do watch a number of shows with mainly stand alone episodes - Criminal Intent for example works well in an hourly segment (stories are convoluted enough for 45 mins) as does Supernatural. Both then have some mild story arc elements to keep you hooked in the longer term.

It really is a case-by-case basis and I won't ditch one show for not having an arc or look at a show now purely for an arc - I'll judge it on what I know of the show's quality. Arcs are more rewarding overall, probably, but can also be more damaging.

Mr E

Good question, Necro.... Poll added (even though I know what way its going to go!)

It has to be story arcs for me. The end of episode cliffhanger, the "oh god, I have to wait a WHOLE WEEK!" moments. Its also rewarding when it builds up to a great payoff. Dexter, Farscape, Heroes, 24 (ish) etc.

Even shows that have a subtle story arc like Burn Notice, Supernatural, Smallville, House are all the more rewarding because of them, even though their episodes are largely standalone.

keane2097

Arcs definitely - Babylon 5 was the best ever imo...

Something like Skins shows you don't have to completely go one way or the other though - you could watch each episode happily enough as a stand-alone affair, you just got more out of it if you knew the back-stories...

Necronomicon

Cheers Mr E. I thought about adding a poll, but I thought there was somewhat of a grey area. Some shows manage to keep a story of the week but still have an overall arc. House is probably the best example I can think of - a new case every week, but having an antagonist like Vogler in Season 1 and Tritter in Season 3 made it very addictive television.

Earthhorse

Actually, I was going to mention House as a show that doesn't do much in terms of the arc but which I still love. And I'm cool with that because I don't think there needs to be an arc but when there is it can definitely enhance things. You're more invested when the characters are developing in front of you. The problem is when an arc hits payoff (and it has to eventually or you just get tired of it) they rarely have something to replace it with.

lt_cmdr_worf

The Xindi arc in Star Trek: Enterprise season three and the smaller arcs in season four shook up a series that before then consisted of stand-alone eps.

Jericho's season arc was compulsive television, as was later seasons of Buffy and Angel.

CSI, House, Smallville have plenty of stand alone eps.

madrab

long, complex, well though out (ie start, middle, end - are you listening jj abrams??) story arcs are like crack to me but i still enjoy stand alone episodes

rgiller

Necronomicon wrote: »

House is probably the best example I can think of - a new case every week, but having an antagonist like Vogler in Season 1 and Tritter in Season 3 made it very addictive television.

Was going to write something about House here. I'm up to season 3 with Tritter now and I kind of wish he'd just go away and let them get back to light hearted diagnoses of weird patients. The way they're all handling this detective is very unrealistic and House's character is suffering a lot I think. You used to be able to sympathise with him more (sure he's a jerk but he cares about people underneath that facade) but I think his treatment of his colleagues in this situation makes him very unlikeable and difficult to watch.

I liked overarcing stories in Heroes, Lost, Reaper, Prison Break, etc but in this case, I think they would be better off without one

Story Arcs are good. With the best I've seen in recent years being Dexter. Though for the sheer watchability, it has to be the stand-alone episodes.

djkeogh

While it's nice to sit down and enjoy a show I prefer Arc. I find it much more rewarding. I pruposely seek out shows which have good story arcs and tend to skip over CSI style shows.

KerranJast

Big Bad of the week shows are for people with the attention span of a flea. I'll take well written multiseason arc please.

Firetrap

Stand Alone episodes. I hate committing myself to watching a lengthy TV series week in, week out so I won't fall behind on what's going on. And if I tape the episodes, they just build up unwatched. Stand-alones FTW

S.L.F

keane2097 wrote: »

Babylon 5 was the best ever imo...

Or will ever be.

broke my heart when I discovered that G'kar had passed away.

p4poetic

Story arcs don't make good for new viewers (they're lost) but it's great to faithful fans of a particular show. I'm kind of torn on this.

Xavi6

Mr E wrote: »

Even shows that have a subtle story arc like Burn Notice, Supernatural, Smallville, House are all the more rewarding because of them, even though their episodes are largely standalone.

They're the two current examples of the way I like it best - stand alone stories but with bits of an arc thrown in.

I do love the continuous stories in the likes of 24 and other shows that I'm a firm follower of, and for the shows I'm not dedicated to (your CSIs etc) then stand alone is good

AlmightyCushion

It's the season arc for me. Those things are addictive. Worst thing about them is if you get your hands on a whole load of episodes that you haven't seen yet (Dexter season 1 I'm looking at you). You decide to watch one episode at 11pm and then head to bed. 7 hours later you're crawling to bed to get an hour or twos sleep before work the next day.

Bubs101

I like the season arc at the time the season is out, but, when it comes to re-visiting a TV show I don't want to have to try and remember where I am in the arc or have a half baked episode without a clear beginning or an end. Heroes was a big one for this. Watched an episode last night of the good part of series one and I found myself really dissapointed. I loved it when it came out but if you just watch one episode by itself it's not that great. Firefly would be one of my favourite shows and that has virtually no story ark at all. Any episode is great and watchable as a standalone, same-ish for Stargate. For replay value it's just much better to have great one off episodes.

matrim

One other point is that there is a difference between comedy and drama. I think it's alot easier for comedy shows to get a way without a story arc as often the best jokes are small ones not really related to the rest of the overall show, e.g. stuff like (old) simpsons, south park, malcolm in the middle don't have story arcs but work really well.

dulpit

Big long story arc ftw... \o/

I am struggling to think of a TV show i enjoy that does not have a good season long story going on... (Except for stupid, leave your brain outside comedy type things)

djkeogh

Id agree that the one time that story arc doesn't apply is when it comes to comedy.

ixoy

djkeogh wrote: »

Id agree that the one time that story arc doesn't apply is when it comes to comedy.

But the best comedies have not only running story lines but running jokes that long-term fans will get more out of than the casual viewer (particularly the likes of "Seinfeld" and "Arrested Development").

Pigman II

Depends on the show. Dexter for example has a good Arc but X-files on the other would have been a better show if they had just abandoned all the arc episodes and just stuck to stand-alone episodes.

I have X-files season 1-9 and I won't watch any of the arc stuff because it is all just pure smoke & mirriors bluff with absolutely no substance (like a mini-Lost if you will).

iguana

Bubs101 wrote: »

Firefly would be one of my favourite shows and that has virtually no story ark at all.

Firefly did have an arc, Whedon always said that it had a 7 season arc. And that Serenity brought the story line to the point the 2nd series would have ended. It was just a slow-burner like Babylon 5 five was in the first series. The first series of B5 was what seemed to be stand alone episodes with a mild arc starting to appear if you watched each one. It wasn't quite a bit into series 1 that the extent of the arc started to be hinted at. Firefly would have been the same given the chance.

And yes I love arcs, but they have to be well thought out with the overall plot mapped out by the writers from the beginning. Though sometimes if the episodes are good enough they can overcompensate for a weak arc, like Buffy did.