Stand-alone plots vs continuing plots

F

Fipi

New member
What do you prefer, stand-alone stories or stories that continue through every episode? I prefer stand-alone ones as its easier to get into shows, however, for anime shows continuing plots do work most of the time, and the same goes for superhero shows.
 
Stand-alone episodes with an underlying plot connecting them is the best method, in my opinion. Avatar, Xiaolin Showdown, AmDrag, Code Lyoko, Ben 10, Yu-Gi-Oh GX, Justice League Unlimited, Kim Possible, Pokemon, and various other shows follow the formula.

My main problem with season-wide arcs is it leaves little to anything else. You can't just stop in the middle of a batch of episodes of, say, someone infiltrating a castle and have them do anything else without it coming off as "Why did they stop?"

Episodic format just allows for more flexible adventures/situations and you can actually sit down and watch a random episode and enjoy it. If you sit down in the middle of, say, Part 2 of the City at War storyline for the Teenage Mutant Nnja Turtles, you're kind of obligated to watch the first part and last part to appreciate it all. TMNT is forgivable, though, since it's only 3 or 4 episode arcs which is less time than your average movie, but shows with upwards of 20 - 100 episode arcs (mainly the Japanese long-running shounen shows, or season-length shows such as 24) then it makes it hard to go back and rewatch anything since you basically have to rewatch a huge batch of episodes. Let alone half the time they just drag things out for no reason other than to waste time or to fill an episode quota.
 
I loved the way the first two seasons of Justice League were formated, with a mixture of 2- and 3-part episodes. I'm not really a fan of entire-season story archs, where each episode is just a piece in a bigger story. I often feel such archs are just too drawn-out and lose my interest after awhile. The 2- and 3-part episodes, IMO, are much nicer. It gives a particular story just enough breathing room to play out without overstaying its welcome, and then it's onto the next adventure. I don't mind recurring storylines, either, that might run throughout certain episodes. Just not those "every episode in a 22-episode season is part of the same story" deals.
 
I actually think JLU did it dead-on right, because there was a big arc going on but also a good share of stand-alone episodes to provide some character focus and a break. Its the series that successfully do both and appeal to the audience in this manner that so often are well remembered and regarded years later. Not just cartoons, but shows like Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica as well.
 
I prefer stand-alone. It's better because you don't have to wait 2 or 3 episodes to see how a simple fight or adventure will turn out. Continuing plots just stretch everything.
 
I enjoy cartoons with a continuity. In my opinion, this means having recurring villains in superhero shows, for example, and at least having a mention. I also enjoy season arcs that keep themselves open, like with the last season of Teen Titans.
 
It depends for me....There are shows I like which mainly do stand-alone episodes for example,The Simpsons,Animaniacs,Family Guy,and yet there are also shows that have plots that continue for several episodes that I like such as Gargoyles,Fullmetal Alchemist,and Bleach....

In general,though,I prefer that shows at the very least have some kind of continuity {One of the better series to have both stand-alone episodes and continuity is Futurama,IMO.....it's kinda fun to watch the episodes and notice things that come up later,like seeing Leela's parents in one of season 2's episodes,and having a later episode that features their backstory and reason for leaving Leela at the orphanage....}

On the other hand,I still like The Simpsons,which has lousy continuity,due in part to the fact that the characters don't age...
 
I think continuing plots work better with long running series. Like with soap operas, it will probably be years or never before you see any previous episodes, but sometimes people see what's going on and automatically get into the show.

With a short series, the episodes need have rewatchability so the series should mostly consist of stand-alone plots. It's fun watching an episode you're already familiar with and trying to see if you missed something.

That's just for the most part I believe. A lot of animated shows are long running but episodic, and there's the inverse of that.
 
For comedy cartoons, I prefer stand-alone plots. For action cartoons, I prefer a nice fusion of both, where each episode is a self contained story, but small elements of it are brought up and lead to events later in the series. JLU and Gargoyles ring a bell.
 
The reason why animes have long running archs is due to japan having a different tv system. In the US they order a set number of eps each season then take a brake for a few months. While in japan animes never take a brake which leads to things being drag out and more fillers. I like shows to have a comebine of both.
 
Yeah We have to remember that japan does not have seasons for it's anime. They run every week until they are done. for long series based on manga this can be a problem as the anime will eventually catch up to the anime and cause problems. Which results in the stretched out stories.

Anyway I like standalone stories that are connected to the whole series. TMNT 2003 does a great job of this. You have a long multi parter at the beginning of the season and the reciprocations are shown throughout the rest of the season. Even the hated Fast Forward while the episodes seemed stand alone were still quite strong in continuity with what happened in past episodes effecting the new ones.

In many ways America's smaller seasons helps a continued plot. Less dragging. Like Avatar, with twenty episode seasons they have to pace the seasons quicker, less time to really drag things out.
 
It depends on the show. I like to see a thread bare of continuity in certain shows, at least referencing previous plot lines.

When it comes to simplistic cartoons, I like stand alones. But when it comes to thought out action series, I want more continuity.

If only TMNT had more continuity based episodes, and less stand alones, it would have been a better series, IMO.
 
I never have and never will understand the term "filler". ANY plot used for a single episode could easily switch places with one used for an entire series and people would think of the latter as "filler" too. There is positively no difference, one has simply been stretched out.

It takes more talent to conclude a good story in a single episode, and it makes a show more accessible.
 
Sure it could, it would just have to be written shorter with less drawn-out stuff. Like any 5-episode long fight being condensed down to 1 episode. Just take out all the shots of them standing around staring at each other, camera-pans, and the side-banter from the hero's friends and it can easily be done.
 
Well, that would apply to certain action anime, but the same can be said for entire episodes of complex dialog. The "arc" is usually only furthered for a few seconds at a time.

Any one-episode story could be fluffed in the exact same way, with each minor plot point spaced between 22 minute arguments or tacked to the end of other standalone stories.
 
...oh, I see what you were saying. It sounded like you meant switching stand-alone episodes with story-furthering episodes.
Assuming you mean "minor plot point" to mean advances in the story as a whole, then it's not exactly stand-alone. It's "filler" when the episode is basically there (or perceived as there) to pad out the episode count, the most obvious examples arising when an anime is running alongside an accompanying manga.
 
Back
Top