4/25/08 Standalone Episodes versus Season-long Arcs

[BuddyDebbie]

The inspiration for today's question was last night's episode of Supernatural. It was a kind of fun, standalone-type episode that was interesting by itself, but did not further the season-long story arc or answer any hanging questions.

What kind of episodes do you prefer? Do you like standalones or season arc episodes?

I like both. Oftentimes, I don't like for a show to swing too far to one side or the other. I thought Buffy season 2 was a good mix. In some ways, I think I would like for Heroes to add some standalones.

Then again, I do also enjoy shows like 24 which don't have any standalones.

What's your opinion?

[Calena]

I totally love season-long story arcs. I only really got into SPN when it started to show that there was an overall story behind all of it, not just a sort of supernatural CSI. Interestly enough, my friend E. whom I forced to watch SPN last weekend who absolutely hates overall story arcs loved SPN, too. Then it dawned on me that SPN does both things at once. The hunt itself is always closed in one ep (with the exception of Meg) but you also get the overall story about Sam being "the chosen one" and now of course Dean's deal. The odd stand-alone ep is totally fine by me, though.
Prison Break and Lost are other examples for having (or having had) great season-long story arcs. I much prefer them to shows like Psych that might be funny, but same old same old gets ... well, old for me before too long.

[Drama_Diva]

I usually love the standalone episodes. Actually I usually love any episode of SPN this one excluded. I think a lot of how a standalone is taken really depends on it's timing and placement as far as the season as a whole goes. I loved Tall Tales,Hell House and Mystery Spot..ect.. but this one really did nothing for me . Maybe it's the fact that I LOATHE reality TV in general or that I wasn't a big fan of the Blair Witch movie , I dunno. I do prefer the story arch episodes with all their angsty goodness , but it's nice to change it up and add a little comic relief.

[ladytex01]

For the most part I like standalones because I have CRS (can't remember stuff) and forget to watch unless I have it programmed into the dvr. It's frustrating to miss an episode and not be able to pick it up.

[Calena]

Mystery Spot wasn't a standalone ep, imo. While the first half was hilarious in the second half we got to see what Dean's death would do to Sammy and it was not pretty - and it had importance for the overall story - Sam will do anything to keep Dean, even morally questionable things.
Ghostfacers was an umlucky joice for the return after such a long break, and even if it had been aired a week after Jus in Bello, after such a great/strong ep a pointless (sorry to say that) episode like Ghostfacers would still have paled in comparison.
I do think though, that people who don't have so much hatred for reality TV liked it, as one can see in the comments in the ep recap thread.

[Drama_Diva]

I think Mystery Spot was a filler episode because it wasn't really important to the story arc. I think it's a given that Sam would do anything to keep his brother and the same goes for Dean ...it didn't really need to be put out there to keep the story pumping along because it's a given, Unlike episodes like Jus in Bello and Malleus Maleficarum where we find out something new and important to the storyline.

I do agree that Ghostfacers was well liked by those that like reality TV and things like that . It had it's moments , but still I don't think when I buy the DVD's I will be re watching it .

[Joshjb]

Well I like episodes that advance the major plot more, but there are definitely some great standalone episodes as well!

For example, the episode Exposé in the third season of Lost. I thought that episode was brilliant, even though most people hated it.

[JJTVAddict]

I like both equally. I got used to the combination from watching X-files. Also I think it's tough to do a full season of only story arc episodes. Because a casual viewer isn't going to start watching a new show if it doesn't make sense to them and starting to watch during a story arc can make it difficult to follow.

[BuddyD]

I'm with you Debbie. I need a mixture of both. If a show is almost solely standalone episodes, like CSI or something, I feel no great drive to watch. However, if a show is all arc based, like 24 or season 4 of Angel, it all blends together and nothing really stands out.

I feel like Lost has found the perfect formula for this. It's kind of totally arc based, but since each episode focuses on the story of a different character, they all feel distinct and don't run together.