The question

[manche]

Do you know a TV series which is a good example of great continuity? I mean appropriate references to past events, the return of old characters or they are mentioned sometimes, characters develop throughout the series and such things... Sinbad is not the best example of this phenomenon.

[banmaixanh]

I think X-files is a good one. I like it a lot. Not really a fan but I like it.

[Doubar]

Uhm, I'm not into too many TV shows and those I did like to watch you've already seen as well, Manche. What is left are mostly awesome British shows that do have some continuity errors though. Albeit... you ever watched Fringe? It does have some characters that just seem to dissapear but the vast majority is returning at some point or another. And half the time, at some point during the Season, you go: "aaah, so that's what's going on". Additional bonus: the main cast is beyond likable.

[manche]

Thank you both. I was curious if I find something about this topic. The X Files was really quite balanced in continuity, mainly for the reason, that there were two types of episodes, the main storyline about the conspiracy of the government with aliens (this plot was developing throughout the years, there were references to previous events and if an accidental viewer saw one such episode he would not understand what happens) and standalone episodes about different paranormal phenomena which could watch anyone without any troubles with understanding. Even there were some references but they were understandable for accidental viewers

I do not know Fringe, but thank you for the tip, Doubar.

Oh, disappearing of characters in a TV series is not anything unusual, but it depends on the way how it is done. For example, the bad way was chosen in Sabrina the Teenage Witch where a lot of characters (even main) disappeared throughout the years without any explanations or later references.

If you like the main cast is it always an important thing. I know many TV series where good main cast was reason why I like the TV series. For example Monk, The Lost World or Smallville (despite many changes in the cast during years, some great new characters appeared in last seasons).

[tzigone]

Jan 8, 2016 9:32:49 GMT -5 manche said:

Do you know a TV series which is a good example of great continuity? I mean appropriate references to past events, the return of old characters or they are mentioned sometimes, characters develop throughout the series and such things... Sinbad is not the best example of this phenomenon.

I think there a lot of modern shows with character development. Finding ones with overreaching and coherent story arcs is much more difficult, in my opinion.

Babylon 5 is unquestionably fantastic for plotarc.  I would not pick X-Files, as the mytharc is a complete mess.  B5 was an episode 110 series and one writer (the creator) wrote 92 of the episodes.  The first four seasons are especially tight and well-done for arc - you have questions and mysteries raised that are answered in later seasons.  The fifth season is a little less, because they said the show wasn't going to be renewed, so plotarcs were wrapped up, and then they got renewed for S5.  Is sci-fi, space station show.  Really good show.  I have to watch big blocks of episodes at a time, though; it definitely has episodic plots, but the mytharc subplot is really present in every episode.

Disney show "So Weird" is very good for the first two seasons on plot arc (especially season 2).  New people in charge in S3 and a corporate decision to change the tone of the show meant arcs were dropped.  I can point you to a message board for better-video-quality episodes than you'll like find on Youtube or torrenting for this one.  Lot of original music in the show.  Mostly supernatural with werewolf, vampire, banshee, etc.  Aimed at a 'tween audience, I guess, but much more serious than the fare you see on Disney Channel today.  Deals with complicated family dynamics and grief and the love of family and it's all tied up in a huge mystery dealing with evil supernatural entities that you gets hints on throughout the series.  Still has a lot of episodic episodes that are directly applicable (but sort are indirectly applicable) to the mytharc.  I was also very pleased with attention to detail on props.  Two-second shots of news articles had actual text related to the topic being discussed and sometimes even had plot details that wouldn't be revealed until the next season.

[Doubar]

Hah, talking of the X-Files... over here the new eps are coming out in February. Can't wait to see what they made of it.

Oh, and as for other shows to watch: I'm not quite certain whether that's your cup of tea, Manche, but I personally have come to love Doctor Who. While, due to the nature of the show, the entire cast changes every few seasons there are often mentions of past charas and events. Also there's a certain continuity (despite some plot holes here and there) and quite a lot of moments that kind of blow your mind.

[Firouz]

X-Files so far the new episodes are good. Some interesting twists here.

As for shows that have continuity of characters.....for myself the top series is Star Trek. Starting with the Original Series, into The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, to Star Trek Voyager to Enterprise. The most famous ST character is Mr. Spock! He was a favorite character in the original series that was brought into the Next Generation series since Vulcans are so long lived compared to humans. In Generations, the character 'Q' is an omnipotent being who messes around with the Generation and Voyager crew. Likewise the entire species of Borg in from Generations and carries over in Voyager. From The Next Generation the characters Worf, a Kilingon warrior and Federation officer, and Lt. O'Brian cross over into Deep Space 9. And Enterprise, the 1 character from it that kind-of crosses over that links it to the others is the character T'Pol who was supposed to be a younger version of one the Original Series side characters, T'Pau, Spock's Great-Grandmother or Grandmother(don't recall which) and Hoshi Sato. She was living on the planet Tarsus where Captain Kirk was when disaster struck.

[Doubar]

Because this seems like the most fitting place to put it, even when it means I digress for a moment here but...

[WARNING: SPOILER ALERT]

So, the new X-Files have all been aired over here as of today and..... argh!!!! How could they do this?

[manche]

I was looking forward to this new season, but I have heard a lot of things which I do not like about it since its airing, I am not sure if I want to look at it now.

[Doubar]

Ah, but it's not half bad. I actually enjoyed this mini-series even if some scenes were a bit cringe-worthy. But it's hard to translate a 90s show into modern times. TV has changed dramatically so the show was bound to change a bit as well. Still, overall I found these 6 eps to be enjoyable, just that last one... I realise this is something like a spoiler (again X.x) but I need to explain my earlier reaction because I think you might have misunderstood it: that last ep ends on a freakin' cliff hanger! That's what made me headdesk because cliff-hangers are evil when it's not even certain whether there will be a continuation or not.

[manche]

Oh, I understand this. Cliff-hangers are bad, especially when continuation is not sure. I would not wish a similar end for The X Files as the Lost World or The Dark Knight had. I still want look at it, although I do not like some things which I have heard about this new season so far (the most annoying thing for me is the news that one of my favourite characters (Monica, I love this great woman turned to the bad side.)

[Doubar]

Yeah I, too, hope that they won't leave it as unfinished as it is now (thanks to that open ending). As for Monica though... seeing this has already been brought to you I think there's not too much to spoil there anymore. But I can tell you the following: she only had one scene and while in this it was revealed that she was working for the bad side now, there's still a whole load of questions behind this. Such as: why did she choose to do it? The way she acted I don't think it was of her own free will, instead I think there's a story behind it. She well might not have had another choice. If I remember correctly, she hinted at something, too, but it was vague and since her appearance didn't occur until the very last ep that story is a mystery just like whatever turn the story would take from then. Yep, you gotta hate cliff-hangers. -.-

[manche]

Thank you for information, dear Doubar. It definitely sounds better. That there is a reasonable explanation for her behaviour and that she was forced to work for the bad side for an unknown reason. But because the continuation of The X Files is not sure, maybe we will never get an explanation which I do not like very much.

I really liked Monica in later seasons. I do not want to compare this TV series with Sinbad, but although I like Bryn now, I looked at her as a substitute for Maeve for a longer time. Monica had her own character from the beginning on the other hand; she was very different from Scully and a little similar to Mulder. I liked her friendship with John and how she became a very good friend of Scully despite their different personalities. And I was simply amazed how she was defending Mulder and his seeking for the truth in front of the court when the government wanted to get rid of him.

Maybe for this reason I was upset by this decision of screenwriters and I would wish the explanation of her behaviour at least.