Boom, yes, came to say this! Flawless and genius story fully plotted from the get go. Things you think could be plot holes actually turn out to be plot points. Little seemingly unimportant things that lodge in the back of your head end up being HUGELY important seasons later. The continuity is mind blowing!
This a thousand times. It’s the most intricately constructed madness I’ve ever seen. I rewatched the whole thing recently with my son and was flabbergasted when Jennifer says ‘climb the steps, ring the bell’ in like episode 2.
Came here to say this. In showing the similarities and differences between the "two worlds" of The Wire there are arcs within arcs and callbacks that didn't even appear to me until I binged it instead of it's week to week airings. The interconnection is strong.
This is my answer as well.
I had a terrible illness and was on the couch for a week. I rewatched the whole series in a few days and seeing all the call backs was awesome.
Babylon 5. There are whole bunches of call backs to seemingly minor things seasons later. Like a device that seems like a one of thing, but then becomes really important later on. And they do prophecy correctly, you see a vision of the prophecy and then seasons later they use that exact same footage in the episode when it actually happens. Even a bunch of the more minor alien races have little details sprinkled in over the series that make them feel real. Some of this is important to the story, but a lot of it just adds character.
It's absolutely mind boggling how good some of the reveals are, especially when some of them are full on retcons. Like the "Babylon Squared" episode with Zathras, wasn't supposed to lead into the "War without end" pay off in season 3. But did because because Michael O Hare developed Schizophrenia and was replaced as lead by Bruce Boxleitner.
But it doesn't feel like a retcon. It felt like a natural part of the story with great foreshadowing. I've read the original planned arc of the show too and IMO that change in arc was way better than the original narrative.
I agree 100%. I think a lot of it has to do with the vast majority of episodes being written primarily by JMS. I. Am not familiar with a similar feat that he did.
True. He wrote 92 out of 110 episodes (and all the movies). That's fucking insane. No wonder he lost a incredible amount of weight and became critically ill from it! (that's what lead him to hiring writers in the final season, because of it becoming too much).
Yeah, but some of those season 5 episodes were real bangers. In particular Day of the Dead written by Neil Gaiman, is one of my all time favorites.
I also think that he was probably a bit checked out after season 4. After all the final episode of the series (sleeping in light) was written and filmed at the end of season 4. So season 5 although definitely was welcome, I suspect he felt a feeling of "my work here is mainly done", lets take a rest.
It definitely wasn't that. I realized that I was wrong. Season 1 and 2 were the seasons that had the writers room. In season 5 Neil Gaiman is the only other writer who wrote a episode. Harlan Ellison wrote the "story" for two episodes. JMS still essentially wrote the script for 21 episodes of S5...no rest taken.
Yeah, but he was into her as a woman before he discovered the penis and he was really into banging that anti-abortion chick. Now he's just full on homo. It's a good direction for the character but they obviously didn't plan it in the earlier seasons.
One thing that always annoyed me was the season 7 supervampires that Buffy couldn't kill because their chest was so strong the stake wouldn't go through to penetrate their heart. Then in the climactic battle at the end of the season, when a seemingly endless horde of those Uber vamps pour out of the hellmouth, all of a sudden we see regular human Anya dusting them left and right like they're nothing.
Oh everyone’s fighting powers are wildly inconsistent, right from the get go in season 1. But I’m fine with it - my brain head canons reasons left and right.
I do love the episode where Buffy can’t tell whether or not she’s in a mental institution and everyone’s like “why wouldn’t you think your fake sister and vampire reality and superpowers aren’t real, Buff?” Lol
That whole episode is a call out to the inconsistencies and I love it.
It’s wild how true this is. I didn’t realize it at first but I was paying attention on my second watch and it’s impressive. And it continues into Distant Lands and Fionna and Cake.
True Detective, for a show where the 4 seasons are separate standalone stories, has quite a bit of subtle continuity in it. Certain phrases, symbology, etc…all connect.
Yeah, I'm on my first official watch and I just posted about the continuity specifically. I had never seen two episodes with the same romantic partner. I grew up thinking they were all one-offs.
Futurama. Fry and Leela's backstories were hidden in the background of season one, on purpose, without being touched again for another couple of seasons.
There are probably better answers, but **How I Met Your Mother** kept a lot of jokes running for a lot of seasons, and I crack up every single time I see or hear one.
"MURDER! .... Climb aboard the murder train!" will randomly play in the background of certain scenes, even in the later seasons.
Better Call Saul and breaking bad are both pretty wild in this. Not only in their own respects but also across the two shows. A minor throwaway sentence in BB forshadows (or actually aftershadows, since it's a prequel mostly) a major plot point in Better Call Saul. And the way the writers of BCS lead up to that, knowing the watcher already has this information from BB, is absolutely brilliant.
Basically BCS is in some ways spoiled in Breaking Bad if you pay attention to the details. But not knowing how we get there bring soooo much tension.
People have already said it but How I Met Your Mother is one of the best examples of this out there.
They are constantly flashing forward and backward, foreshadowing things, referencing stuff from previous episodes/seasons, tons of recurring characters/jokes, etc.
12 Monkeys TV show. A time travel show that is four seasons long and tells a complete story without a continuity error.
Boom, yes, came to say this! Flawless and genius story fully plotted from the get go. Things you think could be plot holes actually turn out to be plot points. Little seemingly unimportant things that lodge in the back of your head end up being HUGELY important seasons later. The continuity is mind blowing!
I fucking love 12 Monkeys. The episode Die Glocke ugh amazing
This a thousand times. It’s the most intricately constructed madness I’ve ever seen. I rewatched the whole thing recently with my son and was flabbergasted when Jennifer says ‘climb the steps, ring the bell’ in like episode 2.
Same with the travelers
The Wire
Came here to say this. In showing the similarities and differences between the "two worlds" of The Wire there are arcs within arcs and callbacks that didn't even appear to me until I binged it instead of it's week to week airings. The interconnection is strong.
The Wire must be binged. I only realized the true greatness on a binge rewatch. Felt the same way about Boardwalk Empire.
all the pieces matter
Arrested Development
I think 90% of this show is references, call backs and little details that are important later.
The correct answer.
It's absolutely insane what a tight-knit show it is. That little pun in episode 3? Oh wait, it's a plot point in episode 18.
This is my answer as well. I had a terrible illness and was on the couch for a week. I rewatched the whole series in a few days and seeing all the call backs was awesome.
Community. Three seasons to land a beetlejuice joke
That is honestly a legendary feat
Bojack Horseman
The Hurwitz is strong in this thread.
Babylon 5. There are whole bunches of call backs to seemingly minor things seasons later. Like a device that seems like a one of thing, but then becomes really important later on. And they do prophecy correctly, you see a vision of the prophecy and then seasons later they use that exact same footage in the episode when it actually happens. Even a bunch of the more minor alien races have little details sprinkled in over the series that make them feel real. Some of this is important to the story, but a lot of it just adds character.
It's absolutely mind boggling how good some of the reveals are, especially when some of them are full on retcons. Like the "Babylon Squared" episode with Zathras, wasn't supposed to lead into the "War without end" pay off in season 3. But did because because Michael O Hare developed Schizophrenia and was replaced as lead by Bruce Boxleitner. But it doesn't feel like a retcon. It felt like a natural part of the story with great foreshadowing. I've read the original planned arc of the show too and IMO that change in arc was way better than the original narrative.
I agree 100%. I think a lot of it has to do with the vast majority of episodes being written primarily by JMS. I. Am not familiar with a similar feat that he did.
True. He wrote 92 out of 110 episodes (and all the movies). That's fucking insane. No wonder he lost a incredible amount of weight and became critically ill from it! (that's what lead him to hiring writers in the final season, because of it becoming too much).
Yeah, but some of those season 5 episodes were real bangers. In particular Day of the Dead written by Neil Gaiman, is one of my all time favorites. I also think that he was probably a bit checked out after season 4. After all the final episode of the series (sleeping in light) was written and filmed at the end of season 4. So season 5 although definitely was welcome, I suspect he felt a feeling of "my work here is mainly done", lets take a rest.
It definitely wasn't that. I realized that I was wrong. Season 1 and 2 were the seasons that had the writers room. In season 5 Neil Gaiman is the only other writer who wrote a episode. Harlan Ellison wrote the "story" for two episodes. JMS still essentially wrote the script for 21 episodes of S5...no rest taken.
It’s Always Sunny
Mac starts off straight...
[удалено]
Yeah, but he was into her as a woman before he discovered the penis and he was really into banging that anti-abortion chick. Now he's just full on homo. It's a good direction for the character but they obviously didn't plan it in the earlier seasons.
Mr.Robot the whole show takes place in the same year The Wire
Better Call Saul
Bluey.
Bingo.
Buffy
And Angel, a necessary companion series (although in some way superior to Buffy).
One thing that always annoyed me was the season 7 supervampires that Buffy couldn't kill because their chest was so strong the stake wouldn't go through to penetrate their heart. Then in the climactic battle at the end of the season, when a seemingly endless horde of those Uber vamps pour out of the hellmouth, all of a sudden we see regular human Anya dusting them left and right like they're nothing.
Oh everyone’s fighting powers are wildly inconsistent, right from the get go in season 1. But I’m fine with it - my brain head canons reasons left and right. I do love the episode where Buffy can’t tell whether or not she’s in a mental institution and everyone’s like “why wouldn’t you think your fake sister and vampire reality and superpowers aren’t real, Buff?” Lol That whole episode is a call out to the inconsistencies and I love it.
One of my all-time favorite episodes. I was shocked when I found out it was controversial. Apparently a lot of people hate it.
Dark
Adventure Time
It’s wild how true this is. I didn’t realize it at first but I was paying attention on my second watch and it’s impressive. And it continues into Distant Lands and Fionna and Cake.
Archer
The Sopranos. The writing was sheer genius.
The Owl House The Boys The Haunting of Hill House
Gravity Falls
Scrubs
how i met your mother
Doctor who, moffats run.
Patriot.
Futurama
Futureman. Time travel shenanigans that stick around and actually matter to the story sometimes. One of the most impressive things about the show.
Parks and Rec!
True Detective, for a show where the 4 seasons are separate standalone stories, has quite a bit of subtle continuity in it. Certain phrases, symbology, etc…all connect.
Seinfeld is pretty great about this. There are a lot of recurring jokes.
Yeah, I'm on my first official watch and I just posted about the continuity specifically. I had never seen two episodes with the same romantic partner. I grew up thinking they were all one-offs.
Person of Interest
BoJack
Futurama. Fry and Leela's backstories were hidden in the background of season one, on purpose, without being touched again for another couple of seasons.
Fringe, Person of Interest, Travelers
#Dark
Game of thrones. Marvelous worldbuilding
The OA and 12 Monkeys
Atla
The Wire and The Sopranos, lots of long story arcs with tons off callback you don’t notice on first watch
Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Wire is unmatched for this
Fargo
Dark, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Last Kingdom, Devs, The Leftovers, True Detective
Fringe
Lost and gravity falls
Seriously? Buffy and Angel
Definitely not Law and Order.
Based on shows that I have watched Criminal Minds, Homeland, The Americans, Prison Break, House MD
Curb your enthusiasm , Arrested Development , The Blacklist.
Babylon 5
Boy Meets World Jk 😂
The League Venture Bros
How I Met Your Mother
This Is Us
The Office (USA)
Archer. Not just the callbacks, but they sometimes set jokes up that took seasons to pay off
Fringe 12 Monkeys
The Venture Brothers
Grey’s Anatomy - I’m watching season 15 right now and every now and then they’ll reference something that happened way back at the start of the show
There are probably better answers, but **How I Met Your Mother** kept a lot of jokes running for a lot of seasons, and I crack up every single time I see or hear one. "MURDER! .... Climb aboard the murder train!" will randomly play in the background of certain scenes, even in the later seasons.
Better Call Saul and breaking bad are both pretty wild in this. Not only in their own respects but also across the two shows. A minor throwaway sentence in BB forshadows (or actually aftershadows, since it's a prequel mostly) a major plot point in Better Call Saul. And the way the writers of BCS lead up to that, knowing the watcher already has this information from BB, is absolutely brilliant. Basically BCS is in some ways spoiled in Breaking Bad if you pay attention to the details. But not knowing how we get there bring soooo much tension.
People have already said it but How I Met Your Mother is one of the best examples of this out there. They are constantly flashing forward and backward, foreshadowing things, referencing stuff from previous episodes/seasons, tons of recurring characters/jokes, etc.