History Main / HalfArcSeason

** Season Four's main arc starts with the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere, which introduced a [[PlotTailoredToTheParty mysterious box with six locks]] after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony, and is resolved in the finale. The [[PlotCoupons keys]] appear to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest mementos from]] [[CharacterOfTheDay ponies of the day]] when they and a mane character [[DoubleAesop learn the same lesson]] about [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]].

** Season Four's main arc starts with the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere, which introduced a [[PlotTailoredToTheParty mysterious box with six locks]] after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony, being resolved in the finale. The [[PlotCoupons keys]] appear to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest mementos from]] [[CharacterOfTheDay ponies of the day]] when they and a mane character [[DoubleAesop learn the same lesson]] about [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]].

* The first ten or so episodes of ''SDGundamForce'' were stand-alone, the first major arc not starting until "The Mystery of Lacroa".

** The one in Season Four starts with the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere, which introduced a [[PlotTailoredToTheParty mysterious box with six locks]] after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony. The [[PlotCoupons keys]] appear to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest mementos from]] [[CharacterOfTheDay ponies of the day]] when they and a mane character [[DoubleAesop learn the same lesson]] about [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]].

** In series 3, almost every episode slyly introduced a ChekhovsGun that would be fired in the three-part finale: [[spoiler:the TimeyWimeyBall in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E1SmithAndJones "Smith and Jones"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E10Blink "Blink"]], the chameleon arch in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E8HumanNature "Human Nature"]], Dr. Lazarus' experiments in... well, [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E6TheLazarusExperiment "The Lazarus Experiment"]], Mr. Saxon and the government keeping tabs on Martha in "The Lazarus Experiment" and [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E742 "42"]], the [[YouAreNotAlone Face of Boe's message]] in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E3Gridlock "Gridlock"]], and the power of words in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E2TheShakespeareCode "The Shakespeare Code"]].]]

** Series five and six, in which starting with the first episode of season five, silence is mentioned. The Doctor and Amy run forth on their adventures not giving a damn about the mention of silence or anything else. Several times throughout the series we hear about the silence, but our focus is drawn more towards the [[spoiler:mother fucking CRACKS IN TIME.]] Enter series six which features a religious order opposed to the Doctor called the--(surprise surprise) Silence! And we can't forget the wonderful question that cannot be answered:[[spoiler: Doctor ''Who''?]]

Sometimes, the writers of the show want the ability to tell a longer story than a StoryArc provides, but also want the flexibility that a more episodic structure gives. The answer to these is the HalfArcSeason, a fairly new format that has picked up popularity as network syndication becomes less important.

Each season has its own {{Arc}}; however, the majority of the episodes in the season are one-part standalone episodes. The {{arc}} is mostly separated out to the first few episodes of the season (to set it up) and the last few (to resolve it), with a few that push forward the greater storyline while still telling their own story sprinkled about in the middle.

Note that seasons mostly devoted to a StoryArc can still have the occasional standalone in them; it's when the majority of episodes are non-Arc that this trope applies. Usually, this is midway in SeasonFluidity.

* ''GhostInTheShell: Stand Alone Complex''; in this case, the TitleCard of each episode would be marked 'Stand Alone' or 'Complex' (Arc-based). The second season went even further, with two arcs running simultaneously - "Individual" episodes tie into the first arc, "Dual" episodes with the second, and "Dividual" episodes were stand-alone.
* Despite really only having one StoryArc, ''CowboyBebop'' still fits this trope.

** Done in series 4, where all of the episodes seem very episodic, with seemingly unconnected references. And then the finale comes, and suddenly nearly every episode was part of the story arc.
*** Series 3 was arguably a better example of this. Rather than ArcWords or "seemingly unconnected references", almost every episode slyly introduced a ChekhovsGun that would be fired in the three-part finale: [[spoiler:the TimeyWimeyBall in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E1SmithAndJones "Smith and Jones"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E10Blink "Blink"]], the chameleon arch in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E8HumanNature "Human Nature"]], Dr. Lazarus' experiments in... well, [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E6TheLazarusExperiment "The Lazarus Experiment"]], Mr. Saxon and the government keeping tabs on Martha in "The Lazarus Experiment" and [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E742 "42"]], the [[YouAreNotAlone Face of Boe's message]] in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E3Gridlock "Gridlock"]], and the power of words in [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E2TheShakespeareCode "The Shakespeare Code"]].]]
** Let's also not forget series five and six, in which starting with the first episode of season five, silence is mentioned. The Doctor and Amy run forth on their adventures not giving a damn about the mention of silence or anything else. Several times throughout the series we hear about the silence, but our focus is drawn more towards the [[spoiler:mother fucking CRACKS IN TIME.]] Enter series six which features a religious order opposed to the Doctor called the--(surprise surprise) Silence! And we can't forget the wonderful question that cannot be answered:[[spoiler: Doctor ''Who''?]]

** Season One has an arc following the main 6 preparing for the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot, but every episode was also able to stand alone, including the arc episodes. Disregarding the two-part series premiere, the opening and closing episodes also stand as {{Bookends}}.
** Season Three might count, [[spoiler:as it contains the final, critical steps of Twilight Sparkle's journey to becoming an alicorn princess,]] in addition to traditional slice of life episodes.
** The one in Season Four starts with [[spoiler:the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere, which introduced a [[PlotTailoredToTheParty mysterious box with six locks]] after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony]]. The [[PlotCoupons keys]] appear to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest mementos from]] [[CharacterOfTheDay ponies of the day]] when they and a mane character [[DoubleAesop learn the same lesson]] about [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]].
*** These episodes signify their importance with a rainbow shine appearing in the focus character's eyes when she makes a realisation about her recent behavior.

* ''BlackLagoon'''s layout contained 2-3 episode mini-arcs within both seasons (the Nazi arc, the Roberta arc, and the Triads and Terrorists arc from Season 1, as well as the Vampire Twins and Greenback Jane arcs from Season 2). Season 2, however, also featured the six-episode endgame "Fujiyama Gangster Paradise" which took up the other half of the whole series.

** Done beautifully in series 4, where all of the episodes seem very episodic, with seemingly unconnected references. And then the finale comes, and suddenly nearly every episode was part of the story arc.

** The one in Season Four starts with [[spoiler:the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere, which introduced a [[PlotTailoredToTheParty mysterious box with six locks]] after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony]]. The [[PlotCoupons keys]] appear to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest mementos from]] [[CharacterOfTheDay ponies of the day]] when they and a mane character [[DoubleAesop learn the same lesson about friendship]].

* Season One of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has an arc following the main 6 preparing for the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot, but every episode was also able to stand alone, including the arc episodes.

** The one in Season Four starts at [[spoiler:the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere introduced a mysterious box with six locks after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony]].

** Season Four appears to have one, since [[spoiler:the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere introduced a mysterious box with six locks after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony]]. The first episode after the premire had Twilight's share of the plot set up to develop that plot thread, but it turned out to be a false lead.

* While most ''{{Glee}}'' episodes are fairly stand-alone, there is the larger arc about the group preparing for competitions (Sectionals, Regionals, Nationals) which strings each season together.
* {{Castle}}, starting in the second season. Individual episodes are almost always independent. Occasionally, however, one will end up touching on the larger issue of Beckett's mother's murder, sometimes very tangentially (X crime is committed in an attempt to get Y to happen so the BigBad can go after Beckett) or very directly (the case just happens to bring Beckett face to face with her mother's killer).

** Season Four appears to have one, since [[spoiler:the end of the {{Multi Part|Episode}} premiere introduced a mysterious box with six locks after Twilight sacrificed the Elements of Harmony]].

* The first season of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' has two half-arcs. Each episode focuses on a single issue, with flash-backs to the island to follow the half-arc plot there and occasional scenes in the present to follow the half-arc with The Undertaking.

* Any episode forces on the [[MythArc history of Franz Hopper]] in "CodeLyoko" until the final four episodes of Season 2 -- "Franz Hopper", "Contact", "The Revelations, and "The Key" where become to story becomes the Main Arc.

* Some seasons of ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'', especially the last four.

* The first 15 or chapters/episodes of ''Manga/SoulEater'' follow this pattern, mixing together introductions, MonsterOfTheWeek episodes, {{Breather Episode}}s, and a recurring plot involving [[KnightOfCerebus Medusa]] and Crona. From the [[BallroomBlitz anniversary party]] onward, it's pretty strictly serialized.

* ''TransformersAnimated'' follows this format to an extent, particularly in the first season. Season 2 has some random, [=AllSpark=]-related hijinks between important episodes, but they were usually still related to the plot in some way, with [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse the Blue Racer]] being a prime example.

* {{Castle}}