History Main / SlidingScaleOfContinuity

* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' is a funny case of a series operating at a Level 3 with [[VillainProtagonist main characters]] who have the ''mindset'' that they live in a Level 2 or even 1. Mac, Dennis, Dee, Charlie, and Frank are callous, cold-hearted, and downright ''stupid'' enough to forget whatever horrible things they may have done to someone else, and then [[ButForMeItWasTuesday treat them like they're misremembering or that it never happened in the first placed]]. Frank has enough money to bail them out each time they're in trouble, which can ''partly'' explain why consequences don't seem to register,

* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', in some episodes the house is destroyed or even some of the main characters (most times Eustace) is killed by the MonsterOfTheWeek, but in the next episode the house will be intact and all the main characters alive as if nothing happened.

* A rare mixed example can be seen with the main series ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games. They mix this with Level 0. There is continuity in the world, with references to events from previous games and some recurring characters, but every new game starts with you being a new rookie Trainer in a new region fighting a new evil team, and knowing where the recurring characters came from is more a bonus than anything else. ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', however, does continue the major events from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' (and ''[[RecursiveAdaptation Yellow]]'', sort of), making it a Level 4.

* Many cartoons from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation have the ResetButton being pressed after and even ''during'' almost every episode. ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' and ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' being the most famous examples. They sometimes dive headfirst into Level 0, though.
* ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpy'' fluctuates between Level 0 and Level 1.

* Many cartoons from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation have the ResetButton being pressed after and even ''during'' almost every episode. ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' and ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' being the most famous examples.

** ''KOF'' currently[[labelnote:*]][[VideoGameLongRunners as of 2022]][[/labelnote]] has four (technically five) [[StoryArc arcs]]: "The {{Orochi}} Saga" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters94 '94]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters98 '98]]''[[note]]''KOF '94'', as the inaugural entry of the series, served as a standalone title and is sometimes designated as "The [[StarterVillain Rugal]] Saga" to reflect this, but since Rugal [[StarterVillainStays returned]] in [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters95 the next game]] and was explicitly tied to the Orochi power thereafter, ''[='94=]'' is often treated as part of The Orochi Saga, as evidenced by its inclusion in ''[[CompilationRerelease The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga]]''.[[/note]]), "The [[NebulousEvilOrganisation NESTS]] Chronicles" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters99 '99]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2002 2002]]''), "The Tales of [[TheTrickster Ash]]" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2003 2003]]''-''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII XIII]]''), and "The [[BadPowersGoodPeople Shun'ei]] Saga" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIV XIV]]''-present). [[note]]It should also be noted that ''[='98=]'', ''2002'', and their [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] are actually non-canon {{Dream Match Game}}s that [[TheBusCameBack bring back]] all the playable fighters from the previous entries, even the [[KilledOffForReal dead ones]]. The similarly non-canon ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXII XII]]'' was likewise billed as a "dream match", though [[ObviousBeta in practice]] it's more of a stopgap released prior to ''XIII'', with a much smaller than usual roster.[[/note]] While the NESTS chapter of the story isn't too hard to follow without prior knowledge (as the protagonist of those titles, K', distances himself from previous hero Kyo despite [[CloneByConversion being genetically engineered with his DNA]]), Ash's saga almost ''requires'' that you played the first four games given that ''2003'' introduces a plot to [[SealedEvilInACan unseal]] [[BigBad Orochi]] and the children of Rugal. This is made worse if you look past the main plot and focus on the supporting cast, as you then have to deal with allusions and plot points carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[VideoGame/FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]'', ''VideoGame/BurikiOne'', etc. as well as interconnected subplots involving the Dragon Spirit inside of [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Kensou]] and the Hizoku clan of assassins [[ArcFatigue that haven't been resolved]] since they first appeared in '''1999'''. While it's ContinuityPorn and {{Fanservice}} for those who have followed Creator/{{SNK}} since its heyday, it's borderline ContinuityLockout for anyone else. Remember that this series [[ContinuityCreep originally]] existed as [[MascotFighter a storyless gathering of fighters]].

* The Kurtzman-era ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series fall into this, except for ''[[WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks Lower Decks]]'' and ''Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds'', which are both 4s.
** There are some exceptions in [[Series/StarTrekDiscovery Discovery]], where the episodes"An Obol for Charon" and "Time Loops Together" dip to level 4.

** There are some exceptions to Discovery, where "An Obol for Charon" and "Time Loops Together" dip to level 4.

There may be developing minor subplots or {{Character Arc}}s, the status quo may gradually change over time, and prior events may be casually referenced, but major changes generally don't happen. If you watch a season two episode and then a season five one, you may think, "Wait, when did they [[TheyDo get together]]?" or "Whoa, AliceAndBob moved?", but chances are if you then watch a later season five episode you'd never know you skipped seven episodes in between, and the plots of the individual episodes you watch will always be resolved by the end.

** ''XIV'', though giving off the appearance of [[JumpingOnPoint a standalone entry point]] as opposed to the beginning of a new arc outright, has its fair share of this. Notably, though the FinalBoss has the look of a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere at first glance, it's later revealed to be [[spoiler:a byproduct of the TemporalParadox Ash caused at the end of ''XIII'']] and, according to Geese, was foretold in the Jin Scrolls that lied at the center of 1995's ''Fatal Fury 3''. There's also the matter of [[spoiler:said TemporalParadox]] opening up a dimensional rift that allowed [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], Mui Mui, and Love Heart [[note]]hailing the pachinko section of SNK's library (''Dragon Gal'' and ''Sky Love'', respectively)[[/note]] [[TheMultiverse to cross over]], while another subplot involves remnants of NESTS running around in the background, with Angel (a former operative last [[DreamMatchGame canonically]] seen in ''2001'') being on the run from NESTS loyalists whereas newcomer Sylvie Paula Paula was deemed a "defective" experiment by the cartel. ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV XV]]'' continues to build upon by the central storyline with Shun'ei while also [[TheBusCameBack bringing back]] a large number of characters with ties to the previous arcs like [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters96 Chizuru]], [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters97 the Orochi Team]], Krohnen ([[CharlieBrownFromOuttaTown better known as]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001 K9999]]), [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2003 Ash]], and [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXI Elisabeth]].

* ''Podcast/TheMagnusArchives'': Season 1 begins as a cosmic horror GenreAnthology with a Level 4 [[StoryArc metaplot]] in the background that steadily gains more prominence as the story progresses. While the show holds onto those anthological roots for its entire run, the final season takes a turn into Level 5, to the point that it would be incomprehensible without prior knowledge of the [[MythArc overarching plot]] and [[FictionalEarth worldbuilding]].