History Main / MythArc

* ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'', with its ongoing story of the war spanning the entire solar system between the human [=ExoFleet=] and the Neosapien uprising, has drawn frequent comparisons to ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and Anime/''{{Robotech}}''.

* The ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' establishes the Infinity Stones, powerful remnants from the Big Bang. The first was the Space Stone disguised as the Tesseract, which was used by Red Skull in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger''. The stones are the primary target of BigBad Thanos, who [[spoiler: uses them to wipe out half of the universe at the end of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''.]] ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' brings the arc, spanning over twenty films across eleven years to an end.

* ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' has one of these, covering the final stages of a war between the [[TheEmpire Galactic Empire]] and the [[TheFederation Free Planets Alliance]], with two of the universe's most talented strategists facing off against one another throughout.

* ''Franchise/KagerouProject'' has one in the form of the Daze/Never-Ending World, [[spoiler:the BigBad who will do anything to live forever]], and how it ties into the backstory of ''every single main character''. While the series (particularly the [[Music/KagerouProject songs]] and [[Anime/MekakucityActors anime]]) is highly episodic and character-focused, every time we're given a glimpse into one of their back-stories, the larger mystery unfolding around them is fleshed out little by little, either through exposition (usually from Kido or Ene), seeing the events happen before us (as with Hibiya and Hiyori) or by [[spoiler:Shintaro's subconscious use of his time-line-spanning PhotographicMemory]]. Due to the large cast and the sheer complexity of the plot, ContinuityLockOut tends to ensue.

* Zigzagged with ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}''. For the first two seasons, there is a clear overarching story, specifically, the Ninja's efforts to defeat [[BigBad Lord Garmadon]]. There is also the conflict with Lloyd and the various Snake armies, the emergence of [[UltimateEvil The Overlord]], and the prophecy that one of the Ninja will go on to become [[TheChosenOne The Green Ninja]], all of which tie into the aforementioned main plot. However, all of these plot threads are rather neatly tied up by the end of the second season, with very little in the way of loose ends. Originally, this was meant to be the end of the show; it was UnCancelled after a rather unexpected outpouring from fans. Since then, each season has revolved around one specific threat that is dealt with by the season's end. Nevertheless, the show maintains a strong sense of continuity, with the events of each season having long-lasting consequences.

*** The games seen in the first three films, including the Bathroom, the [[Film/SawII Nerve Gas House]], the [[Film/SawIII Gideon Meatpacking Plant]] and several individual tests, are progressively given more details in the following ones, often in regards to plot twists. ''Saw IV'' and ''V'' in particular added more major events to the Gideon Meatpacking Plant when Rigg and Strahm enter it and witness his final test and Jeff's trial, respectively.

** From the [[Film/SawI first film]] to ''Film/Saw3D'', there's the fate of Dr. Lawrence Gordon, who is referenced in most films after the first one before his second (and last so far) appearance in ''Saw 3D''.

** While ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' plays with separate story arcs and different villains, they are all interconnected by the consequences of the battles with the villains. Each story arc is also connected by Korra's journey in understanding what it means to be the avatar in a world that does not seem to want the avatar any longer. Finally, the overall arc is about Korra learning about how to be more human as well, balancing her life as both an avatar and human.

* The quirky PoliceProcedural ''Series/{{Life}}'' was an example of the mixture idea: while each episode involved solving an individual MysteryOfTheWeek, most episodes would also involve the main character's quest discover who arranged for him to be wrongfully convicted of murder. This story was left largely hanging by the series' abrupt cancellation. While, by the second season's finale, he had learned ''why'' he was framed, he had not learned ''who'' (and since the "why" was the second one claimed in as many seasons, that, too, could have been merely a RedHerring).

* ''Franchise/KagerouProject'' has one in the form of the Daze/Never-Ending World, [[spoiler:the BigBad who will do anything to live forever]], and how it ties into the backstory of ''every single main character''. While the series (particularly the [[Music/KagerouProject songs]] and [[Anime/MekakucityActors anime]]) is highly episodic and character-focused, every time we're given a glimpse into one of their back-stories, the larger mystery unfolding around them is fleshed out little by little, either through exposition (usually from Kido or Ene), seeing the events happen before us (as with Hibiya and Hiyori) or by [[spoiler:Shintaro's subconscious use of his time-line-spanning PhotographicMemory]]. Due to the LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters and the sheer complexity of the plot, ContinuityLockOut tends to ensue.

* Although the early ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' games featured fairly self-contained stories about members of the Belmont clan fighting Dracula, later a millennium-spanning myth arc about Dracula's various lives and deaths was gradually revealed. The arc covers how Dracula rose above mortality to become the vampiric Lord of Darkness in the middle ages and why the Belmonts are sworn to oppose him, how the Belmonts mysteriously vanished during the early 19th century and a roster of other heroes such as the witch Shanoa, and even the son of a character from the ''[[Literature/{{Dracula}} original novel]]'' battled Dracula instead, how the Belmonts triumphantly [[spoiler: returned in 1999 to destroy Dracula for good]], and how Dracula is [[spoiler: reincarnated as a boy who who uses the demonic power he was born with to battle others who wish to use it for evil like his past life did.]]

[[folder:Film — Animated]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

* All of the ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' either focus on Jigsaw's increasingly elaborate, and posthumous since his death in ''Film/SawIII'', master plan, or someone else related to it.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' is all about Jigsaw's increasingly elaborate and now [[spoiler:posthumous]] master plan.
* The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' has the evolution of Peter and Harry's relationship, starting with them being close friends in the first movie, strained in the second, and rivals in the third, ultimately ending with [[spoiler:them reconciling before Harry pulls a HeroicSacrifice to save Peter.]]

* ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGate Baldur's Gate]]'' revolves around the origins of the protagonist, and the entire nature versus nurture debate. It's revealed in the last instalment [[spoiler: Gorion grabbed the hero instead of Sarevok, despite the two children lying so close to each other]] implying Sarevok and [[FanNickname CharName]] aren't so different.

** Grianne Ohmsford's arc is a long, twisting, turning journey in and out of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor. Highlights include serving as the titular antagonist of ''Ilse Witch,'' seeking redemption for her history as a killer in ''Literature/HighDruidOfShannara'' trilogy, and eventually finding peace as a fairy creature... only to be subjected to an UnwantedRevival and being so pissed about it she's ready to raze the world with ThePowerOfHate as soon as she's finished being the NecessaryEvil in an EnemyMine fight with her demonic would-be rapist in ''Witch Wraith''. [[spoiler: At long last, in ''Literature/TheFallOfShannara'', after lifetimes clinging to life and ultimately saving her distant niece from a murderous foe, the universe finally seems to deem Grianne worthy enough to return to peace and ultimately GoOutWithASmile.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': Anne's quest to find a way home.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' follows a long plot about the Ascians and their plans for a rejoining. While each expansion has their own stories, they all tie in with the overarching plot in some form.

* ''Anime/ShamanKing'' does this when, sometime between the end of Season 1 and the start of Season 3, the focus of the series leaves the Shaman Fight entirely and delves off into exploring Hao's involvement in [[spoiler:his third consecutive Shaman Fight, at each of which he attempted to steal the Great Spirit]], as well as Hao being [[spoiler:Yoh's EvilTwin]]. In fact, the series technically ends before the Shaman King is even decided, with the manga going on an extremely long and sudden SeriesHiatus (the anime concluded with a vague GeckoEnding). The final issues were published four or five years later.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' follows a long plot about the Ascians and their plans for a rejoining. While each expansion has their own stories, they all tie in with the overarching plot in some form.

* ''WesternAnimation/RoswellConspiracies'' has one involving Nick's father's disappearance, but hints of a greater arc begin to show as the series progresses. [[spoiler:It eventually culminates with an AlienInvasion by a race known as the Shadoen, which requires the Aliiance and all the aliens on Earth to work together.]]

!!!'''Networks:'''
* Following ''Monk'', the various "quirky" shows on Creator/USANetwork have also adopted the system of having a Myth Arc across episodes that mostly focus on MysteryOfTheWeek or MonsterOfTheWeek episodes. As follows, they are:
** ''Series/BurnNotice'': Who burned Michael Westen? How can he get un-burned? ''Will'' he get un-burned at all? And who exactly is [[WarForFunAndProfit going about starting wars for the money]]?
** ''Series/WhiteCollar'': Who is the Man with the Ring? What happened/[[spoiler:who killed]] Kate? And what will become of the music box?
** ''Series/RoyalPains'': What's wrong with [=HankMed=]'s mysterious benefactor, Boris? And what exactly was/is Eddie R. Lawson up to?
!!!'''Series:'''

Prior to the rise of streaming in 2010s, the trend was to alternate between these plot-advancing mythology stories and more one-off stories (MonsterOfTheWeek or [[BreatherEpisode breather]] episodes), making it easier for new viewers to get into the show and ensuring some short-term gratification while keeping the viewers' interest over the long run. Prior to this, [[SeasonFluidity heavily serialized shows]] like ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' did exist on network television, but they did not explode in popularity in Western media until streaming services such as Creator/{{Netflix}} and Creator/{{Hulu}} allowed for audiences to more easily engage with such programs without fear of ContinuityLockOut, making it easier for creators to convince studios to let them produce such programming.

In some show — such as the aforementioned series — the trend is to alternate between Myth Arc stories and MonsterOfTheWeek episodes, making it easier for new viewers to get into the show and ensuring some short-term gratification while keeping the viewer's interest over the long run. However, [[SeasonFluidity heavily arc-based shows]] like ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' show that the American public is willing to invest their time over longer periods too.

{{Anime}} series very often have arcs running the entirety of their series, which can span hundreds of episodes, with examples such as ''Anime/{{Macross}}'', ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', various ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' shows, ''Anime/{{Noir}}'' (which had a Myth Arc from the very first episode), and others. The predominance of such arc-based plotting in anime (many of which were introduced to foreign audiences in the mid 90s), as opposed to the generally episodic nature of American TV series of the 80s and 90s, is part of what led to the massive rise in anime's popularity with the nerd-core at that time, and many suspect that the development of multiple Myth Arc-based shows on American television in the [=2000s=] was a reaction to that.

Can lead to a ContinuityLockOut.

* The ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'' series has had a couple so far:

** Franchise/{{Superman}}'s life and growth into TheParagon as well as the ascension of the Justice League with him as GreaterScopeParagon. It was intended to be done over five films, but the franchise's increasingly TroubledProduction due to ExecutiveMeddling following the divisive reception to the Creator/ZackSnyder films (''Film/ManOfSteel'' and ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'') led to these plans being rather awkwardly scuttled, with the heavy amounts of setup toward it turning into an array of {{Aborted Arc}}s in ''Film/{{Justice League|2017}}''.

* ''[[Manga/DetectiveConan Detective Conan]]'''s myth arc involves Shinichi looking for a cure after he's force fed a drug that turns him back into a child, and uncovering the mystery of the ones responsible, a secret criminal syndicate known as the Black Organization.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesOfDarkWater'' did this all the way back in the 80s, with the entire series focused on obtaining [[MineralMacGuffin the Thirteen Treasures of Rue]] to stop the titular Dark Water. Sadly, it was before its time and was canceled after only 8 of the 13 treasures had been found.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has the coming of Thanos and the heroes preparing/being prepared for the Infinity War, with almost every event on the way either being designed to shape them to best be able to match Thanos when he comes, or being used to that end by the series' resident MagnificentBastard and {{Seer}} Doctor Strange.