Big Arcs or Separate Episodes

[The Ferg]

Would you rather have a season with one big story arc (AS4) or a season with separate episodes with different storylines for each (BS4).

I like the big arc better, although BS4 is my second favorite Buffy season... :p

EDIT: I tried to put a poll, but it was being stupid.

[Aethra]

Big arcs are great, although Angel season four infuriated me from beginning to end. Sooo ridiculous. But was was a good ridiculous. So even though having the different episodes is great also, I like the one longer story drawn out over an entire season, that's really fun.

[littlewilly]

Id have to say different episodes. but like s2 and s4 it has to have a bit of an arc.
As4 although still good, was my least favorite buffy or angel season.
but id guess about 70% of my favorite episodes are non arc.
i just love ones like school hard, the wish and who are you too much.

anyway, i think different stories are the best.

[Blondie Bear]

I like the blend of one big arc with the occasional stand-alone episode. So both, I guess.

[slayerpower]

The first half of season seven was standalone/arc and it was good. But the second half was all arc and with a really lame villain. I only like arc if there's a good villain.

[Xin Rong]

I'm a mix, love the big arc and the little clues that come with each episode that eventually unveil the whole picture, but do like the little arcs, which are like stories within a story, always cool

[Cangel]

I need a little of both. Sure, the standalone episodes are mostly the funniest and we all enjoy them, but if there wasn't a big story arc somewhere, the show would soon get boring.

[JCC]

Arc all the way. I love that about Whedon's shows. It gives a lot of time to really develop a story, investigate all of the themes involved and get everything presented without rushing anything. Definitely arc.

[InsaneMystic]

You really need a good mix of both, as the series proved again and again. I'd go for mainly arc (and I fully agree with slayerpower - the more arc-y the season is, the more fascinating character the villain needs to be) with about one-fourth of standalones thrown in as tension relief.