Story arcs

Story arcs are story lines in Star Trek that are told over the course of multiple episodes. They are not simply two-parters or recurring characters and themes, but rather plots that are interwoven with other arcs and plot threads. An example of this is Deep Space Nine's introduction of the Dominion and the eventual Dominion War. Story arcs often take precedence over other plot elements and consume a series for several consecutive episodes, but in many cases (such as the Dominion War) they may take a back seat and re-enter the picture later on.

Prior to DS9, story arcs were a relatively minor part of the Star Trek universe. The Orginal Series and The Next Generation both largely restored the status quo ante at the end of each episode, and even two-part episodes were somewhat rare. This changed due to the stationary nature of space station Deep Space 9, which did not simply move on to the next adventure each week; characters' actions had lasting consequences, and the events of one episode directly influenced the next.

Voyager took the idea of the story arc in a different direction by setting itself aboard a starship as per the traditional Trek formula but stranding its crew in the distant Delta Quadrant. This both enhanced and reduced the prevalence of story arcs; while alien races such as the Kazon and Borg appeared in multiple episodes, the show was hampered by its very nature: the object was to leave familiar elements behind, which meant each plot thread had a limited life span.

Enterprise, like DS9 before it, often relied on story arcs such as the Temporal Cold War and the Xindi arc that took up the entire third season. By the show's fourth season, Enterprise wrapped up these story arcs and instead refocused on the show's prequel concept with a series of "mini arcs." Most season four episodes are two- or three-part story lines, with few stand-alone episodes.

Feature-length episodes
These episodes are originally broadcast in two hours, as opposed to the standard one hour. After their original run, feature length episodes are re-cut as two part episodes (see below). They include:

Two-part episodes
These episodes air separately, but tell the same story. It is typical for the first part to end with the line "To Be Continued...". They are frequently used to end and begin seasons. Two-part episodes include:
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Three-part episodes
Three consecutive episodes that air separately, but tell the same story.
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Multi-episode arcs
Multi-episode arcs tell a continuing story and is spread out through several different episodes throughout a single or multiple seasons.

The Next Generation

 * Q and the Enterprise
 * Worf vs. Duras
 * Sela
 * Worf vs. Duras
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 * Worf vs. Duras
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 * Worf vs. Duras
 * Sela
 * Worf vs. Duras
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 * Sela
 * Sela
 * Sela
 * Sela
 * Sela
 * Sela

Deep Space Nine

 * Changeling infiltration
 * Klingon War
 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * Klingon War
 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * Klingon War
 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Beginning of the Dominion War
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter
 * The Final Chapter

Voyager

 * Seska
 * Q Civil War
 * The Hirogen's Hunt
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * Q Civil War
 * The Hirogen's Hunt
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * Q Civil War
 * The Hirogen's Hunt
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * Q Civil War
 * The Hirogen's Hunt
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Hirogen's Hunt
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project
 * The Pathfinder Project

Enterprise

 * Temporal Cold War
 * Vulcan vs. Andoria
 * Journey to Risa
 * Archer's trial by the Klingons
 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
 * The entire third season of Enterprise
 * Vulcan vs. Andoria
 * Journey to Risa
 * Archer's trial by the Klingons
 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
 * The entire third season of Enterprise
 * Vulcan vs. Andoria
 * Journey to Risa
 * Archer's trial by the Klingons
 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
 * The entire third season of Enterprise
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 * Archer's trial by the Klingons
 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
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 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
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 * Search for the Xindi superweapon
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Non-consecutive arcs

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 * Professor James Moriarty
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 * The Dominion's threat to the Alpha and Beta Quadrants
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 * Bajor's entry into the Federation
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 * Kira and Dukat
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 * Eddington vs. Sisko
 * Quark and Grilka
 * O'Brien and Liam Bilby
 * Dominion cold war
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 * The Hirogen and holographic technology
 * The Silver Blood
 * Q Continuum
 * Fair Haven
 * Barclay and the Pathfinder Project
 * Temporal Cold War
 * Andorians vs. Vulcans
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 * The Klingon trial of Jonathan Archer
 * Augments and Khan Noonien Singh
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 * Xenophobic Humans
 * Lore
 * Temporal Cold War
 * Andorians vs. Vulcans
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 * The Klingon trial of Jonathan Archer
 * Augments and Khan Noonien Singh
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 * Xenophobic Humans
 * Lore
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 * Xenophobic Humans
 * Lore
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Section 31 episodes
22nd century episodes

24th century episodes

Mirror universe episodes
See also: Mirror universe
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