This is a nice thread and I'm fascinated by the way the onion is being peeled.

Episodic TV (which I rarely watch) has a related challenge: Independent episodes where viewers can drop in or out at any time, or season-long story arcs where some knowledge of the previous episodes is needed to understand the proceedings. The best episodic TV seems to blend the two by having a long arc while maintaining the ability of the viewer to catch up quickly if episodes have been missed. It's a subtle thing, but I tend to notice it. Movie sequels work in a similar way to indulge the fans while indulging the newbies.

At any rate, the notion of concept album songs being able to stand on their own resonates with me.

DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
StudioCat DAW dual screen
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)