Well, the term I've heard and used for stories and story lines where nothing changes as 'zero-sum'.

Not sure if there's a proper term for series where the eps have a real order. (Maybe serial since the old serials were short eps in specific order?)


Big Apricot Superman Movieverse
The World of Lois & Clark
Richard White to Lois Lane: Lois, Superman is afraid of you. What chance has Clark Kent got? - After the Storm