***
## Series Continuity vs Splitting: Why TVDB’s Approach Works Better for Tracking
One of the most important philosophical differences between TVDB and TMDB is **how they define what constitutes a “single TV series.”** This distinction has major implications for long-term tracking, statistics, and watch history integrity.
* **TVDB prioritizes narrative and production continuity.**
* **TMDB often prioritizes branding, marketing titles, or platform presentation.**
While both approaches can look reasonable in isolation, only one scales well for long-term TV tracking.
#### Series Continuity vs Splitting, Real-World Examples
| Series | TVDB Representation | TMDB Representation | Why TVDB Groups It | Tracking Impact if Split (TMDB) |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **The Haunting** | Single anthology series
• Season 1: Hill House
• Season 2: Bly Manor
| Split into two separate shows
• The Haunting of Hill House
• The Haunting of Bly Manor
| TVDB treats *The Haunting* as one show because Netflix officially renewed it as an **anthology series**, not as separate productions. The creative intent, branding, and renewal lineage all point to a single evolving series, similar to *American Horror Story*. | Watch history is fragmented into two unrelated entries. Users appear to have watched “two different shows” instead of completing Season 2 of the same series. Stats, completion rates, and continuity are broken. |
| **Monster** | Single anthology series
• Season 1: Dahmer
• Season 2: Menendez
• Future seasons: new cases
| **Split by case title** (each season listed as a new show) | TVDB groups all seasons under *Monster* because each season is part of the same **true-crime anthology framework**, renewed as a single franchise with different subjects per season. | Franchise-level tracking becomes impossible. Each new case resets progress and stats, making it unclear that the user is following the same ongoing series. |
| **American Horror Story** | Single anthology series
Each season has a subtitle and standalone story
| **Not split** (treated as one show) | This is the canonical example of how anthology TV has always been handled. Despite radically different stories each season, production and renewal continuity defines it as one series. | Splitting would destroy over a decade of viewing history, invalidate stats, and make long-term tracking unusable. |
| **Fargo** | Single anthology series
Each season tells a new story in a shared universe
| Usually kept together, but often debated | TVDB follows official renewal and franchise continuity. Each season is a new chapter, not a new show. | If split, users lose a clear sense of progression through the series and long-term completion metrics become meaningless. |
| **True Detective** | Single anthology series
Standalone seasons under one title
| Usually kept together | TVDB recognizes that anthology does not mean “separate shows.” Renewal history and franchise identity define series boundaries. | Splitting seasons would artificially inflate show counts and fragment user watch history across unrelated entries. |
TVDB prioritizes **narrative and production continuity**, not marketing titles. This approach is far more reliable for long-term tracking.
***
## Why This All Matters for Viewers
While these structural differences might seem minor, they can create significant confusion for viewers — especially those who rely on tracking platforms like **SIMKL**, **MyAnimeList, IMDB**, or **MyDramaList** to monitor their progress and organize their watchlists.
Here's how it affects your viewing experience:
| Concern | Impact |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Progress Tracking** | You may mark "Part 2" as complete on Netflix, but SIMKL or IMDB shows it as "Season 1", causing missed progress. |
| **Episode Discovery** | Specials, prequels, or side stories may be listed as “Season 0” or not grouped at all. |
| **Continuity Confusion** | Anthologies or rebooted sequels might appear under the same season, even if their tone, timeline, or cast differ. |
| **Watch Stats & History** | Misaligned data affects your completed percentage, history accuracy, and viewing habits. |
{% content-ref url="/pages/3xWLuOxS7N9zks3YDNst" %}
[Progress Tracking](/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/content-tracking/tracking-content/progress-tracking.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
These challenges become even more noticeable with **international series**, where naming conventions differ by region, platform, and language.
***
## Tips for Viewers Using SIMKL and Other Trackers
To minimize confusion and keep your watchlist accurate, here are a few practical tips:
#### 1. **Check the Air Dates**
Use episode air dates to match what you've watched on Netflix, Disney+, or Viki with what's on SIMKL. This is especially useful when "Part 2" is really Season 1, Ep 9 onward.
#### 2. **Read Episode Descriptions**
SIMKL pulls metadata from TVDB, including descriptions and titles. Use those to locate matching episodes when “Part” and “Season” labels don’t align.
#### 3. **Look at Specials / Season 0**
Many side stories, prequels, or one-off episodes are listed under “Season 0”. Don’t miss them, they may be essential (*e.g., Kingdom: Ashin of the North*).
#### 4. **Know That Different Shows Have Different Logic**
* *Stranger Things* uses **Volumes**
* *Money Heist* uses **Parts**
* *K-Dramas* may change **title and time period** entirely\
Always assume naming on Netflix or TV may not match tracking platforms.
***
## Understanding the TV Format Globally!
As global TV becomes more fragmented across regions, formats, and platforms, understanding **how content is structured** and how it's **tracked differently,** is more important than ever.
Whether you're watching *Money Heist* split into five Parts, or a K-Drama like *Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938* that changes tone and timeline mid-series, these aren't just stylistic choices.
They're deliberate structural shifts shaped by:
* Platform strategies
* Cultural viewing habits
* Production cycles
* Global distribution norms
By knowing how SIMKL (and its source TVDB) interprets these releases, you’ll be better prepared to manage your watch history, avoid confusion, and enjoy a smoother viewing journey.
> **Remember:** Seasons and Parts aren’t always the same, but your favorite episodes are all there.\
> Stay informed. Track smart.
---
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