I am trying to think back & I don’t really recall the first episode besides crash landing, etc. It does start off a bit slow, but the story does continue on, the end is really something & then you move on to Season 2. Currently I am on season 2 episode 23, the stories are entertaining & all are leading up to the finale. I am not sure if I really answered your question though & for that I am sorry.

I didn't realize that there were different components like radio mode and supply runs separate from the episodes. I only go into radio mode after I finish the episode and am still wanting to continue running.

It's been a while since I ran a supply run seeing as I don't think they help in the S2 format. They only give supplies, no building materials. I seem to recall liking them a lot. The whole point was just for supplies. There was a story but it was an open ended one that really just commented on what you were running for. I seem to recall the food run had most of the characters jumping in to talk about their favorite foods or snacks. Entertainment supplies had us looking for a Dungeons and Dragons- like game if memory serves. They were fun but endless and there wasn't really any story - just enough to keep the run moving forward. I ran them a lot between S1 ending (for me and my walking schedule) and S2 starting. I also run them in the background sometimes when I'm on a very long walk. My husband and I once (actually twice) walked 10k all around the Baltimore Inner Harbor. I wanted to track the walk - route and distance - so I ran a supply run while we did it (with the sound turned off.) It gathered some supplies for me just on account of because but it also allowed me to show him and my family how far we'd gone, places we'd seen, etc. I only really use them for that now. Hope that helps.