September 9, 2010

Favorite Episodes...

Though I have watched a handful of sci-fi / fantasy / supernatural shows, I have so many more to go.  Mostly, I feel lucky that I have endless entertainment ahead of me.  Part of me feels like I must watch it all right now though and how can I ever do that?!

One show at a time.  The below list includes my favorite complete television series, and my favorite episode or few episodes.  For me, it's interesting to see which ones I have a clear favorite for. 

It's fair to say that yes, there will be general spoilers.  Be careful.

Star Trek: The Next Generation


Darmok, Season 5, Episode 102
In this episode, Captain Picard gets stranded on a planet alone and he has to learn to communicate with an alien captain - a Tamarian - who speaks in metaphors.  As if that wasn't hard enough, a dangerous beast is trying to kill them.  To save themselves, they have to understand each other. 

It might have been my age when I first saw this, but this is one episode that always sticks with me.  I remember being fascinated by the concept of a language based on that race's myths and histories.  I haven't seen this episode in a long time; somehow my collection of TNG stops at season 4.  I think it will hold up though.

Firefly
All of them.
What an out, huh?  But every time I rewatch the single season (sniffle), I usually say something along the lines of, "damn that's a good show" when the credits start to roll for every episode.  If I had to pick one weak episode, for me it was The Message.

I'm going to go have a moment for all the lost potential now.



Battlestar Galactica
Whew, there are several.  I was blown away by this show, and it only barely out ranks Firefly as my favorite TV show ever.  Season 3 is my pick for the best overall season.

Exodus Part II, Season 3, Episode 36
Galactica burning through the atmosphere on New Caprica.  Enough said.

Crossroads, Part II, Season 3, Episode 53
Almost all is revealed.  We learn who four of the Cylons are.  Lee Adama makes a kick-ass speech at Baltar's trial... I remember staring at the television for a minute after this episode ended, entirely surprised that they gave us that many of the Cylons at once.  Well played Misters Eick and Moore, well played.



Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The Gift, Season 5, Episode 100
I might get thrashed for picking this one, but I found the whole Glory plotline intriguing and this episode to be a solid end to an epic fight.  I mean, come on:
"Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me." - Buffy

Once More with Feeling, Season 6, Episode 107
A musical episode of Buffy?  Hell yes.  I listen to the soundtrack for this a lot.  So many strong emotions and key parts are conveyed through this singing though.  I always tear up during "Something to Sing About."

Stargate: SG-1
Threads, Season 8, Episode 818
I love SG-1, and I don't care who knows it. I find it to be fun, entertaining, full of great characters, and some truly wonderful moments. I think Threads showcases the best of the series.

I've watched this particular episode countless times. Part of it is the way the Ancients plotline is woven in and played out, part of it is definitely Mel Harris as Oma, part of it is the huge emotional scenes that play out - if you haven't seen it, I don't want to spoil you. A lot of big things happen in this one episode. It is emotionally jarring to watch. To me, that screams good TV.


Angel
Not Fade Away, Season 5, Episode 110 - series finale
I don't think I've ever seen a show end any better.  Granted, there was the typical Joss Whedon cruelty and pain, but still.  I usually come away from series finales with questions or confusion or nitpicks - but not this one.


Smile Time, Season 5, Episode 102
Muppet. vampire.  If you don't find this episode to be hilarious, I don't know if we can be friends anymore.



What are your favorite episodes from these shows?
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36 comments:

  1. So many great shows ... for TNG, I always liked Rascals, where Picard, Guinana, Ro, and Keiko get turned into kids. I also love the TNG finale, and any episode with Q.

    I love the SG1 episode with the time loop. Also the TNG one. I love time loops.

    Okay, there's more, but I need to sleep, not peruse IMDB all night!

    Rosalind
    Girls Are Geeks

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  2. Great choice for TNG. That was a great episode. I also liked the two Borg episodes where Picard gets assimilated.

    As for Firefly, what a shame... Such a good show, tough I would have to agree, that of all the episodes, The Message was probably the least appealing.

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  3. TNG: Clues (hard to pick one, but I always enjoy this) -- it's the one where the Enterprise crew is missing time and the more they try to understand what happened, the shiftier Data gets.

    BSG: 33 -- my gods, so intense!

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  4. Threads was such a good episode of SG-1. It really did tie-up all the loose threads they had flying around. It might be my favorite, too, but there are too many good episodes for me to pick decisively!

    For Firefly, Objects in Space. I love all the episodes, but this one has Lucid River out-smarting/freaking-out Bounty-hunter Guy. I really think River didn't get enough screen-time that focused on something other than her crazy and psychic sides.

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  5. Nice list.

    Darmok - This one stands out to me because it's the one where Picard got his swanky Starfleet jacket. That and the Tamarian was played by Terrell from Wrath of Kahn. Favorite TNG episodes, though, for me are Best Of Both Worlds Part I and All Good Things . . . .

    BSG and Firefly are both great. I imagine if Firefly had continued for five seasons, we'd have gotten a couple clunkers, but for the most part, both series were incredible. I was a little letdown by the BSG finale, though.

    Buffy - I LOVE The Gift. All of Season Five is outstanding. Favorite episode, though, has to be Once More With Feeling. Though Becoming Parts I and II were also spectacular.

    Angel - So many great episodes. Have to agree once again -- the finale of Angel is one of the best (if not THE best) series finales of all time.

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  6. There are many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation that I haven't seen, but I remember for a while my favorite was Rascals, mainly because I was a little kid and that's the one where four crew members are turned into little kids and then save the day, and I thought that was funny and awesome. I also remember really liking I Borg.

    Way too hard to pick a favorite Firefly episode. So few episodes, but at least each one was great. Though I'd agree that The Message may have been the weakest. But still better than most TV shows ever do.

    I always say that Firefly is my favorite TV show, but because of its tragically short run, it just doesn't have the completeness--and the power--that BSG has. I definitely know what you mean with your reaction at the end of the season 3 finale. Totally blew my mind. I just kept repeating "Holy FRAK!" for a while. I messaged my brother (I think what I messaged him was simply "Holy frak!") and he said that his reaction had been just to sit there yelling, "Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!" Crazy. Anyway...

    Once More With Feeling is so hilarious and clever. So many great moments. I love singing those songs.

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  7. These really took me back. Thanks for sharing ;)

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  8. Girls Are - yes! Time loops are awesome. My favorites that I can think of being the SG-1 (love Jack hitting golf balls through the Stargate) and one in Supernatural.

    Blackjack - I'm glad to hear someone else loves the The Gift. I have mixed feelings about the BSG series finale. It could have been worse - but also so much better.

    Eleni - I agree with Firefly. I feel like it would have needed at least one other season for me to really fairly compare it with my other loved TV shows.

    Yay - thanks everyone for chiming in. It was fun to reminisce.

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