Underrated episodes
POSTED BY: est120
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 8, 2006 23:28
VIEWED: 6459
PAGE 1 of 3
So, there seems to be a lot of agreement about what the best episodes are for the three shows most discussed here (Firefly, Angel and Buffy). My question is what episode do YOU like that never gets any air time here? Try and convince someone else that one of your favorites is worth lots of discussion! 
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I'm not learned enough in the Buffy 'verse to make a claim. Firefly? With only 14 episodes, hard to come up w/ one which isn't given its due. Even the weakest eps, imo, have some of the strongest, most powerful scenes. 2 examples - Safe " light it" and " What's that make us ? - Big Damn Heros, sir! ..Ain't we just! " and Heart of Gold Inara in her room, crying her pretty little eyes out, after meeting Mal exiting Nandie's room. Wow!
Which leaves me w/ Angel. Hard to find an underrated ep here either. There's vast agreement on which eps were really good. Others, while not on everyone's " All Time " list, still are seen as very good. I could go several ways on this, but I'll settle w/ You're Welcome! . It was a fine tribute to Cordelia, the way I think most ( if not all ) would like to remember her, pre - Conner nonsense.
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Seems the only one that doesn't get regular contemplation is Bushwhacked... which is probably my least favorite episode.
Except for when Wash is telling the Alliance guy about Zoe.
Other than that, there's not that much there...
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I like Bushwacked. It's kinda Alienesque or perhaps "slasher movie in space." It also allows some of the rest of the series to move long without problems. After Bushwacked the Alliance knows without doubt that those fugative siblings are not on board a Firefly called Serenity because they fully searched that one, makes it easier to explain why the crew had no further "trouble with the Man" afterwards.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
plus, Bushwacked has one of my favorite little Inara moments; when she corrects the Alliance officer about the ship's name. "It's just Serenity" instead of The Serenity.
Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.
-Matsuo Basho
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well, "The Message" is most definitely my favorite episode (right up there with "Out of Gas"). But folks seem to rip on it real often, mostly 'cause the overzealous Fed screws up due to his own hubris.
I loved "The Message" simply because it showed so much of what the war did to the ordinary folks who fought it. I still get choked up whenever I hear those last lines, and the high-pitched violin cues in during the funeral... KF
~KF
Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Speaking of Bushwhacked, it actually does have several of my favorite moments. If nothing else, we get an excellent idea of the crew dynamics -- how they see each other and how they fit (or don't fit) -- in their interviews with the Fed.
Fed: Why don't you want to talk about your husband?
Zoe: Don't see that it's any of your business.
Fed: What about the captain? Didn't you fight with him in the war?
Zoe: Fought with a lot of people in the war.
Fed: And what about your husband?
Zoe: Fight with him sometimes, too.
Or Jayne, just sitting there staring and not saying a word. Or Kaylee and how freaked out she gets about the Fed calling Serenity a junker. Hell, she launches into a tirade on how their fancy Alliance vessel is the real junker.
If anyone had any doubts as to her absolute, head-over-heals love of her baby, they were neatly dispelled there.
Or Inara, and that very subtle, "It's just Serenity" and her spiel about the "mutually beneficial business arrangement". It's more like she's explaining it to herself than to the Fed. Reminding herself, you could say.
And then there's the captain's reaction to the Fed's "That's quite a loyal crew you have" comment. Priceless.
Yeah, I'd grant that episode the "underrated" award. It's a quietly excellent episode.
Plus, there's always Zoe's classic, "Jayne, you'll frighten the women" snark. Heh. Shut him RIGHT up.
________________________________________
Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Not my favorite episode to be sure, but I feel like THE TRAIN JOB gets a bum rap here and elsewhere. It was a much better first episode than it's given credit for being. It's too bad that they pulled the plug on SERENITY, but Whedon and Minear did a good job of working around this setback, especially given the short notice that they were given. It was my first episode, and it got me hooked.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well, looking at the episode guide here and the rating it has I think "Out of Gas" is immensly underated. Of all the episodes, this was the strongest. It dealt with three different time frames but handled it perfectly utilizing great editing, music, dialogue, and creative transitions while still maintaining interest and building curiosity, emotion, and suspense. Every other second you are lead to believe one thing is going to occur but the story or charchter turns around and surprises you. "Genius mechanic." Kaylee? Nope. A shirtless guy with tattoos. Wash leaving/being unruley when Mal tells them to prep the shuttles, after his argument with the Captain? No. He's going to go get that red button ready for Mal. Lots of small subtle moments that made this episode unique and strong.
The character development and interactions alone were some of the best seen in this series. And though I liked the scenes that went back to the very beginning where everyone met, the best stuff was in the 24 hour flashbacks where the crew is all together after the explosion. Seeing how the Captn deals with each character, how he deals with the many problems that arise... OMG yes... I get upset when I think of this episode's rating being so low. I think people had problems with believability with the scenes with the other salvage crew - an argue I could go on about but will end here and save for later.
But I mean ALL the episodes have great moments. Even my least favorite episodes have at LEAST one scene or quote or character moment that can still just completly floor me.
-------
Lesley: Question for everyone - What was your favourite episode of the series and why?
Joss: Lesley, obviously I adore Objects In Space... But with a cold eye, I have to say that I think the best was Out Of Gas."
------
At least someone agrees with me :) hahaha.. I dunno.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME