Recruiting by showing episodes

[nessaancalime.livejournal.com]

This is an interesting discussion which I can not remember seeing in this fandom before:
If you had to select just one episode to show to someone that would
a) convince them that this is a really good show, and
b) show them the Rimmer/Lister thingie (remembering they have not seen anything else),
Which would you pick?

Comments

[shaychana.livejournal.com]

i have to say that it was really marooned that was the clincher for me. the locked in a box banter - so simple but hilarious. their dynamic is so fun there. in many ways i regret the addition of characters in the later seasons, even though i do love kryten.

you?

[nessaancalime.livejournal.com]

I am actually not sure. I also thinks Marooned would be high on the list, because it has all this clever dialogue and they are so playing off each other, and the whole interaction is slashy enough for me without any subtext. But I think roadstergal has a point about who you are showing it too. If it was someone that liked this kind of character based comedy very much, I think it would be it.
I really love the Gunman episode, so if that person was a western fan, no doubt. I do think it is a very good, fast paced, clever show too, and some good interaction between the boys. Rimmer berating Lister for using AR for sex is seething with undertones, not too mention the hip work ::G:: And of course the guys are good enough to eat in those western costumes ::drool::
I think I just talked myself into a choice :-)

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

I actually had that dilemma - my dad is not a sci-fi person and does not do the slashy thing. I showed him Tikka, as an ep with some clever writing, a link to something every American can relate to, good effects, and very little knowledge of the series required to enjoy it. He enjoyed it.

But the other one that fulfils all of the above, and has the slash pretty close to the surface, IMO, is Thanks For The Memory. It's one of the top eps overall, for me.

[laurenthemself]

I agree with Thanks for the Memory. After all, it was my first episode, and I think it's one that really shows the character interactions well, as well as having slashy tones to it that the slashy watchers can pick up on.

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

I'd go for a) every time. I feel the slash is so obvious in RD that those who are interested will see it eventually if they do get into the show. But if they see the slashy ep and don't like it, they might dismiss the show altogether, and that would be a shame, for a fine show it is!

[nessaancalime.livejournal.com]

But which episode would be a) to you?

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

Gah, sorry; I'm jetlagged. ;)

A lot of the episodes I think are good are character driven, and loose a lot when you don't know the characters. I might have to go with roadstergal's suggestion of Thanks For The Memory.

[zekkass.livejournal.com]

Hem. I keep wanting to yell 'All of it!', but one episode...

I think, IMHO, either the first episode, or Bodyswap. Besides, once you draw them in, you can bring out the heavy slashy artillery.

roadstergal has a point, though. Tikka to Ride would be another good starting point.

[shaychana.livejournal.com]

hope no one minds my jumping in here, but why bodyswap? i love the episode, but i wouldn't rec it to a novice at all. to me, the humour/awesomeness of the ep relies very heavily on the meta element of us fans knowing how rimmer and lister normally are to begin with.

[zekkass.livejournal.com]

...*headdesk* You're right. I wasn't thinking. Erm. Move along, move along.

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

Oh, how about the entire first season? *g* It's how I did it!

I like Terrorform (shows just how fucked up that relationship is) or maybe Back to Reality. Though that might not be too good of a first timer episode since it's a bit confusing.

Quarantine is great for comedic value, if you want to sell them on that.

If you're selling weirdness, go for Parallel Universe. Nothing beats canon mpreg.

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

Or Thanks for the Memory because it shows how much Lister cares.

Ok, I'm going to stop now.

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Ja, I think that one has the heaviest character exploration of any other single episode pre-V, and more strong R/L interaction than just about any other. It's also early enough that there's not a lot of backstory to catch them up upon.

Season I is a toughie, because the actors and writers are still getting comfy with the characters. I've known folk who got hooked on II rather than I.

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

I love the chili-chutney bit.

Mmm, yeah. But it does give a bit of background (what happened, who the Cat is) on everyone.

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Yep, but that's stuff that can be quickly summed. I actually usually give that in the 'quick summary' of what RD is in the first place. ;)

[kirstyfromflat5.livejournal.com]

Hmmm I might go for Statis Leak since Rimmer gets a really slashy speech in that one. Better Than Life has some nice scenes between Lister and Rimmer when Rimmer gets the letter about his dad.

[the-summoning-d.livejournal.com]

I would have have to say 'Marooned'