Desert island episodes?

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

If you were marooned on a desert island (ice planet?) with only five episodes,

• which ones would they be, and
  
• why?

I think the "why?" is the really interesting part. I love it when someone points out something I hadn't noticed, or makes me think about an episode a different way.

Here, I'll start off with mine:

1. "Thanks for the Memory"
Some neat plot twists, and some fantastic acting from Chris Barrie showing Rimmer in various stages of inebriation/self-assurance/resignation. Lister and Rimmer are surprisingly sweet to one another throughout, and though RD wouldn't be RD if this happened all the time, I'm a total sap when it does.

2. "Better Than Life"
Love the way the script sets up all the elements at the start. Lots of background on Rimmer, which is always welcome! The observation dome scene is one of my all-time favorites, with Lister's funny-yet-touching speech about his dad. Also contains one of my top RD one-liners in the way that only Cat can deliver them, "I'd prefer chicken!"

3. "Future Echoes"
A super-clever script and great character interaction. Lister's indulgent attitude towards Cat in the "photo album" scene makes me smile, and the "shaving mirror anomaly" scene is one of my favorites (or perhaps I just like seeing Rimmer come running when Lister calls). My only quibble is that Rimmer's motivations are inconsistent throughout: he's afraid of being shut down when Lister talks about stasis/going home, yet shutdown doesn't seem to occur to him later when faced with Lister's "imminent" death.

4. "Marooned"
It's the Lister & Rimmer show, and a drat fine one, too, though my interpretation of their motivations keeps changing every time I watch it. There's a tiny heartbreaking bit just at the end, when Kryten and Cat arrive and Rimmer casts a couple of delighted glances at Lister in the way you do when you excitedly want to share a moment, and Lister doesn't so much as look at him.

5. "Queeg"
What's not to love? An ensemble script, suspense, Rimmer wearing shorts and looking thoroughly worn out, pathos, and a hilarious twist ending. Did I mention Rimmer looking thoroughly worn out? I love love love Norman Lovett's Holly, and here he gets to play his part to deadpan perfection.

Haha, from this it looks as though I thought the series ended shortly after the start of III, but that's not true! Hands down though, II is my favorite series.

Let's hear yours.

Comments

[ryanbrendonlove.livejournal.com]

Oh what a fantastic idea! It's so hard for me to choose though!

1. "Quarantine"
Mr Flibble. Rimmer in a dress. Luck virus. Dart in Kryten's head. These things are just very, very awesome.

2. "Blue"
Lister misses Rimmer, and it makes my life complete. I love how it shows that true companionship isn't about getting on, or liking each other, or even sharing civil conversation most of the time. It's about just having someone there to share things with you, to help you, to laugh at when they fail at the locker game. And hell, they kiss. Could anything be better? (Well, yes, The Rimmer Song :P)

3. "Gunmen of the Apocalypse"
Something about this episode just makes me want to watch and watch and watch. Also, "It's ten to Death!" is one of my favourite things to say. I love the Western versions of them all, showing what characteristics they'd all love to have.

4. "Back to Reality"
Expanding that idea, I just love how in this episode all they've ever wanted is shown to be sour. I think it's such a clever way of showing us how much they should appreciate having the ship and each other.

5. "Duct Soup"
I love Kochanski in this. I think this episode is such a perfect way to introduce her. Her obsession over the noises coming from the pipes is priceless. The way all of them bond through their insecurities is so clever too.

Haha, I'm completely the opposite to you! Only 5,6 and 7 exist for me. 7 is definately my favourite series. I'm interested though, what are your favourite moments from the show, and do they differ from your favourite episodes?

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

Haha, I'm completely the opposite to you! Only 5,6 and 7 exist for me.

That's why I find these things so interesting. Although it's not as disjointed as it appears--GOTA and BTR are both immediate runners-up to my five ("Dimension Jump" is up there with them too), just that I couldn't fit them all in! I love them for the same reasons you do, and I'm drawn to the sense of dread/dystopia in BTR and the sheer cleverness of the script.

what are your favourite moments from the show, and do they differ from your favourite episodes?

Great question! I'm going to go mull it over a bit.

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

I think for the most part my favorite scenes are in my favorite episodes. But I've only just realized that "Confidence & Paranoia" contains some of my very favorite scenes (shiny thing, Chicken Marengo/the monkey's sick, and whole bit where Cat gives Lister "presents" and interrupts Rimmer's attempts to ask how Lister is) even though the episode itself isn't among my top ones.

(Also, any scene which features Rimmer focused intently on a console, being all business-like, makes me swoon regardless of which episode it's in. Just sayin'.)

[ryanbrendonlove.livejournal.com]

See, now I'm completely different again. My favourite moments are mostly not from my absolute favourite episodes. I think that's because in my favourite episodes I can't choose the best moments, I love every second equally, but in the episodes I like a little less some bits just stand out as gold compared to the rest. Like, for example, my one of my least favourite episodes is Legion, but the Lightbulb gag is possibly my favourite joke of the whole show.

(Lol I'm the same but with Cat. If he's preening or dressing up or being especially cat-like I turn into jelly!)