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

[(Anonymous)]

Oooo, yes please. :D

1. Stoke Me A Clipper. Mainly for the music - that episode's music score, particularly the tune when they're following Ace's coffin, is bloody amazing. Musical highlights also include Ace's theme, the duel music and their training song. <33 Luvs luvs LUVS it. I like the episode, but I'd take it for the musical beauty alone.

2. Thanks For The Memory. Absolutely gorgeous episode that completely threw me on my first viewing of it - and that killer line of 'I wouldn't wanna be around when one of these suckers is making a SPEECH" makes me die every single time.

3. Legion. Admittedly a bit of a filler, but I genuinely enjoy the fusion of the boyz everytime I watch it, and Rimmer being 'unknockoutable' is just brilliant. I'd have loved to have seen that cyber park. ;D

4. Better Than Life! I adored Rimmer's angst, the observation dome scene and the unique nature of the episode - and I love the little sweet parts where Lister attempts cheer Rimmer up.

5. Kind of cheating, but I'd love to actually watch The Identity Within. xD The storyboard looks excellent, and I'd take the comic version alone.