#underrated episodes

[codex-arcene]

Episodes I really like

Okay, so I've talked about my fav episodes, but I think there's some that I really like that I feel need a little love.

So, in series order going from oldest to newest:

Daleks in Manhattan / Evolution of the Daleks - As a history geek as well as a Doctor Who fan, I really liked the perspectives we got of all the social classes during the Great Depression. Tallulah, Laszlo, Solomon and Frank were cool, the art deco style was brilliant, the plot was lovely and I can't really go on without mentioning the cool quote that was "You told us to imagine, and we imagined your irrelevance." Daleks can be sassy to each other, and they certainly were in this two parter.

Planet of the Dead - I loved watching this. Lady Christina is such a cool one-off companion for Ten, and his speech in the bus - about how what everyone's coming home to is more powerful than anything - is really good. Also, I can't go on without mentioning Malcolm, because he's brilliant.

The Crimson Horror - The styling of this episode was so cool! The Paternoster Gang are always a pleasure to see, and the historical background is so interesting. Also, Ida is one of my favourite side characters from Series 7. (Side note here- I know their name is from where their headquarters is, but is it just a coincidence that the Paternoster Gang shares a name with that lift that just keeps going up and down without stopping before switching places?)

Sleep No More - Okay, so I may just be a needle in a massive haystack in terms of this, but I think it's actually a really good episode. The sandmen are such a good monster of the week, I loved the tie in with the actual song "Mr Sandman", we got a lovely twelveclara scene and its premise is really cool. Also, the main theory that the Sandmen is sleep dust from our eyes has plagued me, bc like I mentioned in an earlier post, I can't rub anything out of my eye without hearing the tune of Mr Sandman in my head.

Can You Hear Me? - I think this is a good episode, hear me out. The historical premise at the start is really good (and has helped me out with remembering history facts about bimaristans). The animation of the two immortals and their backstory is wonderful. It's an interesting episode focused on mental health, and I just think it's rather good.

Okay, so that's all the ones I think are really good yet kind of underrated, what are your thoughts? I'm happy to hear any! And if you disagree, that is perfectly fine.

[hope-for-olicity]

My Favourite Arrow Moments

In honour of the 150th episode of Arrow I thought it couldn’t hurt to reminisce about some of my favourite moments of Arrow - based on the gifs available ;) I’m starting to think this is simply stuff I miss BIG TIME. 

That last gif - I AM DEAD. For those wondering THAT RIGHT THERE - that’s how I NEED Oliver to look at his wife!

Thanks to those who made the gifs.

@memcjo @wherethereissmoak @mel-loves-all @green-arrows-of-karamel @tdgal1 @vaelisamaza @laurabelle2930 @coal000 @miriam1779 @oliverfel4 @smoaking-greenarrow @jules85 @allimariexf @blondeeoneexox @charlinert @spaztronautwriter @truemyth @quiveringbunny @smkkbert @tinaday3w @lalawo1 @olicityandklaroline @thebookjumper @missyriver @cruzrogue @swordandarrow @onceuponarrow @lageniuswannabe @it-was-a-red-heeler  @andjustforthismoment @tangled23works @msbeccieboo @stephswims @babblingblondegenius @lucyyh @emeraldoliverqueen @juvinadelgreko @feilcityqueen @kak430 @icannotbelieveiamhere @snowlovericeprincess @faegal04 @igotnothingclever

[trek-tracks]

Five underrated episodes of Trek (any series)?

I guess the question is, underrated by whom? Critics, fans in general, Tumblr? This has the potential to just turn into “less-beloved episodes about my favorite characters,” but I guess it’s my blog so I can answer what I want. (After writing this, it turned out to be some of that and some of “this ‘bad’ episode is not actually that bad.”) I’ll stick to episodes that are under the average rating for the series on IMDB. I’m also going to give you more than five. I was going to do some for all four series I’ve watched, but the grades for Voyager actually felt pretty accurate.

TNG:

I love Contagion from TNG (the one where the ship gets the virus and they go to the Iconian world with the portals). It has Toronto City Hall as a portal, Data accidentally creating an energy bolt and saying “That was not manual override,” Picard getting frustrated at Data’s ramblings, Worf carrying Data and Data fake-dying to freak Geordi out. And the whole thing is solved with the equivalent of “have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?” IMDB gives it a 7.6. It’s not a bad rating, but I don’t see a ton of love for it online and it doesn’t compute with my mental rating of “I could watch it over and over.”

Another one that’s rated well (7.9) but nowhere near “Top 5 Episode,” which is where it hits for me, is Remember Me. Beverly Crusher is my fave forever, and she actually gets an interesting episode with some great lines (I have the “if there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with the universe” line on a mug, which I will use, ideally, forever).

(Honourable Mentions: The Ensigns of Command, The Arsenal of Freedom, The Most Toys, Thine Own Self…and Samaritan Snare, which is actually not a good episode or one I really like, but my husband and I say “We look for things” and “We wish to be nothing if not persistent” too much for me not to include it.)

DS9:

I have a soft spot for some low-rated DS9 episodes, like Move Along Home (5.9) and Distant Voices, (6.5) the latter because it’s a neat premise and a Bashir episode (because apparently my tastes run to “I will like the doctor and the character struggling with the concept of humanity in every series and everyone else can line up behind them”). “Move Along Home” is silly and fun, and underrated can also mean “not as horrible as most people think.” That being said, I’ve only seen every DS9 episode once, so I might be misremembering or looking at these more fondly than they deserve. I am less passionate about these choices than the above or below.

TOS:

My entire list of underrated TOS episodes is, as I predicted, lower-rated McCoy episodes, because I am apparently nothing if not loyal to my fave. Friday’s Child, Miri, The Man Trap, For the World is Hollow and Bread and Circuses all rate between a 6.9-7.3 on IMDB, and they’re all on my “rewatch often” queue. They all have flaws ranging from strange plotting to creepy children, but I love them all.

That being said, if I had to choose one episode in particular as the episode of any Trek series that I find severely underrated, The Empath wins it. It rates a 6.7 on IMDB and fuck that noise because I love that episode to death. Again, it’s flawed, and again, I don’t care. It’s everything I love about Triumvirate friendship and you can pry it from my cold, dead hands. If it weren’t after 3 a.m. right now, I would watch it again, just to stick it to the haters.

One more, for the “not my favourite but not as bad as people say” queue: Spock’s Brain (a 5.6 on IMDB). I hate to defend it, and yes, it has remote-controlled Spock, “His brain is gone,” and “Brain and brain, what is brain?” (My husband looked at a veggie burger today and said “grain and grain, what is grain?”) But it’s actually watchable, and even fun and entertaining at times. It’s got good Triumvirate interaction, and I would watch it above at least ten other episodes that are both bad and boring.

[ominouscuriosityheart]

Top 5 Doctor Who episodes that you like that no one else seems to

ooooo this is a good question... i Like a lot of unpopular Doctor Who episodes but also most I like are V popular (face the raven, heaven sent + others.) I think every ep with clara I like so any of those. Underrated I would say are the Sontaran eps in Series 4 and 7s epsodes in classic.

Thank u so much for asking!!

[mappingthexfiles]

Elko, NV / Montello, NV / Route 36, CA “Drive”

[mappingthexfiles]

Linley Home for Children / Loveland, Ohio “Revelations”

[nostalgicphile]

Hi Cate! I was wondering if there were episodes you consider underrated?

Hi anon! This is such a great question. Yes, I do think there are certain episodes that are loved but not loved enough. Here would be my list (in no particular order or season):

1. Monday: strong acting, punctuated by Carrie Hamilton’s desperate performance (made all the more touching since Hamilton, the daughter of Carol Burnett, passed away several years ago from cancer). And give me Scully ripping open Mulder’s shirt under any circumstances. Plus, tears and blood…it’s all good.  

2. Tithonus: yes, we get M&S’s secret handshake, but this is also an amazing episode, perfectly performed by Gillian. From bitch-slapping criminals, to Scully’s disgust with a man who stands back and coldly “takes the picture” while people die, it is worth re-watching… a lot. Also love Mulder trying to help her behind-the-scenes and staring down the partner who almost got Scully killed.

3.  The Goldberg Variation: I love the way M&S interact all through this episode, love the tenderness between Scully & Ritchie (little Shia LaBeouf, who knew what was ahead) and Scully’s “I like baseball too.” And of course, Scully stifling her laugh and Mulder’s “Yeah, it’s alright. My ass broke the fall.” 

4. Elegy: Not only is it a scary episode, but Scully’s quiet, private moment as she mourns that her days are numbered breaks my heart every time. 

5. Within: I know I tend to gravitate to Scully-oriented episodes and it shows. But Gillian is a powerhouse in this episode, as she faces the world pregnant and feeling utterly alone without her friend, partner and lover. Have you watched the opening scene when Scully stares into the mirror while getting dressed and walks down the FBI hallway (while Mark Snow’s heart-wrenching Scully’s Theme plays) lately? If not, get on your Netflix now. And Gif it. And send it to me. ;)