Highs:
tommy gun recoil
low bridge
laugh
Rocky’s counting method
ubiquitous bunny
Bugs talking
gotten rid of
high-maintenance Rocky
giving Rocky the dough
COITANS (they’re adorable)
bad hiding places
Bugs’ temerity
Bugs vs. Bugs
Bugs’ Rocky impression
Lows:
watch gag
Grade: A-
Highs:
bunny lure
well-labeled hideout
friendly neighborhood evil scientist
happy capture
other little friend
non little slice of Heaven
convenient doctor
Curly-esque monster mirror image
darkness warning
60-watt bunny
nice sneakers
interesting monster getting an interesting haircut
picture poking
poking picture
canned monster
recurrent disposition
PEOPLE!
recurrent disposition
bunny lure
Lows:
badly-fitting armor
Grade: A
Highs:
screaming liner
young 93 1/2
apologetic umpire
slight lineup changes
Bugs’ fastball
batboy
he got it
tobacco alteration
big bat
ppppp pitch
ball chasing
convenient umpire
Lows:
opening
badly animated argument
really silly ending
Grade: B
12/25/12: It’s a (semi) classic for a reason. Grade: B+
Highs:
a bunny rabbit. ta HAVE!
extremely short cut
dismissing the wolves
doors of wonder
persistent Red
silly little song
silly little sign
lurking coal
extreme weight-testing
Bugs’ self-hatred
Lows:
None really…the first truly good one.
Grade: B+
12/25/12: Crude, but very effective. Grade: A-
Highs:
the “Little Gem” glass cutter
grandfather wristwatch
ear drum
careful head traversing
dismissing the lurking eyes
modern beanstalk
Lows:
the beginning
the giant’s lines
Grade: B-
Highs:
audible silent footsteps
vewwy vewwy quietness
carrot caressing
gun caressing
Bugs appearing
Bugs confers with Elmer about wabbits
confidential info
Elmer’s bad guesses
comforting a$$-kick
Lows:
parts of the second half
Bugs is more of an annoying pest than the put-upon clever bunny of later episodes
Grade: B-
Personal RPG reasons…extracted from an otherwise “typical” episode, to me, of late: When something AMAZING happens EVERY time…it loses its power to amaze.
http://www.d20resources.com/arcana.d20.srd/spells/phantasmal.killer.php
I’ve concluded, after leaning towards the “extremely interesting” side for the beginning of season one, that I’m now firmly in the “boring” camp. And vastly over-hyped.
The extremely spotty quality of the last two-thirds or so of that season and the beginning of season two, the already-redundancy of some of the episodes and ideas, and the extreme over-analysis of the show to the last minute dull detail MANY other places on the web has convinced me that to continue further would be a complete and utter waste of time…more often boring than interesting.
So I’ll end after a mostly-interesting season one. If you insist on more, be my guest…but it’s better to burn out than to fade away, and my interest is fading rapidly. I’ll remember it, somewhat fondly, as a cute little romance. With aliens.
-Puppy >.< Yip!
You knew they had to ditch the sometimes-mediocre “monster” episodes and return to the story arc for the season finale, and they do. And thankfully Chris Carter writes it.
Genetics/Extraterrestrial/Conspiracy based. No vague “hints” here, this delivers even more than ‘E.B.E.’ Vital and powerful, a must-see if you have any interest in the show itself.
Points of note: “Deep Throat” gives a vague tip to Mulder, Scully makes her distaste of “Deep Throat” plain to Mulder, an objective analysis seems to prove something believed impossible, Scully meets “Deep Throat” and interacts one-on-one with him for the first time, MAJOR ending events, including an eerie reminder of the pilot episode. 9906753.
Inspirational Quote: “I’m not gonna give up. I can’t give up…not as long as the truth is out there.”
After a brief period of mediocre/unimportant episodes…
The “monster” from episode 3 is back. He’s still creepy, and while this reprisal is also irrelevant to the story arc, it’s almost as interesting as the original.
Highlight for me is a playful/serious exchange in which Scully actually calls Mulder by his first name, and makes her loyalty to him abundantly clear…not that that was necessary, for him or a viewer with any perception. She later, through a rather non-Scully-esque action, proves it.
Inspirational Quote: “You can get the next mutant.”
You want UFO/conspiracy-based, you got it. “Trust noone” certainly applies here.
One of the best episodes yet.
Points of note: “The Lone Gunmen” introduced, “Deep Throat” meets with Mulder and (for the first time) seems a bit jittery, Mulder acknowledges the existence of “Deep Throat” to Scully but not his exact identity, Scully questions “Deep Throat”‘s intentions/reliability, “Lone Gunmen” prove useful.
Inspirational Quote: “I think it’s remotely plausible that someone might think you’re hot.”
A supposed dead man is supposedly on the loose. Also centers on medical research that mirrors ‘Re-Animator’ in its callousness.
Points of note: An incident revealed from Mulder’s past gives an indication as to why he’s so dedicated/obsessed to/with his work, research information “lost” but established as still existing, government connection/interest concerning research confirmed by “Deep Throat”.
Brad Dourif is very impressive as a serial killer who claims psychic powers.
The monster is a human in this one, same as the last one. Only, the last one isn’t worth watching, let alone reviewing, and this one certainly is.
Mulder’s affection for Scully becomes obvious here, at least in a legitimately paternal way. I’m echoing myself, I know, but I couldn’t resist…and it is true.
Points of note: Major event in Scully’s family (and other events) tilts her more towards “belief” in one area at least, Mulder faces death, and Mulder/Scully reverse roles somewhat.
Do all blood-draining puncture marks come from “vampires”?
Depends on how you view genetics and its relation to humanity/inhumanity.
Interesting, and very creepy.
Eves abound…one of the greatest arguments against eugenics given our incredibly limited minds in relation to such things.
This time it’s Scully that’s slightly/playfully jealous of Mulder…very cute.
Points of note: “Deep Throat” appears after a subtle hint.
Major return to the story arc…UFO-based, intelligent, quick-moving, and (by far most importantly) back to being interesting.
Points of note: “Deep Throat” is called upon again, “Max” from NICAP introduced, Mulder pisses lots of people off. And we learn that maybe “Deep Throat” isn’t quite what he appears to be through an intervention on his behalf.
Draws heavily from John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’. It’s more intellectual but not as interesting…but still interesting enough to watch. But I must say, this is the first episode in which I found the acting to be a bit overly dramatic.
Speaking of firsts, Episode 9 is the first episode I found to be dull and unimportant enough not to review. I’m hoping it’s a temporary hiccup.
Inspirational Quote: “Before anyone passes judgement, may I remind you, we ARE in the Arctic.”
Don’t mess with COS.
The monster is a machine this time, or so it seems. Very interesting.
Points of note: “Deep Throat” is called upon twice, Mulder/Scully make a major enemy.
Scully’s affection for Mulder becomes obvious here, at least in a legitimately maternal way.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/motherly
Amusing little ‘2001’ reference, too.
This one’s about psychokinesis…extremely interesting, actually.
Think a variation of ‘Firestarter’, maybe…if it had been put to film anywhere near the level of the novel.
Scully’s skepticism becomes illogical at one point in this episode. To deny the existence of something you consider “impossible”, even when presented with it, is illogical.
“An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – Spock
Monster of the week: See title.
Not the best monster, or story.
Notable mostly, since I care far more about the characters than the story, for Mulder’s first obvious jealous twinge regarding Scully and Scully duly taking note and appearing more amused and flattered than offended.
Which shows, as compared to the later dialogue regarding said “relationship”, that subtlety can often reveal far more than blatant exposition. Or, as they say, “Insinuation really makes it happen”.
Reaffirmed when Scully, with just a bit of guilty/gloatingly independent reluctance, tells Mulder she has a date: which of course she doesn’t enjoy one bit.
Back to the story arc, referencing the long-ago disappearance of Mulder’s sister and revealing more of exactly what happened, according to his memory.
He is so hilariously out of place, yet unruffled, in a biker bar.
As for the little boy’s sketchings…fascinating. Much better than ‘The Last Crusade’.
The attraction (or at least mutual respect, admiration, and slight affection) is already obvious. And it feels natural, real, unforced.
As to the episode, it is what I believe is called a “monster-of-the-week” episode…no real impact on the main story arc, except to continue to establish Mulder/Scully’s relationship.
This one’s pretty good, though…creepy. Spooky, too.
An extremely UFO-based episode.
Points of note: knowledgeable contact introduced, Mulder’s memory affected.
Featuring a hippie/stoner Seth Green.
For the record, I’m a little bit Mulder, a little bit Scully.
I’m not arrogant or blind enough to believe that everything MUST have a logical, scientifically verifiable fact-based explanation and that if we don’t see it well then we just haven’t looked hard enough.
Neither am I flaky or anti-intellectual enough to believe that everything that cannot be immediately explained MUST be supernatural in nature.
So it’s interesting to watch myself argue with myself via Mulder and Scully.
Inspirational Quote: “When does the human cost become too high for the building of a better machine?”
I’ve meant to watch this show, from beginning to end, for a LONG time.
Only seen a few random, scattered episodes…then told myself I’d wait and, one day, watch it properly, in order. Part of me wanted it to be boring, so I could move on to something else. Part of me wanted it to be extremely interesting, so I could have a new show to focus on that I found worthy of my attention and analysis.
So far, I’m leaning more towards the “interesting” part. Mulder and Scully seem to mesh together right from the start: not quite Sam and Diane, but it’s close. And, of course, more mature.
A good introduction to the characters and the theme…and the ending is reminiscent of ‘Raiders’…top men working on it. 9906753.
Worthy of Note:
Saunders the obnoxious American
Lord Byron’s famous nipple-sucking
wrong threat
Saunders the really bad seductress
flaming crumpet
sick Oxford thing
Oxford mob
bit of skirt
Longer but less interesting than the first. Hence more tedious than interesting. It has a few moments, but you can see why French and Saunders are rapidly outgrowing this group.
Worthy of Note:
seeing “French + Saunders” for the first time. Bop be do be wah!
long house tour
French patting Saunders
sudden Consuelas
pre-emptive duck sketching
emerging/submerging Consuela
affectionate butler
EXCITING French/Saunders ending struggle
accidental killings
Worthy of Note:
origin of Ab-Fab’s “Edina Monsoon”
violent nurse
angry childrens show
tolerable suicide
Radio Free Nigeria
‘Big Jobs in My Trousers’
like……….that
very nice bastard
congenital syphilis
bags of charisma
Eddie’s fans: a dog and his uncle
E. Monsoon talking to E. Monsoon
Eddie Monsoon’s brilliant unpublished novel
Basically an inferior reworking of episode 1.
Watch only if you want to see Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders say things like “you little prick-teaser”.
In the vein of ‘Spinal Tap’…not as good, of course, but interesting.
Worthy of Note:
lashings
brilliant observations
young French
young Saunders
twittiness worthy of Peckinpah’s ‘Salad Days’
George the dyke
queerness
Fairly amusing, especially if you like British comedy in general. And it’s got French and SAUN-ders…SAUN-ders…bop be do be wah!
Highs:
the scavenger gourmet
chef’s quick prayer
two dead pigeons
oinky pig-e-ons
Siberian hamster
Franco’s rat policy
popular Bubonic Plague
The bleedin’ obvious
domesticated Sybil
gangs of field mice
undead Basil
sleep discount
haunting “rat departure” theme
fermenting pigeons
cheering up, for Christ’s sake
Sybil finishing Basil’s depression monologue
Major bothering
stealthy Major with gun
Basil-seek
homing rat
“He’s from Barcelona…”
wine dropping
cat celebration
random plates of veal
fiance’s legs
eal
Japo-Scandinavian substitute
dandered up
free rat
Basil-dragging
Lows:
picture-pushing
convenient meat spillage
bomb scare?
Grade: A (Great ending)
Highs:
“Ode To Joy”
simmering Sybil
Basil’s memory
the smell of burning martyr
costly oil
Agincourt?
bump-smoothing
“She’s uhh umm”
good look by the dentist
Polly’s legs
slightly serious
slightly like Sybil
Pollyjacking
very quick heart attack
Major re-route
lots of waving
Basil’s sad chat with Sybil
Polly discipline
“Oh, I know…”
coincidental/concealed Sybil
kitchen melee
Lows:
Basil brush
too much Manuel interlude
Grade: A-
Highs:
lumbered with the people
breathing attempts
Quite…
managing to struggle down
Basil’s lightly-buttered kipper rant
woman’s work never delegated
Basil’s breakfast delivery rant
hitting guests
Basil’s kipper rant
death celebration
a bit of it
BLOODY final
Basil’s hotel rant
recurrent kipper
cheerful over guest’s death
recurrent kipper
2 dead, 25 to go
noisy cupboard
fortunate key
Basil’s crush/Manuel’s dance
“Oh, I know…”
off guard
fly attraction
screaming radio
bothersome corpse
Doctor wanting sausages
explaining to Manuel
women doing it
not much
Manuel in a basket (part 2)
ending
Lows:
dog FX
unusually nasty Polly
Polly’s stalling
Basil’s stalling
guest-smothering
Grade: A
Highs:
in-depth salad examination
bothersome lambs
bloody rubbish
out of waldorfs
Waldorf Salad
walnuts, cheese…
Ritz Salad
the celery front
a$$-busting
Waldorf Salad repossession
letter from the chef, read aloud
Basil ranting at himself
a place in Eastbourne
Basil gets his comeuppance
Basil’s ending rant
the origins of Nazi Germany
mass eviction attempt
Basil in the rain
Basil’s final order
Lows:
slow intro
line mistake
Grade: B+
Highs:
Basil enjoying himself
Sybil’s charming vampirism
managing it 2 or 3 times a week
turning on the nipple
wall testing
door testing
cigarette testing
more wall testing
window testing
left to it
broom testing
hinge testing
Basil standing up to Sybil
contorted hopping
Lows:
lowering the boom mic
Basil failing his “break down doors” roll
moments of tedium
Grade: B-
Highs:
Casey
C.K. Watt (Age 40)
hovering Sybil
closed avenue of pleasure
view confirmation
Sydney Opera House/Hanging Gardens of Babylon
sea location
Cleese doing the volume gag the Pythons always wanted to
piece of brain
bat up the nightdress
Flying Tart
“I know nothing”
head usage
semi-strip
vivisectionist trip
quick mourn, faint, and recovery
Basil’s thrill of victory
Basil’s agony of defeat
Lows:
Major talking to himself
Polly’s final paper confusion
Polly knowing about the battery comment when she couldn’t
nitwit
most of the horse charades
Basil’s brief explosion
Grade: B
Highs:
mounted toenail
“precise” racism
ingrown tongue
english-speaking moosehead
Manuel safely locked in with the fire
God abuse
Fawlty’s Gumby look
nurse of unknown origin
“My God you’re ugly…”
something wrong vs. German
meat explanation
“Don’t mention the war”
something to drink before the war
all differences forgotten
no need to mention the war
Hitler, Himmler, all that lot
hors d’ouevres which must be obeyed at all times
persistent Nazi references
invading Poland
Fawlty’s Hitler
funny walk
Fawlty’s escape
naughty moose
Lows:
racism
too-long alarm routine
Grade: A- (That’s got it)
Highs:
smack on head
little piranha fish
vats of wine
strung highly
trough w/ dead dogs
nothing trivial
seeking Mrs. Hall
too small and dry
dream test
the eternal plate change
duck-throwing
car abuse
thrashing the car
duck-searching
Lows:
mother’s overacting
a bit of Cleese overacting
entertainment
Grade: B (Getting there…)
Highs:
stealth Manuel
guest-mauling
non-violent violence
ending scream
Lows:
The beginning
Basil’s overacted anger
many moments of tedium
Grade: D
Highs:
fawlty t1tties
“Oh, I know…” origin
convenient wound
Manuel in a basket (part 1)
Lows:
Basil’s couple frustration
couple banter
Basil’s frustration, part 2
disgusting bit
overlong explanation bit
overlong room bit
overlong mistake rant
Grade: D-
Highs:
a little breathing
orally men
listening
instant wall
self-spank
large garden gnome insertion
Sybil’s beautiful when she’s fermenting
Lows:
opening banter
Sybil’s overlong rant, parts 1 and 2
Grade: C+
Highs:
Basil’s driving advice
Brahms’ “Third Racket”
list-fetching
non-traditional wall
polite hurrying
kiss-aversion
ineffective forbiddance
Basil’s free kick
Lows:
Cleese’s acting seeming a bit forced at times
Basil sucking up
overdone slapstick
“dramatic” turn
Basil’s lack of common sense
Observation: If this series wasn’t the inspiration (at least in part) for ‘Black Books’, I’ll eat a Waldorf Salad.
Grade: C+
Delightfully cute/devilish short bit of animation. Watch the whole thing.
Grade: A-
Don’t bother.
Highs:
toothpaste scum collection
The Tooth Beaver
cute pile of tooth
disgusted flies
The Nerve-Ending Fairy!
$400 of lint
new logs
Stimpy’s divine light
the wonders of Stimpy’s nipples
circus-midget defense
ultra-paranoid horse
one mistake
two more mistakes?
big nipple
rubber walrus protectors
rubber nipple check
nipple advancement
1001 nipple uses
knee nipples
Stooges’ bull ending
Lows:
just a few intermittent lulls
Grade: A
Highs:
one last alternative
random weird stuff
repugnant and delicious
alternate universe left socks
High-Fashion Log for girls!
Dream-date Log
Ren’s slight outburst
electric beaver
electric duck
Stimpy’s fifth latest invention
happiness resistance
SO…HAPPY…
“Happy Happy Joy Joy”
Lows:
underwear
slow implosion
The Log song…I mean, enough already.
Stimpy’s first latest invention
part 2 ending
Grade: B
Highs:
flaccid rocket
cool noises
convenient moon
My Little Brother doll
A DUCK!
elusive horny-billed chihuahua
giant soft-shelled stimpy
little stimpys
scavenger attack
keen sense of radar
slow-motion magic
the art of camouflage
terrible, fearsome crocostimpy
haunting mating call
the … yak
nature-show-host attraction
Lows:
part 1 recycling…again…already
part 1 ending (and some of the middle)
part 2 ending
Grade: B
Highs:
circus midgets
big baby
big horse
Mr. Horse’s carefully considered reaction
big walrus w/little hat
big elephant
the eternal ladder
burning up on re-entry
soothing litter
Log…for girls!
really close moon
repulsive titanicism
lots of anything
Lows:
Dr. Stupid
part 1 intro
part 1 ending (notice a pattern here?)
part 2 intro…recycling already?
most of part 2, actually.
Grade: B-
Highs:
anti-gravity bubblegum
spine-tingling toast
Ren snapping
convenient statue
Ren’s ice cream bar
covetething
THE HISTORY ERASER BUTTON!
voiceover announcer
in-the-scene announcer
announcer’s buttcheeks
hard-working filth
electric woodchuck
nibbling on Ren
Yak-Shaving Day
shaving scum
Lows:
part 1 intro
Roger
towel-snapping
toothbrush melee
part 2 intro
part 2 sketch ending
Grade: B+
Highs:
Powdered Toast Man!
huge pectoral muscles
lower-Stimpy buttoning
melon/chicken/moose
cheerleaders/criminally insane
poor-turned-rich fleeing peasant
evil cow
evil sheriff of Dodge City
fair hair
generous portion of giblet gravy
random sheep
nose-pouch of holding
spleen-cleansing
Ren’s defensive fur
random Mr. Horse
Lows:
too many costume changes
Rarin to go/lickity split
monks?
part 1 ending
the oath
part 2 beginning
part 2 ending
Grade: B
