Board 8 > Scarlet Ranks User-Nominated Episodes of Television: Season 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

Random.org has decreed that next up is... Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!" (Nominated by: Wickle)

29 Points:
Lost - "Walkabout"
16 Points:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
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damn, two episodes in and already got one a single-point short of a perfect score

which is fair, Walkabout was some of Lost at its best

there's a good reason I ended up binge watching almost the entire first season in one day
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Thought Walkabout was an easy 30/30!

It's so incredible, that LOST had the confidence and skill to go for an episode like that only 4 in. A show so secure in its vision and what it wants to say at such an early stage!

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A 30/30 is really reserved for maybe 2 or 3 episodes in the best of series.
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Walkabout propelled Lost into the stratosphere of excellence, and I knew this show was going to be something special.

I remember watching season 1 DVD with my mom, and it might have been this episode, but we both looked at each other and said, "soooo....next episode?" It was 3 a.m.
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Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!"
Nominated by: Wickle

There comes a time in every man's life where he needs to just sit down and watch middle-aged men enjoy scotch and cigars while practicing law. For me, that time came with the advent of Boston Legal, one of my personal favorite shows of all time. While I would never claim that this particular episode is one of the best, I always have a soft spot for a series that moves at a rapid-fire pace. Boston Legal is a show where, if the characters closed their mouths for a moment, their heads would explode. That's a great thing.

In this episode, we play with three plotlines that are all over the place. Alan and Shirley playfully flirt a bit over nude photos of Shirley being held hostage by a jealous former lover's wife. This is the best plotline, by far, one that features the brilliant James Spader nuance. Somehow, Alan can be completely open and still disguise his intentions with great face work. It's amazing. From there, we follow Denny Crane on his comical conservative crusade to protect a homeowner's right to protect his house in the most racist way possible. Really, this plotline is the most timely, playing up how a trial is less about facts and more about presentation in the media. Really cutting stuff. And Denise provides one of her phenomenal expressions of bemusement, so that is a plus here.

Then we come to the plotline that spurred Wickle to nominate this episode. The "YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER!" moment, where Paul Lewiston invades his daughter's home to search for crack. He does find it. However, I'm actually not a fan of this. Paul was best served being featured solely in the office. I didn't need to know about his personal life, and I still don't. This plotline drags heavily because it's sort of a non-Boston Legal arc. It features no Legal. And really, the story doesn't require Boston either. And, when you remove the BIG stars of the show (Denny, Alan, Shirley), you've effectively presented a worthless story.

Still, this series, despite its occasional misses, is so full of hits and style and even that sneaky bit of substance that I can't help but overlook a down episode a bit.

Writing: 6/10
Characterization: 6/10
Scarlet Factor: 7/10
Overall Rating: 19/30
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Random.org has decreed that next up is... Weird City - "The One" (Nominated by: Raka)

29 Points:
Lost - "Walkabout"
19 Points:
Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!"
16 Points:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
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Weird City - "The One"
Nominated by: Raka

Poor man's Black Mirror.

In an attempt to be a little more palatable to a crowd with more comedic sensibilities, Weird City seems to forsake the more nuanced elements of science fiction that leave you questioning things. In the place of it, we're presented a little more ha-ha. That's fine. That's okay. I don't need every show to be deep. Some of my favorite shows are all style, no substance.

Weird City seems to THINK its still deeper than it is, however. There are lines and moments where the show pauses for the audience to say, "Wow, that's so impressive!" Overreaching, sadly. This is certainly serviceable, but Weird City has a penchant for obvious jokes and obvious morality. At this stage of the game, no one who would be watching Weird City is questioning the legitimacy of a gay relationship or wanting to be nonconformist when it comes to love. So, you know, find something new to say or be consigned to a B+ rating from me.

Writing: 6/10
Characterization: 6/10
Scarlet Factor: 6/10
Overall Rating: 18/30
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Random.org has decreed that next up is... Angel - "Dead End" (Nominated by: Mana)

29 Points:
Lost - "Walkabout"
19 Points:
Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!"
18 Points:
Weird City - "The One"
16 Points:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
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Huh, that's a little disappointing. I had meant to get around to checking out Weird City eventually
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I had fun not nominating a higher up episode for you (which I totally could have). I just sadly was stricken with indecision about other episodes I could have nominated.
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WickIebee posted...

I had fun not nominating a higher up episode for you (which I totally could have). I just sadly was stricken with indecision about other episodes I could have nominated.

Prepare yourself for season 3 then! We're already well on our way!
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Angel - "Dead End"
Nominated by: Mana

I waited 45 minutes for something to happen in this episode.

Nothing ever did.

Angel found me, much as with last list, completely nonplussed. The characters were dull, the dialogue leaden, and almost every scene felt like filler. Nothing of interest occurred, no one stood out, and at the end, I felt like I had my mind wiped of an hour because I could not remember a single thing that had happened in that episode.

The more you all put Joss Whedon material in front of me, the less I like it. And what's more, I have absolutely nothing to say! This was so intensely mediocre, I thought maybe I had switched channels to CBS and was being forced to suck down a crime procedural drama. THAT'S how uninteresting this show was. I tried SO hard to care. I really did. But these people have dialogue that's about as sharp as a spoon, and motivations that are about as clear as mud. The entirety of the episode is mired in the story of this unremarkable unhanded guy who has no real redeeming value other than being good looking. That also seems to apply to most of, if not all, of these characters.

Bleh.

Writing: 3/10
Characterization: 2/10
Scarlet Factor: 2/10
Overall Rating: 7/30
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Random.org has decreed that next up is... The Walking Dead - "Too Far Gone" (Nominated by: theiceisnice)

29 Points:
Lost - "Walkabout"
19 Points:
Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!"
18 Points:
Weird City - "The One"
16 Points:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
7 Points:
Angel - "Dead End"
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more like david BORE-anaz amirite
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Accurate
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The lost write up has made me think of trying to watch lost. I started it with my wife and was interested and then she binged it without me and once she gets ahead of me I can never catch up. Maybe a solo project to do

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I recommend it. Be aware that the beginning of season 3 is pretty off.
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I would also highly recommend it.

I didn't see it until 2011 and then binged all 6 seasons over the course of the summer with my girlfriend.
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You should. If you had started and had gotten to Walkabout, you would have kept going until you finished.
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The first half of LOST is pretty great, but it starts getting kind of ridiculous eventually.
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scarletspeed7 posted...

Angel found me, much as with last list

I have to admit, I was a bit curious about how shows from the last list would end up doing with a second chance this time. Shows that got repeat episodes in the last list seemed to do worse the second time unless it was a show Scarlet loved to begin with. Personally, I felt like nominating a episode from a show featured last time would be a waste of time since we should already have a rough idea how well the show would do (especially for shows that did poorly the first time). I can't imagine forcing Scarlet to watch more of something he didn't like would change his opinion.

But then I nominated a show from the last list anyway, so I don't have much room to complain about repeats from other people.
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I'm trying to not be too colored by my perception of a show, but this was much worse than the previous list's episode on top of just not being my cup of tea.
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Yeah, I assumed you'd be trying not to be influenced by that sort of thing. I'm just not sure whether it's possible to avoid it entirely, not to mention there are quite a few noms where the last list made it clear the show itself was the problem. It just bugs me a bit to see repeats when there are so many great shows out there these days.
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I'm not sure it's better to push more alternative shows, honestly. They become more niche and therefore I may not get responses. And, to be fair, someone may think an episode is better representative of a show or just love an episode, preferring for me to rate that episode. Or they weren't really around for the first list.

Sure, I may not be thrilled I have to do more Simpsons, but part of the fun of these lists is getting my reaction to stuff people care about, so I can't fault them too much.
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Poor man's Black Mirror is probably correct. Still, I enjoyed that episode because in a way it's a quirky romcom with an unusual couple and that works fine as it is. Also, since Hang the DJ is nominated, it should be interesting how those two episodes compare.

I tried watching the second episode of Weird City and it's just...so bad...I dropped the series right there.
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Yeah I don't know everything about Angel in Buffy screams supporting character to me and I've never been big on any of the Angel episodes I've seen either. I'm skeptical there's good there.

But David Boreanaz and mentions of procedural crime dramas... maybe I'll nominate a Bones episode next time. Maybe. As someone who also generally hates the genre it's probably my favorite series from that genre so maybe we could find something that isn't hated. Maybe.
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I am a huge fan of buffy. Will defend it forever.

Angel though argh.

Angel NEEDS the momentum from Buffy toget you through the first couple seasons and the last few are only compelling if you've been watching the whole time.

Angel is probably the show I would peg to do absolutely worst on a list like this.

That's a real pity about Weird City too.
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Yeah I dont think Whedon shows are going to be big for Scarlet. Honestly the one with the best chance might actually be dollhouse and I still wouldnt expect it to do well at all
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I nominated Hero last time and it failed and lamented not putting Dead End.

So I remembered that. To my regret.

Next time: Smile Time
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I would have nominated that over any other Angel episode but it still isnt getting more than 20 points even if he loves puppets.
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Busy couple of days, but should be back in the saddle tomorrow for some more TV goodness.

As for more Angel episodes, I'll always try to keep an open mind!
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from what little i've seen, smile time would be my choice for angel though not my choice for puppets.

for puppets i've got that episode of kidding i wanted to nominated.
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I was afraid Scarlet was too far gone to come back to us.
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Bump?
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I'm literally watching the next episode right now. I have busy work weeks so closer to the end of the week and weekend is when I watch stuff.
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Walking Dead - "Too Far Gone"
Nominated by: theiceisnice

Too Far Gone stands as the last episode of the golden age of Walking Dead. At this point, the series has passed the best material in the comic and it begins to bleed off the cast and creative that best served the project. The Governor saga contains a lot of the most intriguing and emotional material in the series, and it can stand as an example of how a showrunner can depart and a series can still find its footing.

What Too Far Gone actually represents, however, is a notion that good material can withstand upheaval because a good story is a good story. Specifically, the Governor himself drives the series as a complex, nuanced antagonist. The fact that TWD was able to extend his run into an extra season was absolutely a relief to fans of the show. You can always highlight the parts of the series that have the most buzz, because those are the runs that feature a notable villain. You can point to Merle's sporadic appearances, of course, but really there are three true villains in this series: the Governor, Negan and most recently Alpha. All three of these characters breathed new life into the show and allowed the creativity of the show to flourish. Outside of these characters, there has always been a consistent trending downwards in terms of storytelling and, as a result, characterization. Walking Dead has always been a war of attrition, as the cast drops with trudging regularity.

But big moments, and big stories for that matter, remain highlights of the series. The slow burn between these big moments, especially in the run up to the final Governor episode, allows for the climaxes to play with heavy emotion. It's really great stuff. It's a poor man's Game of Thrones in a lot of respects, with fewer plotlines and less heady subject matter, but the pattern of storytelling remains the same.

Writing: 8/10
Characterization: 8/10
Scarlet Factor: 9/10
Overall Rating: 25/30
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Random.org has decreed that next up is... Quantum Leap - "Raped" (Nominated by: Inviso)

29 Points:
Lost - "Walkabout"
25 Points:
The Walking Dead - "Too Far Gone"
19 Points:
Boston Legal - "Shock and Oww!"
18 Points:
Weird City - "The One"
16 Points:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
7 Points:
Angel - "Dead End"
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That's fair, sorry if I was being impatient.
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Nope, no problem.
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you never know when sballen will surprise us with a return to the day and a half purge
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Wait The Walking Dead is still going?
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Honestly I would consider Too Far Gone and the two episodes leading up to it to be the height of The Walking Dead. The slow burn of the Governor's return is just so good
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Absolutely, Johnbobb. Definitely the climax of its best run. It doesn't immediately drop off, but there is a momentum lost after a few episodes and it continues to trend downwards until the introduction of Negan.
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I've never seen the Walking Dead but I did watch a one man show of Mark Meer reenacting like 6 seasons of it and the Governor was highly entertaining

also Negan. You might be on to something with this good villains thing....
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Seasons 4/5 were my favorite part of The Walking Dead, and the climax with the Governor was definitely a big part of that.
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Quantum Leap is one of the few pre-90s shows I really want to sit down and watch at some point. My dad was a big fan, and the bits and pieces I saw were bloody good.
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scarletspeed7 posted...

Absolutely, Johnbobb. Definitely the climax of its best run. It doesn't immediately drop off, but there is a momentum lost after a few episodes and it continues to trend downwards until the introduction of Negan.

I will say Carol's attack on Terminus in the season 5 premiere was a pretty high moment for me as well, but the leadup and followup didn't compare.
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Negan capturing basically everyone and killing two main characters to put the fear of god into Rick to get tribute and Shane's final scene are also high moments of the show.
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Quantum Leap - "Raped"
Nominated by: Inviso

On today's after school special, we hamfistedly attempt to tackle the concept of rape within the confines of a relatively fluffy 40-minute high concept piece.

While Quantum Leap is far from the best avenue to discuss the serious topic of how, oftentimes, the victims of rape are not believed, Scott Bakula and his fellow guest stars attempt to give the topic as much latitude as possible so that the viewer can have a little introspection. Because Sam leaps into Katie McBains body after the rape is committed, he cant know for sure what exactly happened. Still, he steadfastly trusts Katies initial report that she was indeed raped, even when the entire community slanders her and, worse, her family members waver in their belief in her. This is heavy material for a show like Quantum Leap, but the script never really falters in a big way.

That said, this is unenjoyable. I would not want to watch this again under any circumstances. There's just nothing about rape that's entertaining. Sorry. Please just give me the standard violence, like gunfights and murder.

Writing: 7/10
Characterization: 6/10
Scarlet Factor: 6/10
Overall Rating: 19/30
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