Topic: Birthday Episode Marathon

[Najemikon]

Friends is another comedy that hasn't let me down personally.

Friends is a strange one for me. I don't find it really funny but I do enjoy watching it (I rate it 3/5)

If you like My Hero you might enjoy My Family. Critics hate it but it's a very popular show. Also Phoenix Nights is a must.

I've been shouting up about My Family before. Achim took a punt and liked it. Pete struggles to consider our stuff because he isn't multi-region and can't find decent prices anyway. He wants to try Dr Who as well, but the prices of the sets are extortionate.

As for Friends, I'm exactly the opposite of you! Every time I make the effort to watch it, I find it hilarious. But I get tired very quickly of the overall style, so tend to forget about it.

[addicted2dvd]

Yup... I really would like to check out Dr. Who. I have read so much about that series. Unfortunately I don't have the extra money to order it this month... but if it is still on sale I can get the following set for only $18.49 at amazon...



It contains...


    * Includes the William Hartnell adventures "An Unearthly Child," "The Daleks," and "The Edge of Destruction"
    * Commentary by producer Verity Lambert, directors Waris Hussein, Christopher Barry and Richard Martin, actors Carole Ann Ford and William Russell and moderator Gary Russell
    * Pilot Episode - a 40-minute unedited studio recording, including outtakes
    * The featurettes "Creation of the Daleks," "Doctor Who: Origins," "Over the Edge" and "Inside the Spaceship"
    * 30-minute condensed version of the lost 7-part story Marco Polo
    * Episode 2 of The Edge of Destruction in Arabic
    * Production note subtitles
    * Still galleries.

If it is still on sale I could possibly order it next month. Is this a good place to start?

I see it is from the '60s so not sure if it is the "good" Dr. Who or not.

[Najemikon]

No such thing as good or bad, Pete, just different. This is the original Who and is always worth seeing, but as I've said before, I do prefer the new Who. While it is very popular, some traditional fans have pointed out it is much slicker. The series you're looking at was more atmospheric and scarier, despite being much lower budget.

That looks like an excellent set and great value! Whatever you think of it, it is important to keep two things in mind. Concentrate on the character and the style of the stories; if you enjoy that, it will carry you into any of the others.

And also remember what we've said before. Just because this is season 1, don't feel you have to absolutely get 2, then 3, then 4, whatever. You can dive in anywhere. The latest versions started as a new "series 1" in 2004, or whenever it was, so if the BBC aren't keeping count, no need to worry! In fact, this is simply labelled as the Hartnell years, I notice, so it's kind of the first couple of series bundled together.

Sorry I keep saying "series", but traditional British terms are more important here.

[addicted2dvd]

Thanks Jon

[addicted2dvd]

Three's Company: Season 1
Roper's Niece
Mr. Roper's niece is visiting, and he doesn't want her to leave the house. He asks Jack (whom he thinks is gay) to take her out so that she'll be safe with him. Meanwhile, it's Janet's birthday, and Jack spends all night with the niece.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode. There is a few good laughs in it. Of course this is Three's Company so there is the misunderstanding as there is in what seems like every episode. And then ends with Jack giving Janet the perfect birthday gift. Definitely a good episode... but I have seen better.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

The Brady Bunch: Season 2
The Not-So-Ugly Duckling
Poor Jan (Eve Plumb) has a crush on a boy who only has eyes for her older sister Marcia. After trying to erase her freckles with a lemon, Jan decides to create an imaginary boyfriend named George Glass.

My Thoughts:
This is one series from my childhood that I was never really too big on. But it is definitely a part of my childhood so I was sure to get it into my collection for nostalgic reasons. I wouldn't say I hated the series... but it wasn't in my list of must sees at the time either. Oddly I found I enjoy it just a little bit more now then I did when I was a kid. And even more oddly... even though I am only OK with the series... I really enjoy the reunion movies. In this episode it is even more of Jan not believing she is as good as her older sister Marcia... taken to the point of making up a fake boyfriend. That is until her family figure it out by trying to find him in order to invite him to her birthday party. It is an alright episode... there is definitely better ones.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Tales from the Darkside: Season 1
The Word Processor of the Gods
Richard Hagstrom is disgusted with how his life has turned out until his nephew, Jonathan, gives him a homemade word processor. Quickly learning he can rewrite his life, Richard finds fantasy is sometimes a harsh reality.

My Thoughts:
This is a show that I never watched when it originally aired. But it was suggested to me by more then one person. In this episode the birthday is barely mentioned... as the man in it is basically alone. His own family not really caring about him. The only gift he gets is from his nephew who we learn died (along with his entire family) after making this home made word processor. A word processor that can do things no other word processor can do. I enjoyed this story very much... which really don't come to much of a surprise to me as it was written by Stephen King. One of my favorite writers.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4
A New Man
At Buffy's 19th birthday party, Giles has a realization. He is an unemployed, middle-aged man hanging around with a bunch of teenagers. He feels even worse when he finds out that he is the only one who doesn't know about Riley and the Initiative. Feeling useless and insecure, he runs into Ethan Rayne, but the confrontation ends in drinks at the local pub rather than the usual fisticuffs. The next morning, Giles looks in the mirror and sees a massive Fyarl demon looking back at him.

My Thoughts:
This has never been one of my favorite episodes. I would say it is somewhere between fair and good. For one thing I never liked the character of Ethan Rayne. He is one character that really bored me. Thankfully you only see him a couple times throughout the series. Though it was fun to see Giles as a demon unable to communicate with the gang.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

A Haunting: Season 2
Ghost Soldier
A single mother of two girls discovers a photograph of her ex-boyfriend's brother, who died in the Vietnam. Soon the dead soldier is haunting her house.

My Thoughts:
This is a documentary series about supposed true hauntings. This episode tells the story of a couple that breaks up... but decides to remain friends. After he moved out she finds a picture of her ex's brother who died in the Vietnam War. Since her ex's birthday is coming up, she decides that it would be a perfect gift to blow up the photo and frame it to give to him. But he refuses the gift. That very night... once she returns home with the picture strange things start to occur. And it soon becomes apparent she is being haunted by the soldier in the picture. It is a good episode... but not as good as many I have seen so far. The series contains four seasons... and 2 movie length pilots. So far I seen the 2 pilot and just over the first 2 seasons.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 5
Blood Ties
The Scooby Gang discusses plans for Buffy's birthday and dealing with Glory. Giles reveals that Glory is the god of a demon dimension and in order to stay in human form, she needs to suck energy from humans, leaving them insane. The gang starts asking questions about The Key and Buffy finally breaks down and tells them the truth about Dawn.

My Thoughts:
A good episode. This season with Glory is a good season... but not what I would call a favorite. I liked how Michelle Trachtenberg portrayed Dawn in this episode... where she finds out the truth about herself. And even though I didn't care as much for this season as I did some of them... I must admit all the fights with Glory (including the one in this episode) were always good.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Medium: Season 3
Ghost in the Machine
After Allison gets Joe a camcorder for his birthday, her excitement turns to dread when she starts seeing disturbing images through it connected to a murder case.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode. One I really enjoyed... but it is far from perfect. I mean come on... what is the chances that she ends up with the same camcorder that the murder returned? I know I can usually suspend believability on such a thing... but it don't really feel quite right on this one. But other then that.. I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Smallville: Season 4
Spell
As Clark and Lois arrange a surprise 18th birthday party for Chloe, Lana receives a mysterious book that belonged to her French ancestor Isabel, who was burned as a witch in the 1600's. Through the book, Isabelle possesses Lana's body and she resurrects two other witches in the bodies of Chloe and Lois. The trio set about tracking down the Kryptonian Stones, spelling trouble for Jason, Lex and Clark.

My Thoughts:
Definitely not the best episode out there... but I enjoyed it some. Of course the girls looked great in this one. But I never did care too much for the Isobel storyline in Smallville.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Tru Calling: Season 2
In the Dark
When the lights go out during a surprise birthday party in the morgue, Tru hears someone asking for help-but due to the darkness, she has no idea who needs to be saved.

My Thoughts:
This is one of my all-time favorite short lived TV Series. I really enjoyed this episode a lot. The fact that she didn't know who it was that called her name really added something to the episode.  Gave it a bit extra mystery.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

I Love Lucy: Season 2
Lucy's Last Birthday
A forlorn Lucy thinks everyone has forgotten her birthday. In Central Park, she meets "The Friends of the Friendless," then marches into the club with her new buddies.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode. Though I do like the Little Ricky's Birthday with Superman episode better. This episode shows what kind of fun you can have with a surprise birthday party.  Just the thought of someone making a fool out of their self on their birthday is a fun idea. Though I didn't care much for the "Friends of the Friendless" idea. This is also the episode that Ricky puts lyrics to the "I Love Lucy" theme song.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

NCIS: Season 3
Ravenous
A serial killer is suspected of murder after a missing Marine's dog tags are discovered in a national forest.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode. It has a good storyline... and a good pace. I had to laugh at Tony when he saw how that woman he was flirting with didn't shave (her armpit hair and leg hair was twice as long as mine!). He thought fast... and I don't blame him! This one works into the birthday theme because it is Abbey's (my favorite character!) birthday... and she is not happy... as she believe Gibbs (who she looks up to as a father figure) forgot her birthday throughout most the episode. The above picture is of Abbey, the goth forensic scientist, opening the gift Gibbs left when he snuck in her office when she wasn't looking. She opens it and says it is perfection... but we never get to know what it is he got her.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5