# The one episode of a show you'd take to the desert island **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304 "2006-01-17T02:40:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/1 "2006-01-17T02:40:15Z")
The title pretty much says it. If you were being exiled to a desert island, or similar out of contact place, and could take just one episode, of one television show with you, what would it be? Not a whole season or series, _just one episode_. My favorite television show was Babylon 5. I would take an episode from the third season, “Passing Through Gethsemane.” Humor, tragedy, with a twist at the end that sure surprised me. I see something different each time I watch it, it depends on my mood. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/2 "2006-01-17T03:09:47Z")
“So-Called Angels” from **My So-Called Life**. Just plain beautiful (though I suppose it’s subject would be pretty depressing if you’re stuck all alone). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/3 "2006-01-17T03:27:36Z")
**Baker** pretty much called my choice. Barring “Passing Through Gethsemane,” I think I would choose either “Hush” or “Pangs” from _Buffy_, or “Not Fade Away” from _Angel_. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/4 "2006-01-17T03:27:58Z")
“Once More with Feeling”, from _Buffy_. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/5 "2006-01-17T03:29:49Z")
\*One \*episode? From a \*TV \*show? I’d shoot myself. None of them are worth it. But I suppose if I really had to, I’d pick some show like Conquest or MailCall or something and pick an episode that teaches me something. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/6 "2006-01-17T04:15:56Z")
I’d be happy with the pilot episode of Deadwood. TV writers could use it as a primer on how to introduce characters. Seth, Sol, Jane, Wild Bill, E. B., Ellsworth, Trixie, Dan, Johnny, Alma, Brom, Rev. Smith, and Charlie. With just a few lines and a bit of screen time, each of them were given a distinct personality that foreshadowed the rest of the season. Just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/7 "2006-01-17T04:27:55Z")
“Clash” of _Justice League Unlimited_. That’s the one in which Superman fights Captain Marvel. Easily one of the best animated action sequences of the last forever. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/8 "2006-01-17T04:36:24Z")
“Three Stories” from House. Just brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/9 "2006-01-17T04:42:25Z")
“Two Cathedrals” from _The West Wing_. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/10 "2006-01-17T04:43:22Z")
“Out of Gas”, from _Firefly_. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/11 "2006-01-17T04:54:52Z")
“Once More With Feeling” from Buffy. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/12 "2006-01-17T04:57:04Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > “Once More With Feeling” from Buffy. You’re the second person to mention that episode and you know, I’ve never seen a single episode. Maybe some time I should try catching it if it comes into syndication. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/13 "2006-01-17T05:01:26Z")
It’d be a toss up between the Farscape eps of **Revenging Angel** or **Won’t Get Fooled Again** ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/14 "2006-01-17T05:02:12Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You’re the second person to mention that episode and you know, I’ve never seen a single episode. Maybe some time I should try catching it if it comes into syndication. I’ll third it, (although I had to think really hard about whether I’d want OMWF, Not Fade Away, or Out of Gas) and you definitely should! ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/15 "2006-01-17T05:20:19Z")
“Cause and Effect” from _ST:TNG_. Adam ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/16 "2006-01-17T05:31:36Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You’re the second person to mention that episode and you know, I’ve never seen a single episode. Maybe some time I should try catching it if it comes into syndication. It’s a musical episode in the middle of the sixth season (that reveals a lot of key plot points, building on everything that came before), so it might not be the best jumping-on point for a new viewer. But then again, if you like musicals at all, it might quickly endear you to the characters and the writing. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/17 "2006-01-17T05:36:26Z")
Buffy for me, of course, but I’d choose _I Only Have Eyes For You_ from Season 2. Love, betrayal, heartbreak, forgiveness, [Meredith Salenger](http://www.wheelsoffdesign.com/hof/salenger/salenger8.jpg)… good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/18 "2006-01-17T05:40:36Z")
“Pine Barrens” from the Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/19 "2006-01-17T05:48:43Z")
The episode of _Saturday Night Live_ featuring Patrick Stewart. It’s important to laugh on a desert island. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304/20 "2006-01-17T05:59:27Z")
**Futurama** - “Jurassic Bark.” If you know the show, you know this episode. - Peter Wiggen [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-episode-of-a-show-youd-take-to-the-desert-island/340304.md?page=2)