# Worst Single Episodes Of Otherwise Well Written Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014 "2009-04-22T20:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/41 "2009-04-23T15:07:51Z")
Arrested Development was very funny, very consistantly. But the episode with Martin Short was just plain annoying. If I get the show on DVD, I just skip that one. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/42 "2009-04-23T15:12:00Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Have you blocked out the steaming pile that was, “Grey 17 is missing”? > > [List of Babylon 5 episodes - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_17_Is_Missing) > Jeez that was bad. I know the main Garibaldi plot was bad, but the “B” plot with Delenn was good. Too bad it was attached to an otherwise bad episode. Because of this, I still think “Infection” and “TKO” are worse, with “Infection” being the absolute worst piece of shit in _Babylon 5._ It would be bad even if it was a _ST: Voyager_ episode! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/43 "2009-04-23T15:13:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Arrested Development was very funny, very consistantly. > > But the episode with Martin Short was just plain annoying. If I get the show on DVD, I just skip that one. I was going to post the same thing. Although I hated the whole Charlize Theron plot in the third season as well. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/44 "2009-04-23T15:30:58Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > “TKO” and “Infection” from Babylon 5. Both of them advance the overall plot arc in no way, have little to no character development, and are also pretty shitty on their own. QFT > [@AHunter3](#): > > Oldie but baddie: _Star Trek_ (the original series), “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”. > > Unwatchably bad. It makes “Spock’s Brain” look positively Shakespearean in comparison, it’s so awful. I like to pretend that Battlefield made more sense when it was first aired. Maybe it was a stirring call for racial equality in a troubled time. It’s a pleasant dream, don’t disturb it. > [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Have you blocked out the steaming pile that was, “Grey 17 is missing”? > [List of Babylon 5 episodes - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_17_Is_Missing) > Jeez that was bad. I have to agree with **bouv** that the Delenn plot in that episode was quite worthwhile. I like to pretend that the part taking place on Grey 17 was meant to be watched on fast forward (JMS’s comments support this interpretation). I don’t comment on the TNG episodes because a fair number of them were painfully bad. It’s like not quite like citing bad voyager and xena episodes (citing good ones is harder), but it’s close. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/45 "2009-04-23T15:51:02Z")
Some of the Ferengi-centered episodes of _Deep Space Nine_ were pretty bad; if I have to pick one I guess it would be “Profit And Lace”. The “Otherwise Well Written Series” caveat pretty well takes ST:VOY and ST:ENT out of contention. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/46 "2009-04-23T15:57:15Z")
> [@shy\_guy](#): > > I’m currently watching BSG for the first time and just finished up season 3. > > I agree that “Black Market” was goofy, but at least the concept behind it was cool and made sense. > > Instead I’d nominate any episode that’s primarily about Starbuck and Apollo being in love or whatever. Blargh. But then, I thought season 3 was pretty shitty overall. “Black Market” may have been bad, but “The Woman King” was even worse. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/47 "2009-04-23T15:59:58Z")
Futurama: A Pharaoh to Remember. Just 22 minutes of Bender being a jerk to everyone. But hey, it’s on a planet that somehow resembles ancient Egypt, and there’s tons of humor to be mined from that setting, right? Umm…no. South Park: A Million Little Fibers. Horrible and unfunny. One of only two episodes I can’t bring myself to re-watch(the other being Scott Tenorman). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/48 "2009-04-23T16:25:36Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Futurama: A Pharaoh to Remember. Just 22 minutes of Bender being a jerk to everyone. But hey, it’s on a planet that somehow resembles ancient Egypt, and there’s tons of humor to be mined from that setting, right? Umm…no. yeah that one kind of blows, but the one that comes to mind for me instantly is the one where Fryu drinks the Emperor of some water planet. For some reason I just never liked that one. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/49 "2009-04-23T16:51:22Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > “Black Market” may have been bad, but “The Woman King” was even worse. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/50 "2009-04-23T17:01:01Z")
I’m also just seeing _Battlestar Galactica_ for the first time (saw “Razor” and the first four eps of season 4.0 last night–I’m gonna go through cold turkey after my next Netflix shipment until season 4.5 comes out). “Black Market” was pretty bad, and “The Woman King” was not great, but “Unfinished Business” was the absolute stinker of the series (so far, anyway). SF shows should not be allowed to do boxing episodes. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/51 "2009-04-23T17:31:11Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Arrested Development was very funny, very consistantly. > > But the episode with Martin Short was just plain annoying. If I get the show on DVD, I just skip that one. I love Arrested Development but I have to agree. That’s definitely one of the series’ weaker moments. However, even the worst AD episode has some great stuff in it. I could watch that episode only for the scene in which Tobias listens to the recording of himself talking. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/52 "2009-04-23T17:42:09Z")
> [@Morgis](#): > > Speaking of _The X-Files_, I need to mention the episode “Home.” I guess it accomplished something by being memorable and shocking. The thing is, this seems to be the only episode that _X-Files_ haters have ever seen or heard about. This is the one they always bring up when you ask them what they didn’t like about the show. I am very surprised to see someone nominate this. It’s an excellent episode, one of the series’ finest, IMO. What about the writing did you think was bad? ---
**Author:** ![in\_hiding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c5a1d2/32.png) [@in\_hiding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/in_hiding)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/53 "2009-04-23T17:51:05Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > Disagreed, I actually think it’s a worthy ending. It puts a meaning to the Spike subplot episodes while being pretty epic and atmospheric. I agree, “Hard Luck Woman” was kind of the point of closure in the series - anything behind that just had to get ugly. And with past Spike had it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t end too well. This was done by Sunrise, after all. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/54 "2009-04-23T18:20:40Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > X-Files had a lot of lemons during its run, but I was particularly unimpressed by “The Field Where I Died”. Boring, pointless, and shamelessly piggy backing on the Waco debacle. Oh, and there was the Fluke Man one, which remained a kind of running joke for the duration of the show, in a “did we really shoot such a ridiculous episode ?!” way. You forgot the final episode, which was nothing more than the writers trying to explain all that came before, in clip-show format… and failing. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/55 "2009-04-23T18:41:16Z")
The first episode of Fawlty Towers was terrible. I almost wrote it off. But ,because of Cleese i gave it another chance. It got much better. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/56 "2009-04-23T18:50:26Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Futurama: A Pharaoh to Remember. Just 22 minutes of Bender being a jerk to everyone. But hey, it’s on a planet that somehow resembles ancient Egypt, and there’s tons of humor to be mined from that setting, right? Umm…no. Yeah, but it’s got one great scene: “We now commend the body of our great Pharaoh Hamentotep to the abode of the damned. The damned good-looking!” …Pharaoh commanded me to tell that joke at his funeral." The smile on his face after delivering the punch line was great. Otherwise, I agree. But the worst for me was How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back. Boring, and it even had a musical number. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/57 "2009-04-23T19:06:02Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I love every episode of every season of Red Dwarf (yes, even Meltdown), with one exception. The one episode I just can’t stand, is Camille. I keep trying to make myself watch it but I find myself getting irritated and I stop paying attention. Really? While “Meltdown” was far from perfect, I always thought the absolute worst hunk of “Dwarf” was the second half of “DNA”. The first half being pretty damned hilarious - it’s just when the CurryBeast shows up that the episode falls apart. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/58 "2009-04-23T19:43:00Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The first episode of Fawlty Towers was terrible. I almost wrote it off. But ,because of Cleese i gave it another chance. It got much better. I had a similar, though more drawn out experience with Newhart. I watched maybe the first three episodes then gave up. The characters were uninteresting, the plots were dull, and the jokes were unfunny. I accidently tuned into it a few years later and was surprised at how brilliant it had become. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/59 "2009-04-23T20:10:51Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I am very surprised to see someone nominate this. It’s an excellent episode, one of the series’ finest, IMO. What about the writing did you think was bad? I’m curious about this, too. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I think so highly of the writing of that episode, that I can’t help but wonder if it’s not a reaction to the subject matter instead. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/60 "2009-04-23T22:30:55Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > But the worst for me was How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back. Boring, and it even had a musical number. Really? HHRHGB is definitely in my top ten Futurama episodes. Granted, I’m a sucker for the bureaucracy gags, but there are tons of great lines still. I even liked the musical number. I am Bender, please insert girder? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=4)