# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/81 "2009-04-24T17:38:38Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > Fox got away with Captain Tightpant’s butt on Firefly. CW could get away with a peek at Dean, if Jensen’s down for it (though I’m not sure he would be. He’s suposedly pretty shy. Jared, however…) I suspect this would be acceptable as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/82 "2009-04-24T17:45:06Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > So we’re ignoring the Armen Tanzarian episode? I’m cool with that. I don’t think that one is that bad. The idea of Skinner being a punk who wanted to live up to somebody else is good, and so is the idea of him giving up on it for about 15 seconds. The imposter part and the ending are lame. Worst Simpsons episode not counting clip shows? It’s hard to argue with the panda one, which is called Homer vs. Dignity, and rightly so. I also thought Faith Off was really bad. Actually killing Maude was never a good idea in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/83 "2009-04-24T17:49:17Z")
The panda episode is so bad I couldn’t even finish watching it. Horrible. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/84 "2009-04-24T18:01:01Z")
Is **Homer vs Dignity** where Moe was becoming more a bad copy of Quagmire from Family Guy? ---
**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 24, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/85 "2009-04-24T18:20:27Z")
Wow, I don;t even remember **Homer vs Dignity**. Must have been really bad. Didn’t **Saddlesore Galactica** have CBG wearing a t-shirt saying, “Worst Episdoe Ever” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/86 "2009-04-24T18:36:19Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Didn’t **Saddlesore Galactica** have CBG wearing a t-shirt saying, “Worst Episdoe Ever” Ex_cuse_ me, but I think Comic Book Guy’s shirt was spelled correctly, thank you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/87 "2009-04-24T18:40:37Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > That one’s beyond terrible, but I believe the winner for most despised episode of the Simpsons goes to the panda rape episode. Someone on TV tropes suggested that the phrase Jump the Shark should be changed to Raped by the Panda. Having seen it, I’m inclined to agree. IIRC Flanders was one of the people in the crowd cheering the panda on as it raped Homer. I just thought that was interesting. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/88 "2009-04-24T18:57:13Z")
Wow, no hate for the series finale of Seinfeld? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/89 "2009-04-24T19:13:11Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Wow, no hate for the series finale of Seinfeld? Maybe people don’t think it meets the criteria of “otherwise well written series”? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/90 "2009-04-24T19:20:20Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I love the series but hate the “Heart of Gold” episode of _Firefly_. But–but it has _whores_! My vote for worst would be “Bushwacked”–just for the “Let’s Burn the Witch” cliche. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/91 "2009-04-24T19:26:59Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > So we’re ignoring the Armen Tanzarian episode? I’m cool with that. If the Simpsons ignore it, why can’t we? 😃 ---
**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 24, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/92 "2009-04-24T23:52:46Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > That one’s beyond terrible, but I believe the winner for most despised episode of the Simpsons goes to the panda rape episode. Someone on TV tropes suggested that the phrase Jump the Shark should be changed to Raped by the Panda. Having seen it, I’m inclined to agree. I have not seen that and… I’m very glad I haven’t. Not too long ago, there was a discussion here on what made classic Simpsons ‘great’ – that discussion could have been pretty short: no panda rape. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/93 "2009-04-25T00:00:46Z")
> [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > But–but it has _whores_! > My vote for worst would be “Bushwacked”–just for the “Let’s Burn the Witch” cliche. Except the “burn the witch” cliche was from the episode “Safe”. Bushwhacked was the one with the psycho Reaver-wannabe. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/94 "2009-04-25T00:25:56Z")
I agree that _Safe_ is the worst episode of Firefly (mostly because I’m really uncomfortable with how Simon’s snootiness makes Kaylee feel like a hick…that scene makes me cringe), but it has the redeeming moment of Jayne “reading” Simon’s diary. “Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we were kidnapped by hill folk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever.” Always cracks me up. ETA: Also: “Y’all see the man hangin’ out of the spaceship with the really big gun? I’m not saying you weren’t easy to find, but it was kind of out of our way and he didn’t wanna come in the first place. Man’s lookin’ to kill some folk. So really it’s his will y’all should worry about thwarting.” Oh, _Jayne_. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/95 "2009-04-25T03:11:27Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > Regarding Simpons, **Saddlesore Galactica** is concidered the all-time worst, right? That was a pretty horrible episode, but not as bad as the one where Bart and his friends formed a boy band and put subliminal messages into their songs to get people to join the navy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/96 "2009-04-25T03:16:45Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > That was a pretty horrible episode, but not as bad as the one where Bart and his friends formed a boy band and put subliminal messages into their songs to get people to join the navy. Saddlesore Galactica was a lot funnier than that one and didn’t feature any awful boyband guest stars, but I think a lot of fans hate Saddlesore because of the jokes at the expense of critical fans. You may remember [del]me from such filmstrips as[/del] that Comic Book Guy puts on the Worst Episode Ever shirt after Homer and the entire crowd tell him they don’t care about his objections to the plot. It’s an unambiguous message. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie show probably annoyed those people too, but that’s a better and funnier episode. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/97 "2009-04-25T09:26:17Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I’m really uncomfortable with how Simon’s snootiness makes Kaylee feel like a hick…that scene makes me cringe I know what you mean, but it’s supposed to make you cringe. It’s good writing. ---
**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 25, 2009, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/98 "2009-04-25T10:30:14Z")
I just watched Saddlesore Galactica on wtso. The jokes ranged from sort of funny to pretty bad, with a few that I thought were actually a bit clever or cute. Storywise though, it went from weak to quite atrocious. The episode really falls apart by the second half. Now, I haven’t watched -all- of Simpsons, especially not this decade. But I at least felt SG was watchable if a bit cringeworthy at places. Now to see if I can stomach Homer vs. Dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/99 "2009-04-25T12:38:40Z")
M_A_S\*H–The one with Alan Alda’s running commentary to the Korean family who didn’t understand English. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014/100 "2009-04-25T14:02:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 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. You’re so right about that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-single-episodes-of-otherwise-well-written-series/494014.md?page=6)