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Post by moonscar on Dec 12, 2021 3:23:53 GMT -5
Season 1 - The Phantom of the Country Music Hall
This episode feels most like a "Where Are You" caper to me. For a good chunk of the runtime it's just the gang exploring a seemingly haunted location looking for a friend of theirs, that's gone missing. It's a fun mystery but the only thing really lacking are the villains - even claiming there's a phantom in the place seems rich since all that ever happens is the lights go out and some instruments get moved. Still, Jerry is a fantastic guest and the creepy setting carries most of this episode. It's one I go back to frequently.
Season 2 - The Exterminator
This was a bit of a trickier decision as I don't really feel there's a true hidden gem from S2. With that said, though "The Exterminator" never really gets a mention and it's a good old haunted house story with a dozen random monsters after the gang (as is often the way with TNSDM). A lot of the action does drag on but I love the reveal that it's all been Lauren Chumley trying to scare them off, while him and his "butler" make a Z Grade movie in the basement. Don Adams brings a lot of charm to the mystery, too. Haven't been watched this one in ages but I do always enjoy it!
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Post by Doo on Dec 12, 2021 11:26:53 GMT -5
I definitely agree on "The Exterminator," and I would maybe add "The Spirit Spooked Sports Show" as well. Both episodes have amazing settings and the guest stars bring a lot of charm to their episodes. I will admit I have never been a fan of "The Phantom of the Country Music Hall" just because of the lack of villains, and the talk of the "phantom" throughout the episode that just turns out to be nothing, which I found disappointing.
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Post by matt on Dec 12, 2021 11:45:09 GMT -5
Season 1 - The Phantom of the Country Music Hall This episode feels most like a "Where Are You" caper to me. For a good chunk of the runtime it's just the gang exploring a seemingly haunted location looking for a friend of theirs, that's gone missing. It's a fun mystery but the only thing really lacking are the villains - even claiming there's a phantom in the place seems rich since all that ever happens is the lights go out and some instruments get moved. Still, Jerry is a fantastic guest and the creepy setting carries most of this episode. It's one I go back to frequently. Season 2 - The Exterminator This was a bit of a trickier decision as I don't really feel there's a true hidden gem from S2. With that said, though "The Exterminator" never really gets a mention and it's a good old haunted house story with a dozen random monsters after the gang (as is often the way with TNSDM). A lot of the action does drag on but I love the reveal that it's all been Lauren Chumley trying to scare them off, while him and his "butler" make a Z Grade movie in the basement. Don Adams brings a lot of charm to the mystery, too. Haven't been watched this one in ages but I do always enjoy it! Definitely agree with The Phantom of the Country Music Hall. Not just because I love the city of Nashville, which does help lol. It just has to be one of the most fun episodes, and a very unique take to the formula I like the Exterminator as well. It’s never been one of my favorites but it is some good fun and worthy of a mention. Haunted Showboat, Spirited Spooked Sports Show, and Haunted Candy Factory are all episodes I enjoy that don’t get mentioned all that much either. The only episode this season I really don’t like is Mystery in Persia |
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Post by matt on Dec 12, 2021 11:48:57 GMT -5
and the talk of the "phantom" throughout the episode that just turns out to be nothing, which I found disappointing. That’s actually one of my FAVORITE details of the episode. It is a villain through threats rather than physical form. Every time something happens to someone, it happens in the dark without sight. There is no actual phantom, which makes it very unique And the people responsible for it are hidden blending in with the decorations. It provides for a really creepy atmosphere similar to The Backstage Rage where it really enhances the creep factor of the episode by not necessarily seeing the villain(s) all that much. They could be anywhere |
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Post by Ark on Dec 13, 2021 2:39:34 GMT -5
I myself didn't appreciate the Juneberry Don Knotts episode until just recently. I've had years of watching The Andy Griffith Show in-between and realized how clever it is and that it's really Don voicing himself too!
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Post by Doo on Dec 13, 2021 12:26:23 GMT -5
and the talk of the "phantom" throughout the episode that just turns out to be nothing, which I found disappointing. That’s actually one of my FAVORITE details of the episode. It is a villain through threats rather than physical form. Every time something happens to someone, it happens in the dark without sight. There is no actual phantom, which makes it very unique And the people responsible for it are hidden blending in with the decorations. It provides for a really creepy atmosphere similar to The Backstage Rage where it really enhances the creep factor of the episode by not necessarily seeing the villain(s) all that much. They could be anywhere I hadn't thought about comparing it to "The Backstage Rage," but I like that interpretation of it! I can see how it would feel even scarier to have all this stuff happen out of sight with no actual villain responsible. I think I was expecting a physical villain and felt let down by the lack of one as a kid, which admittedly has probably shaped my negative opinion on the episode now haha. |
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Post by matt on Dec 14, 2021 10:44:11 GMT -5
That’s actually one of my FAVORITE details of the episode. It is a villain through threats rather than physical form. Every time something happens to someone, it happens in the dark without sight. There is no actual phantom, which makes it very unique And the people responsible for it are hidden blending in with the decorations. It provides for a really creepy atmosphere similar to The Backstage Rage where it really enhances the creep factor of the episode by not necessarily seeing the villain(s) all that much. They could be anywhere I hadn't thought about comparing it to "The Backstage Rage," but I like that interpretation of it! I can see how it would feel even scarier to have all this stuff happen out of sight with no actual villain responsible. I think I was expecting a physical villain and felt let down by the lack of one as a kid, which admittedly has probably shaped my negative opinion on the episode now haha. Yeah childhood experiences can definitely shape stuff like this. Main reason why Foul Play in Funland is one of my least favorite WAY episodes when it would probably be one I love if I first watched it nowadays It’s about 75/25 for me on recovering reputations. Examples would include Backstage Rage and Phantom of the Country Music Hall for me as I really have come to appreciate the unique approaches and the atmosphere they set up Heck, even FPIF has made up some ground. I wouldn’t consider it last or even bottom 3 in the series anymore |
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Post by moonscar on Dec 15, 2021 2:39:03 GMT -5
Heck, even FPIF has made up some ground. I wouldn’t consider it last or even bottom 3 in the series anymore My man! "Foul Play" was strangely enough one of the very last WAY episodes I seen I distinctly remember being so happy when I realised it was an episodes I'd never seen before I was sure I'd watched them all, by this point. I think it's definitely true that your childhood experiences with the episodes help shape how you feel about them. I remember watching The Phantom of the Country Music Hall one rainy night at my Gran's house when I was about 6/7 y/o. I can never separate that memory from the episode so it boosts uo the nostalgia factor, somewhat. |
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