» Standalones

Not exactly sure if this is the best place for this thread, but it's the only forum that still remains empty, and I couldn't have that!

Last night was one of those nights when I just couldn't sleep. Took me 'til 4 a.m.! But while I was lying there, I got to thinking about The Pretender, how I haven't seen it in a while, how I should watch a few chocie episodes this vacation, and which I should watch. Then, that got me to more thinking.

I think most of us fans agree that the Centre storylines were far more interesting than most of Jarod's pretends. If I were to list my favorite episodes, most of them would probably be mostly, if not entirely, because of something that was going on in the Centre. This week's conspiracy, you know. But, there are also the standalone episodes, where little to nothing happens at the Centre. Now, I've never been able to figure out why, but there is one standalone pretend that I consider a favorite, up there with all the Centre or otherwise plot-strong episodes. And there's that one episode that I hate so much I never watch it.
So what's your favorite standalone? Least favorite? Why?

Hm...I'll have to do some serious thinking about this!

So which one do you hate so much you don't watch it?

Unhappy Landings.

I think there's that one episode that I can't stand in all my top shows. It's interesting.

Yeah, that's the Spam one, isn't it? As I recall that one had a few redeeming qualities, but just off hand I can't remember what they were.

Indeed! And I liked the Spam part! Also that was teh episodein which Miss PArker found out about SL-27. But I still never watch it, because I hate it that much. But the fact that the entire show has only one episode I can't stand is impressive to me. Buffy has three!

"Happy Landings" is not one of my favorites, but I don't dislike it enough to NOT watch it. I always need to see the Centre development part or I forget how they got from point A to point B in the plot. I have such a short memory, I can't just think, "In this episode the Centre part was..." I have to actually SEE it and then I usually say something like, "Oh yeah, I forgot that's how that came about!" Like I haven't watched all the episodes at least 10 times!

The pretend plot I always think is pretty lame and seems more like a contrived afterthought than an actual plot is the one where Jarod is helping the kid get over not rescuing his friend from the burning vehicle...Jarod pretends to get trapped under the jeep and the kid has to climb the mountain to get help. Is that in "Toy Surprise" where the Centre plot is really good, but the pretend limps (no pun intended) at best?

Yeah I usually have to watch all of the Centre plots to get it too, even though I've seen them all enough times like you! But as long as I remember what happened in the one episode, I'm good.

Yes, I do think that was lame too. I think the episode would have been better if it had been just the Centre on that one (it was Toy Surprise, yes). Though, the juxtaposition of Miss Parker climbing up the boiler (I think?) and the kid climbing the cliff is rather well done.

Do you have a fav though?

Oh yeah, we are agreed on Toy Surprise...whenever I watch that, I usually use the pretend part if I need to go do something quickly! Although I hate leaving and not watching Jarod...seems disloyal! So I don't always do it!

I have a least fave but it's not because of the ep itself but because MP is not in it...which I guess I can understand due to the storyline for the ep, but I just don't like the idea of her being out of an entire ep! You can probably guess which one....

And as for the fave, I am not really sure anymore, I think I will have to rewatch the entire series, if I am to come up with just one!

btw, this was a very good place for the thread!

Which one is Miss Parker not in? As I recall, that's one I like but do miss her not being in it...can't remember which one at the moment, though. Wait a minute...was it "Parole?" I loved that one!!! Mmmmm...naked chest!

I'm sure the reason they didn't just concentrate on the Centre plot in "Toy Surprise" was because they had to keep Jarod busy...otherwise there would be no way he would have stayed away from the Centre and just stood idly by while Miss Parker struggled with her situation. Their solution to this by having him involved in a pretend that paralleled the Centre plot was a good idea (the dual climbs were the best part of that, I think), but I think they could have put a little more effort into writing a pretend that was worthy enough to stand on its own even if it wasn't reinforcing the theme of what was going on at The Centre. If so, the episode would have not just been a good one, it would have been a great one!

I'm still thinking on which one is my favorite...it's a really hard choice and will take some serious thought.

Yep, it was Parole. I have mixed feelings about that one. I miss Miss Parker, obviously, but I do love the Jingle Bark, and I'm with mattali on the chest.

I'll have to watch Toy Surprise again and take a closer look at Jarod's pretend in relation to the episode's themes.

Well, my favorite of the standalones is Junk. I don't know why, but I love this episode.

I love "Junk" too!!! It is one of my favorites...especially when Miss Parker and Broots have their "Sydney, how could you?" scene with Sydney! Like what Miss Parker is always trying to do to Jarod is any better than what Sydney allowed to happen to him!!!

Haha! Never thought about it like that before but yeah, exactly.

Oh, and good to hear this is a good place for the thread!

Junk is a good choice! I think it is one of the best standalones, although I still have no idea which is my fave one!
Yeah MP conveniently forgets how much she tortures Jarod most of the time...she calls it 'all in a day's work' I suppose!

It's like when Miss Parker told Brigitte "Broots may be an idiot, but he's my idiot." She's very protective of her... I want to say friends, but I feel like she would reply with "I don't have any friends..."

I believe she told Thomas that once...and as he pointed out, all her mail is addressed to "Resident." She DOES have friends; she just won't admit it!

She did say that to Thomas, that's why I used it.

Yeah, there are a lot of things she won't admit! *mumbles something about turning points*

Ah, yes..."turning points"...you can't say Jarod didn't try his best to convince her of those! May he will be able to wear her down in the long run!

Hopefully he will!

Hopefully, we will get to see it!!!

Yes, hopefully we will!

Actually I think the word Tommy used is "occupant"...not to be a stickler!
I hope we get to see the turning point...and beyond too!

I believe you are correct, Miss Parker. A third of my mail is bills, a third is addressed "Resident," and the other third is addressed "Occupant." I just got the last two mixed up!!!

It's easy to get confused when it actually happens to you, I guess. I used to get mail addressed as "Occupant" when I lived in FL-not too sure about Resident but I guess if I stayed there long enough I probably would have remembered seeing that too. Do you ever open that kind of mail? I'm curious...

I only open them if I think there might be coupons in them! Some of them are adversements for sales at local stores...those are good to have especially if they are from stores at which I shop! The other stuff just gets tossed!

Makes sense! When I was in FL, I couldn't resist opening some if I couldn't guess what was inside but the credit card offers always got tossed.

Oh...in CP now, they use a different term most times
"Our friends at"
They're taking it to the next level!

I've started getting stuff which says, "To our Neighbor at..." I always feel like saying, "I'm NOT your neighbor!" which would not strictly be true in some cases since some of the stores are just down the road from me.

Hahaha! I don't get any of that (yet)