Soultaker
Girl in Gold Boots
Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
Future War
Blood Waters of Dr. Z
Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues...
Track of the Moon Beast
Final Justice
Hamlet
It Lives By Night
Horrors of Spider Island
Squirm
Diabolik
Short
Girl in Gold Boots
Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
Future War
Blood Waters of Dr. Z
Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues...
Track of the Moon Beast
Final Justice
Hamlet
It Lives By Night
Horrors of Spider Island
Squirm
Diabolik
Short
Featured in DVD Sets
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 11
20th Anniversary Edition
Volume XIV
Volume XVII
Volume XXX
Volume XXXI: The Turkey Day Collection
Volume XXXVIII
Volume XXXIX
The Lost and Found Collection
One episode released on blu-ray
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 11
20th Anniversary Edition
Volume XIV
Volume XVII
Volume XXX
Volume XXXI: The Turkey Day Collection
Volume XXXVIII
Volume XXXIX
The Lost and Found Collection
One episode released on blu-ray
Three episodes released on VHS
I remember way back in August of 1999, my birthday around the corner, I was watching some show on the Sci-Fi Channel when a promo came up for the "Series Finale of Mystery Science Theater 3000" to be aired just mere days before I turned 15. It was the worst birthday present I ever received. Thanks, Sci-Fi.
But it was not meant to be. It's now in the history books that the show successfully relaunched 18 years later, but still for over a decade this was the final season of MST3K. It turns out that I was pretty lucky. Having become a fan during the Sci-Fi era meant I could backtrack and collect episodes that were new to me and discover the show's history. This process took years, and I am grateful for it, as it kept the show alive in my heart.
But even still, the series got ten seasons (eleven if you included the KTMA season) and lasted nearly 200 episodes. This is not a failure by any stretch of the imagination and an impressive feat by any television series standard. Yes, we wanted more, but for me it was hard to not be content with what I had.
In looking back over the "final" season of the classic series, there are very few "great" episodes, but there are also very few "bad" episodes. A bit of it is run-of-the-mill, but it's easy to take for granted just how consistently enjoyable the season was. The only episode to go above and beyond in my opinion was Soultaker, while most of the rest consist of quality comedy on some amusingly bad movies. Putting together my top three and bottom three was tough, because for each my first and second place slots were always a lock, while the third was a bit harder to consider because decent arguments could be made as to why certain episodes should be there. There was no question in my mind that Soultaker is the best of the season, and while it's not a close second I never really considered any episode other than Girl in Gold Boots for number two. I juggled Future War, Squirm, and Diabolik for the third slot, racking my brain with various reasons why each should get the bronze honor before ultimately deciding that A Case of Spring Fever put Squirm over the top. With the bottom three, there was never any question which episodes I disliked the most this year, but the problem was that there was never a third episode I disliked. I had to give it to an episode I enjoyed but liked the least, which feels like underselling something that's perfectly fine. But it had to happen. Sorry Merlin, but I had no choice.
Though if I were to place a counternote: as mentioned in my reviews, Hamlet is considered by many to be one of, if not the, worst episode of the series. I don't agree with this opinion, but if you do than the poor episode count does go up a tad.
Looking over the movie selection, the series seems to be making a bit of a move away from
black and white cinema and pushing more for color (something that would take full effect in the relaunch). The only black and white movies of the season are Hamlet and Horrors of Spider Island. The rest are more recent schlock, including 90's films Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders and Future War. There's southern rednecks to spare in Boggy Creek II and Squirm, while trashy Z-grade 70's man-turned-monster movies also become a theme with Dr. Z, Moon Beast, and It Lives By Night. Sci-Fi also eases up on their genre restrictions, allowing for films like Girl in Gold Boots, Final Justice, and Hamlet.
While those restrictions are lifted, Sci-Fi still pushes for story arcs in the host segments, like season 8 before it. In season 10 these arcs are more subtle however, as Pearl seeks to become a certified mad scientist. This storyline is fun, and often comes up with some wildly creative intros for the episodes. Unfortunately like the "Chase through time and space" arc it largely goes nowhere.
But if I were to conclude with any thought, the tenth season of Mystery Science Theater is a blast. There are a couple of lulls, but plenty of lols. I was happy with it being the final taste of the series we had, but in general it's a quality season to a quality show.
Top Three Episodes:
1. Soultaker
2. Girl in Gold Boots
3. Squirm
Bottom Three Episodes:
1. It Lives By Night
2. Track of the Moon Beast
3. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
I remember way back in August of 1999, my birthday around the corner, I was watching some show on the Sci-Fi Channel when a promo came up for the "Series Finale of Mystery Science Theater 3000" to be aired just mere days before I turned 15. It was the worst birthday present I ever received. Thanks, Sci-Fi.
But it was not meant to be. It's now in the history books that the show successfully relaunched 18 years later, but still for over a decade this was the final season of MST3K. It turns out that I was pretty lucky. Having become a fan during the Sci-Fi era meant I could backtrack and collect episodes that were new to me and discover the show's history. This process took years, and I am grateful for it, as it kept the show alive in my heart.
But even still, the series got ten seasons (eleven if you included the KTMA season) and lasted nearly 200 episodes. This is not a failure by any stretch of the imagination and an impressive feat by any television series standard. Yes, we wanted more, but for me it was hard to not be content with what I had.
In looking back over the "final" season of the classic series, there are very few "great" episodes, but there are also very few "bad" episodes. A bit of it is run-of-the-mill, but it's easy to take for granted just how consistently enjoyable the season was. The only episode to go above and beyond in my opinion was Soultaker, while most of the rest consist of quality comedy on some amusingly bad movies. Putting together my top three and bottom three was tough, because for each my first and second place slots were always a lock, while the third was a bit harder to consider because decent arguments could be made as to why certain episodes should be there. There was no question in my mind that Soultaker is the best of the season, and while it's not a close second I never really considered any episode other than Girl in Gold Boots for number two. I juggled Future War, Squirm, and Diabolik for the third slot, racking my brain with various reasons why each should get the bronze honor before ultimately deciding that A Case of Spring Fever put Squirm over the top. With the bottom three, there was never any question which episodes I disliked the most this year, but the problem was that there was never a third episode I disliked. I had to give it to an episode I enjoyed but liked the least, which feels like underselling something that's perfectly fine. But it had to happen. Sorry Merlin, but I had no choice.
Though if I were to place a counternote: as mentioned in my reviews, Hamlet is considered by many to be one of, if not the, worst episode of the series. I don't agree with this opinion, but if you do than the poor episode count does go up a tad.
Looking over the movie selection, the series seems to be making a bit of a move away from
black and white cinema and pushing more for color (something that would take full effect in the relaunch). The only black and white movies of the season are Hamlet and Horrors of Spider Island. The rest are more recent schlock, including 90's films Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders and Future War. There's southern rednecks to spare in Boggy Creek II and Squirm, while trashy Z-grade 70's man-turned-monster movies also become a theme with Dr. Z, Moon Beast, and It Lives By Night. Sci-Fi also eases up on their genre restrictions, allowing for films like Girl in Gold Boots, Final Justice, and Hamlet.
While those restrictions are lifted, Sci-Fi still pushes for story arcs in the host segments, like season 8 before it. In season 10 these arcs are more subtle however, as Pearl seeks to become a certified mad scientist. This storyline is fun, and often comes up with some wildly creative intros for the episodes. Unfortunately like the "Chase through time and space" arc it largely goes nowhere.
But if I were to conclude with any thought, the tenth season of Mystery Science Theater is a blast. There are a couple of lulls, but plenty of lols. I was happy with it being the final taste of the series we had, but in general it's a quality season to a quality show.
Top Three Episodes:
1. Soultaker
2. Girl in Gold Boots
3. Squirm
Bottom Three Episodes:
1. It Lives By Night
2. Track of the Moon Beast
3. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
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