MST3K: Season 9 Wrap-up

Fixing their attention on the good and the beautiful.

I'm watching all of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes in order. More about that here and here.

So far, we've done the KTMA season, as well as the first nine national seasons. That means we have only one more to go.

This season was a short one. Not six-episode Season Seven short, but still, a short season. When The Comedy Channel first picked up the show, the first two seasons were 13 episodes each. They then went to 24 episodes for the next four seasons. Then came Season Seven and the movie. Then the Sci-Fi Channel picked them up with a 22-episode order. Now, back down to 13 episodes. But, there would be a Season Ten, which we'll get to soon enough.

I had seen most of the episodes that aired, but just barely. "Most" means more than half. And I had seen seven of the 13 episodes. So, most, but just barely.

Which ones were new to me?

• Episode 901: The Projected Man
• Episode 903: The Pumaman
• Episode 905: The Deadly Bees
• Episode 906: The Space Children
• Episode 909: Gorgo
• Episode 912: The Screaming Skull

To be honest, I'm not sure about that last one. I may have seen The Screaming Skull years, but I can't say with certainty. If I did, it didn't really impress me.

It's not coincidence that most of these haven't been released on home video. One of them, Episode 909: Gorgo, aired on just one weekend. Another, Episode 906: The Space Children, only aired four weekends. I'm not sure why I missed the other four. Probably scheduling. I had other things happening when they aired.

However, one of the episodes that's never been released (not listed above), I have seen, and have seen it a lot. And love it.

"This is where the fish lives."

Helping the Delta Knights in their quest.

This season did have four of my all-time favorite episodes, each of which included memorable lines or riffs:

• Episode 902: The Phantom Planet - "Every year of my life, I grow more and more convinced that the wisest and the best is to fix our attention on the good and the beautiful, if you just take the time to look at it."
• Episode 908: The Touch of Satan - "This is where the fish lives."
• Episode 910: The Final Sacrifice - "Rowsdower!"
• Episode 913: Quest of the Delta Knights - "I'm coming!"

Must-see episodes. Among the best ever done on MST3K.

The other three episodes, a lot of people like:

• Episode 904: Werewolf
• Episode 907: Hobgoblins
• Episode 911: Devil Fish

Don't misunderstand me, those aren't bad episodes. They just aren't my favorites.

Season Nine was a very good season. Not quite as good as Season Eight, but only because it was a lot shorter; nine episodes shorter.

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