RANKING KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER EPISODES FROM FIRST TO LAST

I’ve written before about my love for the TV show THE NIGHT STALKER or KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER. http://rgdinmalaysia.xanga.com/666925978/the-night-stalker-as-case-in-point-of-something-being-as-good-as-we-remember/  Now all the episodes are up on youtube and I have been watching them the last few weeks.  I’ve come up with a list ranking them in order.

Some notes....

THE ZOMBIE, THEY HAVE, and SPANISH MOSS are basically tied for number one. THE ZOMBIE and SPANISH MOSS are truly scary.  Both have gripping conclusions (Kolchak in a junkyard, Kolchak in the sewer).  THEY HAVE is also a great episode containing all of the elements that made the series great – humor, suspense, Kolchak’s relationship with Vincenzo and the police.  I love the alien I just wish he was not invisible for the whole episode which Is why I don’t rank this episode number one by itself. All three of these episodes are very inventive and well written.

As is HORROR IN THE HEIGHTS which is many fans’ favourite episode.  It is great perhaps the most original episode and features maybe a tad more humor than other episodes.  It also showcases one other strength of the show - great guest appearances In this case Phil Silvers.  THE SENTRY, the last episode, gets bashed in Stephen King’s book DANSE MACABRE but I think it’s a good premise and well done.

For the middle group, MR RING deserves notice because it is one of the few episodes where we feel sorry for the monster.  TREVI, BAD MEDICINE, and FIREFALL are truly creepy episodes.  KNIGHTLY is not so creepy but has hilarious characters.  DEMON, LEGACY, and CHOPPER, are not so creepy but strong nonetheless.

Of the bottom group, THE VAMPIRE and THE RIPPER rehash storylines from the two telemovies that came first although THE VAMPIRE at least has a good death scene for its villain. PRIMAL SCREAM was just not a good premise execution once or idea wise.    

Lately, I’ve been thinking of doing some fan fiction for Kolchak.  I have plenty of ideas but don’t have the time.  Maybe one day....here’s the list:

1.)      The Zombie

2.)      They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be

3.)      The Spanish Moss Murders

4.)      Horror in the Heights

5.)      The Sentry

6.)      The Werewolf

7.)      Mr R.I.N.G

8.)      The Trevi Collection

9.)      Bad Medicine

10.)  Firefall

11.)   The Knightly Murders

12.)  Demon in Lace

13.)  Legacy of Terror

14.)  Chopper

15.)   The Energy Eater

16.)  The Devil’s Platform

17.)   The Youth Killer

18.)   The Vampire

19.)   Primal Scream

20.)   The Ripper