Poll: Shippiest Season 3 Episode
There are a lot of ways in which an episode of 30 Rock, or really any sitcom, can be "good." It can have a high density of gags, or a plot that is intrinsically funny (a subjective measure, for sure). The A story can cover for a lackluster writers' room plot, or all the subplots can come together into a beautiful whole.
A lot of that is subjective. It's pretty clear, however, when an episode succeeds in being faithful to its characters and their relationships. So: this is the third in a series of polls that asks: which is the shippiest moment of the each season? It doesn't have to be romantic, necessarily, as it rarely is: it has to respect the interaction between them and leave you with a warm feeling.
If Season 1 is the season where Jack "falls for" Liz, and Season 2 is the one where Liz gets to the same place, Season 3 is the "buddy movie" season. They both value each other, both recognize their importance in each other's lives, and the nice words and gestures flow pretty freely.
I recently went through a lot of old fanfic, and it's striking how late season 3 fanfic differs from late season 2. Over the year, the dominant theme shifts entirely from Jack pining for Liz to Liz pining for Jack.
Late Season 3 also gives us the first objectively bad Jack/Liz moment in "The Ones," where the "Liz is ugly" jokes start in earnest. It's an isolated incident in Season 3, but it would become an epidemic a year later.
Once again, you can see all of Season 3 condensed into 2 hours of Jack/Liz by downloading Part 1 and Part 2. [BTW, do people value these? If so, let me know in the comments.]
The nominees for Season 3 are:
"Do-over": This episode is packed with minor but incredibly warm moments, from the handshake/hug at the beginning to "I'm just happy seeing you in there." In the middle, we have the first explicit semi-romantic moment with the Kathy Geiss almost-kiss. It's the first decisive turn against the idea that they would take it in that direction.
"The One With the Cast of Night Court"- Another minor but very warm moment when Liz bails Jack out.
"Reunion"- A road trip story for them, with some good character development and honest talk between Liz and "Larry Braverman".
"Retreat to Move Forward"- Some nice friendliness during L.U.N.C.H., and the crazy bra lady incident is the first big Liz above-and-beyond moment.
"The Funcooker." Not a Jack and Liz episode at all, but "This is the best day ever" is delivered with such enthusiasm, and such a loving look from Tina Fey, that I had to include it.
"Apollo, Apollo." Also not a Jack/Liz episode, but included for one line: "Lemon, I honestly don't know what I would do without you."
"Cutbacks" Probably Jack's nicest deed of the season: Jack takes personal charge of her budget problems.
"Mamma Mia". Finding Jack's father is an objectively significant gesture.
Poll Season 3
A lot of that is subjective. It's pretty clear, however, when an episode succeeds in being faithful to its characters and their relationships. So: this is the third in a series of polls that asks: which is the shippiest moment of the each season? It doesn't have to be romantic, necessarily, as it rarely is: it has to respect the interaction between them and leave you with a warm feeling.
If Season 1 is the season where Jack "falls for" Liz, and Season 2 is the one where Liz gets to the same place, Season 3 is the "buddy movie" season. They both value each other, both recognize their importance in each other's lives, and the nice words and gestures flow pretty freely.
I recently went through a lot of old fanfic, and it's striking how late season 3 fanfic differs from late season 2. Over the year, the dominant theme shifts entirely from Jack pining for Liz to Liz pining for Jack.
Late Season 3 also gives us the first objectively bad Jack/Liz moment in "The Ones," where the "Liz is ugly" jokes start in earnest. It's an isolated incident in Season 3, but it would become an epidemic a year later.
Once again, you can see all of Season 3 condensed into 2 hours of Jack/Liz by downloading Part 1 and Part 2. [BTW, do people value these? If so, let me know in the comments.]
The nominees for Season 3 are:
"Do-over": This episode is packed with minor but incredibly warm moments, from the handshake/hug at the beginning to "I'm just happy seeing you in there." In the middle, we have the first explicit semi-romantic moment with the Kathy Geiss almost-kiss. It's the first decisive turn against the idea that they would take it in that direction.
"The One With the Cast of Night Court"- Another minor but very warm moment when Liz bails Jack out.
"Reunion"- A road trip story for them, with some good character development and honest talk between Liz and "Larry Braverman".
"Retreat to Move Forward"- Some nice friendliness during L.U.N.C.H., and the crazy bra lady incident is the first big Liz above-and-beyond moment.
"The Funcooker." Not a Jack and Liz episode at all, but "This is the best day ever" is delivered with such enthusiasm, and such a loving look from Tina Fey, that I had to include it.
"Apollo, Apollo." Also not a Jack/Liz episode, but included for one line: "Lemon, I honestly don't know what I would do without you."
"Cutbacks" Probably Jack's nicest deed of the season: Jack takes personal charge of her budget problems.
"Mamma Mia". Finding Jack's father is an objectively significant gesture.
Poll Season 3