MovieChat Forums > Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975) Discussion > Correct episode order?

Correct episode order?

posted 19 years ago by timfitz99
4 replies | jump to latest

Just started watching these, and wow, they're a lot better than I'd thought they would be! I liked them on the original broadcast, but I was 8 years old, so I figured they'd be a disappointment. It's actually pretty impressive how serious it is.

I was wondering, though, if the DVDs present the episodes in the correct order. Some reviews I read showed the original broadcast date in a different order, so I started watching that way, but the storyline seemed to jump back and forth that way. For instance, the astronauts talk about needing the laser drill from their spaceship a few times, then finally go get it. Following the release order, they talk about getting the drill AFTER they've gotten it.

I think the DVD order may be correct, just wanted to get a 2nd opinion...

[–] ItsMeSteve 18 years ago

Bill and Jeff talked about the laser after they escaped from Ape City with the humanoids, in episode 5 (Lagoon of Peril) they finally get it from the space capsule, in episode 7 (River of Flames), Judy asks them to bring it to the below world to cut a new opening for the volcanic lava to flow. They run out of power due to the last power cell being missing, but the gorillas inadvertently save the day by firing their howitzers on the volcano and the lava destroyed all of their military equipment. They used the laser in I think two more episodes to cut the rocks to make a fortress for the humanoids and again to save the Underdwellers from the gorillas' attack (episode 10, Invasion of the Underdwellers).

For the record, the correct order is:

FLAMES OF DOOM (pilot episode/Goodbye Judy Hello Nova)
ESCAPE FROM APE CITY (Zira and Cornelius befriend Bill/"Blue Eyes")
THE UNEARTHLY PROPHECY (Bill and Jeff find Judy with the Underdwellers)
TUNNEL OF FEAR (giant spider/Bill and Jeff ask the chimp couple for help)
LAGOON OF PERIL (Bill & Jeff get laser from spaceship/underwater creature)
TERROR ON ICE MOUNTAIN (the hot air balloon and Kygoor the giant gorilla)
RIVER OF FLAMES (Judy rejoins Bill and Jeff, Krador now a good guy)
SCREAMING WINGS (Zira and Cornelius meet Judy, she flies the airplane)
TRAIL TO THE UNKNOWN (humans move to New Valley, meet Ron Brent)
ATTACK FROM THE CLOUDS (that annoying monster-snake-bird-thing that wouldn't stop making that noise)
MISSION OF MERCY (plane needs fuel, Nova very sick, Judy gets serum)
INVASION OF THE UNDERDWELLERS (Gorillas frame Underdwellers, Urko suspended)
BATTLE OF THE TITANS (Bill & Cornelius return to Ice Mountain to get sacred book, Kygoor battles the snake-bird-reject-from-Godzilla thing)

On the back cover of the DVD, the episodes are listed in the order in which NBC first broadcast them, but on the discs themselves they are in the correct storyline order. Plus, Episodes 1-12 come with next-episode previews! All 13 episodes were fully restored as opposed to the ape head collection where just three of them were.

[–] gishpuppy-pk 18 years ago

All 13 episodes were fully restored as opposed to the ape head collection where just three of them were.

WTF? I feel ripped off now.

"Have you been living in a cave?"
(StuS 9/27/06)

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

Glad I didn't waiste my Money on the Ape Head Collection I have the First Collection of DVD's and the Return to the Planet of the apes next I will get the TV show have to waite a pay check :) great cartoon and love this planet close to the book Verson of the Planet