Legends Episode Ranking System - COMPLETE

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Alright, Gordian Knot has been sent to you. I left you all the rounds that you requested. Of course, feel free to change anything I wrote around.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

And here it is, our next collaboration of "Alexander and the Gordian Knot."

ALEXANDER AND THE GORDIAN KNOT

MOAT: 6/10

For this moat, the players had to take a rope, swim across the moat with it, and then wrap the rope around the pole, so their partner can walk across the bottom rope. This moat was rather quick, as the challenge was a lot different than all the other episodes that day. Prior to this moat, the first player crossed the moat by using the upper rope, and then their partner threw them the lower rope. But due to the extremely long moat in “The Silver Saddle Horn of Hannibal,” (the episode before this), the moat objective had to be changed. After a 30+ second moat, the Orange Iguanas, Blue Barracudas, Green Monkeys, and Silver Snakes advanced to the Steps of Knowledge.

LEGEND: 8/10

(Credits to "The Red Jaguars" for his contribution to this section)

Alexander the Great was one of the greatest conquerors in history. When he was 20, he became the King of Greece and successfully invaded Persia. Along the way, he came across a huge complicated knot tied to a wagon. It was called the Gordian Knot. According to legend, the person that could undo it would rule all of Asia. Instead of wasting time to untangle the Gordian Knot, Alexander took his sword out and cut through it with a single stroke. After conquering Persia, Alexander took over the rest of Asia until he reached the edge of the world. Believing that he conquered everything, Alexander decided to call himself a god. He was disappointed when there was nothing left to conquer though, and headed back to his home where he died in his sleep. One of his generals took the Gordian Knot and ended its way to the temple. Despite the unusual artifact, the story about the Gordian Knot is an actual tale. It was not some random tangled rope that the producers decided to tell a story about. For the most part, this legend seems pretty accurate compared to the real Gordian Knot story. I liked the amount of detail that the producers put in about Alexander's conquest too. However, they could've talked about the Gordian Knot a little more. It would've been nice to hear how Alexander struggled to untangle the Gordian Knot or something like that. There is nothing bad to say about this legend since it is based on an actual real life story.

STEPS OF KNOWLEDGE: 5/10

(Credits to "The Red Jaguars" for his contribution to this section)

The Orange Iguanas dominated the Steps of Knowledge by answering Olmec's first three questions correctly and reaching the bottom first. When Tim was answering the second question, you can hear him say "What was it again" before saying his answer. The Green Monkeys were pretty lousy in this temple game though. They got a total of 3 answers wrong. In Olmec's third question, the Green Monkeys boy answered "No" to it. The Silver Snakes got one wrong answer, but they were the second team to make it to the bottom step. Due to the Green Monkeys incompetence and the lack of competition, this round gets a pretty low score. However, the Orange Iguanas dominance saves this round a little bit from getting an even lower score.

TEMPLE GAMES: 6/10

(Credits to "The Red Jaguars" for his contribution to this section)

The temple games featured a matchup between the Orange Iguanas and Silver Snakes. On the Orange Iguanas, we are introduced to Tim, who was 12 and liked to play shortstop for his baseball team, and Retina, was was 13 and liked to do front and back flips off the diving board. The Silver Snakes featured Molly, who was 12 and wanted to become an architect in order to build herself a dream house, and her partner Bo was 14 and wanted to become a marine biologist. For the most part, the temple games were just average and the competition was not very exciting. The temple game sequence was sort of interesting at least The first two temple games were S1L7 exclusive. Nothing glaringly bad or exciting happened during this round.

The first temple game was titled "Alex's World". In this temple game, Tim and Bo had to grab a picture of Alexander the Great and climb up a mountain in order to take it to the other side. Once they were on the other side, then they had to place the picture on the globe and go back to get another one. The player that gets all 3 pictures of Alexander first or the player that is furthest along after 60 seconds will win. In the end, both Tim and Bo got 2 pictures. However, Tim was much further along after 60 seconds are up and the Orange Iguanas earn the first half-pendant. In the second temple game, Retina and Molly had to slide down a slippery slope on their bellies. The objective was to slide the furthest in 60 seconds in order to win. Molly was able to slide farther than Retina was able to, so she was rewarded the the half-pendant for this temple game. In the final temple game, the teams had to help rebuild one of the columns of a city that Alexander conquered. One player must jump up and place one of the rings on the column. Once they were done, they had to give their partner a chance to jump up or else both players might mess up if they move at the exact same time. The team with the most rings on their column after 60 seconds will win. This temple game was pretty sloppy, and both teams kept either missing their rings or struggling to climb up. Despite the sloppiness, the score was close with the Orange Iguanas winning 4-3. The final score is 1.5-0.5, and Tim and Retina enter Olmec's temple with 1.5 pendants.  

TEMPLE RUN: 5/10

All I can say about this run is “meh.” Tim goes in first and he takes the bottom floor in the temple. He moves pretty quickly through every room, and even tries the Holes of Python/Treasure Room actuator, which does not open. Tim also runs into two temple guards in both the Throne Room, and the Tomb of the Ancient Kings. The latter removes him from the temple with 1:52 left on the clock. It's also pretty amusing that when Tim is removed from the temple, it looks like he outright jumps out of the temple, ala Nick from “Henry VIII's Great Seal.” XD Retina goes in next, and she moves pretty slow. When she makes it to where Tim leaves off, she fails to take the Tomb/Shrine passage, and takes the ridiculously slow elevator instead. She makes it all the way to the Shrine, where she was not quite done assembling the monkey when time ran out. It should also be noted that Retina actually finds the hidden half pendant on the Shrine base, shortly after time runs out. All in all, this temple run was forgettable, and the team pretty much lost due to not taking any shortcuts. If Retina had used the Tomb/Shrine passage, or if it had been reverse order of players, this temple run probably would've been more successful.

FINAL VERDICT: 6.0/10

Overall, Gordian Knot was just an average episode. The temple games featured an interesting sequence of games used, and the legend was great, but the temple run was lacking a bit. Tim and Retina weren't bad players, but Retina's slow speed and lack of taking shortcuts is what cost this team dearly. While this episode is on the forgettable side, I still recommend this episode to anyone.

[The Red Jaguars]

Gordian Knot's score is kind of surprising due to how forgettable it is. But it really is not a bad episode in no way whatsoever. Just very forgettable. There is not much to say about this episode either. The legend was good and the Gordian Knot is a real life story. Not a made up legend about a tangled rope. The Orange Iguanas swept the Steps of Knowledge, and the temple games had a couple of unique games. The temple run was boring, but not a huge disaster. Retina really should've gone in first since she would've been taken out early and Tim would probably use shortcuts and not walk. Although I don't think Retina was a bad player, just a really slow one. Overall, Gordian Knot is an average episode. I see you updated the production day rankings and it finished higher than Shaka Zulu. Shaka Zulu ranked fourth that day, which is no surprise at all. The production day ended with a score thanks to Atahualpa and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Next up is a rather eventful episode for the wrong reasons - Silk Sash. I expect this episode to rank almost as low as obert the Bruce and William Tell. Maybe even lower. Silk Sash had a long moat crossing, the temple games with the weird as Green Monkeys boy, and the subpar temple run. That episode ranking should be interesting. And now we have 10 episodes left too. 

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yay, Top 10! Around this time a year ago, you only had what.... 10 episodes completed at most? Look at how far we've come since you revived this thread last summer. And yes, Mulan is next. Though since this episode sort of sucks, I can guess this one is gonna take a while to complete? I mean, look how long it took you to complete episodes like Golden Goblet, Silver Saddle Horn, etc.

[The Red Jaguars]

Mulan is much more memorable than Silver Saddle Horn and Attila the Hun, so I can probably crank that one out pretty quickly too. There's a lot of stuff that we can write for that episode. And I am much more familiar with it than the above episodes. I will be surprised if it cracks a 5-range too. I don't remember much good from it. And the Blue Barracudas were a disappointing team too. Luckily, our next two episodes (Polynesian Girl and Blackfeet Chief) will be decent watches.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Plus, with Silk Sash done, that will cover yet another production day. Though thanks to the likes of Leopard Skin Cloak and Snakeskin Boots, the whole production day shouldn't do THAT badly. And yes, there's a lot we can write about, in almost every round. But it's still so forgettable at the same time. Even when you look at the title, you just think "filler." Either way, if you really think you can churn it out quick, then I'll be expecting it in my inbox, say.... tomorrow? Whenever you get around to it of course.

[The Red Jaguars]

Attila the Hun and Silk Sash are going to ruin that day, unfortunately. That production day probably will end up with a low 6 score. I am pretty sure the rest of our episodes left will complete a different production day too. Well, Harriet Tubman and Blackfeet Chief are the only episodes left from the same production day. Other than that, we literally have 10 episodes left:

2x29 - The Silk Sash of Mulan
2x40 - The Priceless Portrait of the Polynesian Girl (I have pictures for this one)
2x08 - The Bone Necklace of the Blackfeet Chief (You have pictures for this one)
1x26 - The Helmet of Joan of Arc
2x27 - The Crown of Queen Nzinga
3x02 - The Comet-Embroidered Battle Flag of William the Conqueror (I have pictures for this one)
2x05 - The Walking Stick of Harriet Tubman
3x36 - The Dried Ear of Corn of Sojourner Truth
2x11 - The Imperial Purple Robe of Empress Theodora (I have pictures for this one)
1x08 - John Sutter and the Map to the Lost Gold Mine (You have pictures for this one)

I can knock out Polynesian Girl, Comet-Embroidered Battle Flag, Imperial Purple Robe, and Map to the Lost Gold Mine out quickly when we get to them. The only real painful episode left is Nzinga, which is both crappy and boring. The others shouldn't take much time. I won't be surprised if we are done before February is over.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Right, and out of those episodes, I'll only be able to send you only two episodes via PM, and you send the rest. Unless you think that's too much. I really wish I could send you more, but I just don't have the screencaps for them. And yes, besides Blackfeet Chief and Harriet Tubman, there's only one episode missing from all the other said production days. We have 22 production days ranked, and there were 30 production days total obviously. I think I got that right. Either way, we should be done by later this month, like you said.

EDIT: And by the way, you got Post #666 in this thread.

[The Red Jaguars]

Believe me, it only takes 5 minutes at most to take the pictures and upload them if I don't have them. And the only episodes neither you or I have is Queen Nzinga and Dried Ear of Corn. I can also look up the various screenshots I took for all these episodes over the years. And with 10 episodes left, we are almost at the finish line.  Although aren't there only 29 production days? Mostly because S1 had 9 different layouts and some of those layouts had 5 episodes. I am not sure how they did 5 episodes though in one day. And six temple runs in S1L5. 

[The Red Jaguars]

I am about to send you the Silk Sash review right now. The episode really did not take me long as I remembered most of the details about most of the rounds. And it looks like the overall score won't be as bad as expected. I have the temple games and final verdict sections that need a summary. I added the pictures also for this episode too. Other than that, I am about to send it to you now. 

[The Red Jaguars]

Time to move onto our 111th episode review that is complete. This time it features the retarded Green Monkeys boy, overzealous temple guards, and Jessie and Steven from Silk Sash.   The episode is actually not as bad as I expected it to be. It was a pretty memorable episode despite being filled with flaws. And I think the final score is pretty good too taken into account these flaws.

THE SILK SASH OF MULAN

MOAT: 3/10

The moat challenge for this episode had the players crawling across a series of ancient floating rings. When the moat challenge started, the first player had to crawl across each of the rings in order to reach the other side. Once they were there, their partner had to cross the same way. The first four teams to make it across and hit their gongs got to move onto the Steps of Knowledge. This moat was pretty painful to watch and very long too. It took the teams a long time to make it across. The worst part was that it seemed like it took forever for the last team to cross. Jessie of the Blue Barracudas struggled to cross in this moat. By the time the first three teams made it across (Silver, Purple, and Green), the Barracudas did not even have one player across yet.   After about a minute goes by, Steven hauls ass across the moat and the Blue Barracudas are the fourth team. The two losing teams did not even come close in this moat. Due to the long moat and the Blue Barracudas suckiness, the overall score is pretty low.

LEGEND: 8/10

One of the great heroes of early China was the peasant girl, Mulan, who in the mid-500's saved her father's life. For months, she farmed her family's land all by herself as her father was too ill to work. One night, as she was preparing her father's dinner, an army officer was knocking at Mulan's door. The general stated that the Emperor wanted all men to serve in the Imperial Army. Mulan's father could not work because he was sick. The general would not allow it and stated that Mulan's father will be punished if he doesn't join. Having no choice, Mulan's father tells her that he must go or else they will lose their farm. Mulan would not allow it, and chose to go in his place instead. Mulan dressed as a man and served in the army for 12 years before revealing her secret about being a woman. Word of her self-sacrifice spread all over China, and the Emperor was so impressed that he sent her a Silk Sash as a token of his gratitude. The Silk Sash ended up in Olmec's temple. Many people are familiar with Mulan due to the Disney move about her. While this legend was not really related to the movie, it was still an interesting historical figure to talk about. It would've been nice though for the legend to mention more about Mulan being in an army. Especially since she was considered one of the greatest heroes of China. This was an interesting legend that talked about an interesting historical figure.

STEPS OF KNOWLEDGE: 6/10

This round was pretty decent where it featured at least every team getting one right answer. However, nothing incredible stood out about this round. The male players on both the Green Monkeys and Blue Barracudas answered all three questions correctly. In the end, the Green Monkeys and Blue Barracudas made it to the bottom step in that order.

TEMPLE GAMES: 5/10

(Credits to "Purple Parrots Fan" for her contribution to this section)

The temple games featured a unique set up of games, but the results were way too one sided. It was obvious from the beginning the Blue Barracudas were gonna win the temple games. In the first game, Jessie and Timothy had to spin the giant sized Olmec wheels, to represent the 12 years Mulan was in the Chinese army. I've got to say, this temple game was so painful to watch. It was like Timothy was purposely trying to lose by spinning on the wheel too fast, and then fall off. Naturally, Jessie won this game fair and square, and Timothy didn't stop there. After LOSING the game, he stupidly waves to the camera in a ridiculous "Hi Mom!" kind of fashion. In the second game, Stephen and Jessica had to put a ribbon on Mulan's spitting horse. Both players won the game 2-2, making this game a tie. However, it was at this time the Blue Barracudas were leading the temple games 1-0.5, going into the final game. In the third game, the teams had to knock down three targets by pushing around their partner in a sack. Neither team was impressive in this game, as both teams were sloppy and couldn't get a good rhythm down. In the end, the Blue Barracudas won the game 2-1, earning them the full pendant, and earning them a trip to the temple with 2 pendants!

TEMPLE RUN: 4/10

This temple run probably featured the most over-the-top temple guards on the show. Seriously, every guard in this run were so hyper. Jessie goes in first for the Blue Barracudas, and she meets a temple guard right off the bat in the Crypt. She throws her pendant at the temple guard and it falls onto the ground. You can see the temple guard searching around for the pendant like a lost puppy. She slowly makes her way across the Pit of Despair, swings across, and enters Medusa's Lair. After slowly completing Medusa's Lair, she is removed from the temple by another rabid temple guard. Steven slowly enters and takes over from there. He smartly enters the Observatory from the Pit, but this is about the smartest thing he does in the temple. While in the Observatory, he takes a lot of time to assemble the Stone Column. After messing with it sometime, no new doors open. It was because the top piece of the column was never aligned correctly. He retreated back down the central shaft and into Medusa's Lair where he meets another temple guard. This time guard was growling at him and pulling on his arm for Steven's pendant. Kirk's line "The temple guard wants the Pendant! Give him the Pendant!" was hilarious. After slowly completing the Laser Light Room and Jester's Court, time runs out for this team in the King's Storeroom. Overall, this run was pretty lackluster and both players moved too slow. Steven was pretty incompetent too and he never assembled the Silver Monkey the right way. So while the team was pretty bad in this episode, the overenthusiastic temple guards make this run pretty memorable.

FINAL VERDICT: 5.2/10

(Credits to "Purple Parrots Fan" for her contribution to this section)

Overall, Silk Sash was just an average episode. Besides the interesting legend, and overzealous temple guards, the rest of this episode was lacking. Jessie and Stephen were not remarkable players in any way, and barely scraped by nearly the whole episode. And the annoying and attention-starved Green Monkey boy made this episode harder to watch as well. Besides the temple guards overzealousness, I don't recommend this episode to anyone, as it is really nothing special.

[The Red Jaguars]

My thoughts:
Silk Sash was a memorable episode for all the wrong reasons. The Blue Barracudas were honestly not an impressive team at all. Jessie did not even get across the moat while the other three teams were already across. Luckily, Steven hauled ass or else they would've gone home with the lame moat prize. The temple games were not much better either. The Green Monkeys boy was an idiot and he kept spinning his wheel so fast that he kept falling off. -_- And then, he makes this stupid face at the camera after the game is over. If the played the game the right way, no doubt that he would've won. And Steven barely won his game too. In the end, I guess it was not a bad thing that the Blue Barracudas won. I did not want to see the Green Monkeys in the temple anyways. The temple run is one of those runs where the team would lose no matter what order they went into the temple. Steven never put the stone column together correctly in this run. Had he done this, then this team might've had more success. If anything, this run was all about the guards. Jessie's first guard looking around for the half-pendant and the screaming temple guard in the Laser Light Room makes this episode one of the most memorable temple guard appearances on the show. Although I found the Great Seal guards to be more memorable. Overall, this episode loses a lot of points for having too many weak moments. But it is still memorable though and not as bad as William Tell or Robert the Bruce.

It looks like the Priceless Portrait of the Naked Girl is next.  This episode is really memorable and I have the pictures ready. It is one of those episodes that rank high on my list despite the team losing. I will be shocked if this episode ranks lower than a 7.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I personally hate Silk Sash, even just looking at the episode title bores me. I thought for sure this episode was gonna rank in the 4 range. But, it didn't. Oh well, can't wait for Priceless Portrait, at long last.

[The Red Jaguars]

Yeah, Polynesian Girl is the episode we almost skipped. Although we would've caught it eventually. It was a great episode all the way through, so anything less than a 7 would be a disappointing. Too bad Jim and Kristen loss because this would've been a top 10 episode for me if they won. I should have it ready by tomorrow. I already have the pictures uploaded and added. 

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, thanks to me accidentally deleting it from the list before. Though THAT could've made an interesting close out for this project. Oh well, we're at it now, and I'll expect it in my inbox by tomorrow at least.