Throwback Thursday: ‘Watchmen’, ‘Once Upon a Time’, ‘Battlestar Galactica’, and a ‘Dexter’ Proposal
It’s crazy when we think about how fast October has passed us by. This week’s Throwback Thursday looks at the week of October 18th through 24th.
This week we have a few exciting premieres lined up for you. Starting with classics like The Electric Company and Roseanne and going all the way to Modern Love and Watchmen.
As for TV Moments, we have a couple of iconic proposal scenes from fan-favorite shows ER and Dexter. Then there is the ever-popular Supernatural episode titled, “Yellow Fever.”
Fasten your seatbelts…it’s going to be a bumpy ride through TV history.
Major TV Moments:
Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday Engagement (ER Season 7 Episode 2, “Sand and Water”) (October 19, 2000)
On this episode, Mark and Elizabeth struggle with how to define their relationship; and it comes down to Mark wanting Elizabeth to move in with him.
When he finds an apartment he likes he takes her along to show it to her as well. She falls in love with it and doesn’t seem all that surprised when he proposes they share the apartment with each other.
However, his next move does take her off guard when he pulls out a ring and asks her to share everything with him for the rest of their lives. Elizabeth doesn’t even hesitate to emphatically tell him yes.
This moment is a big one for ER because there aren’t too many moments that are pure joy especially in the lives of the core cast. These two have been a match made in heaven from the moment they met, so it gives fans so much joy to see them come together in marriage.
Dexter Proposes to Rita (Dexter Season 3 Episode 4, “All in the Family”) (October 19, 2008)
When a show’s main character is a serial killer who struggles to genuinely feel and understand basic human emotions it comes as quite a shock that he has a serious romantic relationship. What’s even more surprising is when he shows that this romantic relationship actually means something more to him.
Dexter proposing to Rita is memorable for anyone who knows the show because it makes us realize that if he, of all people, can feel that unwavering sense of love, compassion, and loyalty for another human there’s still hope out there for us. He even includes her children in the proposal which again is fodder for our melted hearts.
His words about wanting to be united together in marriage, not because of financial responsibility, but because he never wanted to miss a pizza night or a trip for ice cream ever again makes not only Rita cry but fans as well.
Usually, proposals have a level of emotional output from both sides of the coin, but with Dexter deadpanning his words and Rita crying it somehow feels much more emotional than any other proposal in the history of TV.
Dean Winchester, Scaredy Cat (Supernatural Season 4 Episode 6, “Yellow Fever”) (October 23, 2008)
Supernatural is usually a show that means business — all serious and no play. However, every once in awhile they throw caution to the wind and do a comedic style episode.
Such is the case of “Yellow Fever.” Fans may not remember the finer details of the case the brothers are working on, but they do remember the moments that make them laugh out loud.
Dean Winchester isn’t afraid of anything so for him to catch a “ghost sickness” that makes him terrified of his own shadow is the comedic stuff of legends. Not to mention, Jensen Ackles pulls out all the stops and makes every “spook” an over the top event.
Also, where would this fandom be without Dean’s air guitar rendition of Eye of the Tiger?
Premieres:
As October winds down the premieres also start to dwindle a bit. However, there are still many shows worth mentioning this week.
Anyone who has ever known fandom culture will be excited to know that this week marks the premiere of such favorites as Torchwood, Once Upon a Time, Battlestar Galactica, and Watchmen. We also can’t forget big-name shows such as Roseanne and White Collar.
Here are a few TV shows that premiered this week in TV History:
- 1971 – The Electric Company
- 1988 – Roseanne
- 1994 – Gargoyles
- 2000 – Boston Public
- 2004 – Battlestar Galactica
- 2004 – The Biggest Loser
- 2006 – Torchwood
- 2008 – Rita Rocks
- 2009 – The Jeff Dunham Show
- 2009 – White Collar
- 2010 – The Talk
- 2011 – Once Upon a Time
- 2019 – Modern Love
- 2019 – Watchmen
- 2019 – Daybreak
Tell-Tale TV Archives:
This week in our archives we were able to dig up some really fascinating, memorable articles for you.
Back in 2015, we announced the plans for a Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix. And in 2017, we created a list of Arrowverse characters we wanted to see on the newer show, Legends of Tomorrow.
To get us into the fast-approaching holiday spirit we found an interview from 2019 where our very own Esme Mazzeo spoke with Marla Sokoloff about all things Christmas movies. We hope you enjoy this travel through time as much as we did.
2015
2017
14 Arrowverse Characters Who Would Be Awesome on Legends of Tomorrow
2019
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What are some major TV premieres, finales, or moments you remember? Sound off in the comments below and your choice just might be featured in a future Throwback Thursday column.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.