Throwback Thursday: ‘Castle,’ ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ ‘The Riches,’ and ‘Big Love’

March keeps on marching with our Throwback Thursday for March 7th-13th. Most of the content this week has occurred in the last few decades which is always kind of cool to see.

In the land of TV Moments, we look at Wes’ entrance exam to Starfleet Academy on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Then there is the explosive battle at Mount Weather on The 100‘s Season 2 finale.

Even the premieres are fun and exciting to look back at. All the shows on our list are no longer running and yet, they are still popular amongst TV fans.

We are talking shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Castle, and Big Love. 

Fasten your seatbelts…it’s going to be a bumpy ride through TV history.

Major TV Moments:

Wes Takes Starfleet Academy Entrance Exam (Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 Episode 18, “Coming of Age”) (March 12, 1988)

From the moment the first episode aired, Wes Crusher has captivated audiences with his level of understanding and intelligence despite his age. Even Data has said that there is something remarkable about him — which is a lot coming from an Android.

Ever since Wes has shown a desire to be a member of Starfleet and join the Captain’s crew aboard the Enterprise. For most of Season 1, he is relegated to ensign and learns by doing alongside members of the engineering crew. 

However, during “Coming of Age” Wes finally gets the opportunity to take the challenging exam to enter Starfleet Academy and train to become a full member of the crew. Unfortunately, his first attempt at the exam is not successful, but that doesn’t stop him from continuing to try.

In later seasons, he is successful and moves on to become a Starfleet Cadet.

Agent Stillwell is assigned to Voight (Chicago PD Season 1 Episode 8, “Different Mistakes”) (March 12, 2014)

For most of Season 1 of NBC’s hit drama, Chicago P.D. Detective Voight is under the surveillance of internal affairs. He’s a former dirty cop who’s now trying to make good and bring justice to the streets of Chicago, but IA doesn’t trust him yet. 

So, they assign Agent Stillwell — played by Ian Bohen — to keep tabs on the rule-bending officer. Stillwell antagonizes Voight because he isn’t so easily manipulated or emotionally swayed like much of the other officers in Voight’s department.

This marks the start of a very tense time during Voight’s life and makes for great dramatic tension onscreen. Agent Stillwell sticks around for the rest of Season 1 much to Voight’s chagrin.

By the end of Stillwell’s tenure, he and Voight have reached an understanding of one another that is based upon mutual respect. Voight shows him what he has to do in order to be successful at keeping the streets of Chicago safe.

Battle of Mount Weather (The 100 Season 2 Episode 16, “Blood Must Have Blood: Part 2”) (March 11, 2015)

During the first part of this two-part season finale, Clarke had thought she was working in tandem with Lexa — finally. However, during “Blood Must Have Blood: Part 2” Clarke realizes she must move against Mount Weather on her own.

This stand against the people of Mount Weather has consequences that reach long beyond the episode’s final moments. While some of Clarke’s people stand with her there are quite a few who don’t agree, and this completely changes their relationship with her. 

By subjecting the residents of Mount Weather to radiation the Sky People are guilty of murdering both guilty and innocent lives — something Jasper never forgives them for, considering his girlfriend Maya is killed. 

While it successfully rids the Sky People of their enemies in the mountain, they still have to contend with the Grounders who are now upset at the shift in balance this attack caused. 

TV Premieres:

This week the premieres are a bit more on the obscure side, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still fun to look back on.

Who can forget the iconic show, The Riches, about a gypsy family led by Eddie Izzard (Hannibal) and Minnie Driver (Speechless) which also introduced a wider audience to the talents of Noel Fisher (Shameless)? Or Bill Paxton’s memorable turn as Bill Henrickson on Big Love.

Of course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer will live on forever due to its extremely loyal fanbase. And fans still swoon over Castle and Beckett from Castle.

Here are a few TV shows that premiered this week in TV History:

• 1976 – Family
• 1978 – The Incredible Hulk
• 1989 – COPS
• 1993 – Beavis and Butt-head
• 1996 – Muppets Tonight
• 1996 – The Dana Carvey Show
• 1997 – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• 1998 – Significant Others
• 2002 – The Shield
• 2005 – Fat Actress
• 2006 – The Unit
• 2006 – Big Love
• 2007 – The Riches
• 2009 – Castle
• 2014 – Resurrection
• 2015 – The Returned

Tell-Tale TV Archives:

This week we have a nice variety of content for you to check out. 

First and foremost we have a feature from 2016 about how our TV opinions can grow and evolve. Then in 2018, we announced the exit of Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw from Grey’s Anatomy.

Finally, last year our fearless leader Ashley Bissette Sumerel shared with us her 15 most influential TV women.

2016

When Our Opinions Of Our Favorite TV Shows Evolve… And Surprise Us

2018

Grey’s Anatomy: Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew to Exit Series After Season 14

2020

Ashley’s 15 Most Influential Female TV Characters

 

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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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