User blog:Hogwild94/Top 9 Original UK Series

OK, so, with Toast and Nweston's blessings, I have decided to produce my own version of their Top 18 Series lists. Only, with my knowledge of the revivial and, especially, the international series severely limited, I intend to restrict myself to just the nine original UK series. I intend to try to rank these series on both personal opinions and objective thoughts, but a bit of bias may seep in occasionally, especially the later we go into this list. Also, I'll probably be winging it and writing on the spot quite a lot, so apologies if a lot of what I say doesn't quite sound right and/or gets repetitive.

So, let's do this...

9: Series 1
I honestly cannot believe Series 1 over two decades old! I found it hard enough, this time nine years ago, to think Series 3 was ten years old, and it really is making me feel old now. (It's my birthday today, BTW; I won't tell you how old I am, but you can work it out via my username)

Before I go on to talk about Series 1 in great depth, I should point out that I didn't actually see it originally; I started with Robot Wars at Series 2, but that's for next time. My first experience of Series 1 was a quick clip of Roadblock vs Killertron in the S2 grand final, which I had on video until my Dad, in his infinite wisdom, decided to record Alice in Wonderland over it! Next was a recap of the first ever episode in the RW magazine. Then I acquired the First Great Wars video, which filled in a lot of blanks, and then the YouTube uploads began a year later. And that was all over ten years ago now! I feel old again.

So, what do I like about Series 1?

Well, as first series go, I think Series 1 of Robot Wars is a good first series. It sets the tone for the subsequent series, introduces a handful of faces we'll get used to over the coming years, and it makes for good television. That's a good start, I say.

The first ever two episodes, in particular, I'd say, are among the best of all time. The first heat has just about the right mix of drama and introductory exposition to let you know what you're in for. Roadblock proves itself in each round to be a worthy heat winner, more than be said of some of the objectively superior heat winners of later series, Killertron establishes itself as one to watch and fear, and Nemesis provides some good comic relief while at the same time proving a competent battler.

The second episode arguably tops this, with the introductions of Rex Garrod, one of the all time great Robot Wars characters, as well as David Crosby and the Dartford girls, who would also become firm favourites over the next few years even if we're not that keen on their robots, and of course, Mortis, who really should have won the heat, and possibly the series, but is undone by a minor technical fault. That sets a precedent for other instances of this to come. The heat final is one of the all time best, of the original series at least, and gives us another first that has become a staple of Robot Wars to this day: the controversial judges decision.

Sadly, from here on in, the show kinda goes through the motions for the remaining weeks. We see more teams that would become recurring faves over the coming years, George Francis et al, the Plunderbird boys, Team Cold Fusion and, er, Dreadnaut, and some frankly great one off entrants too: Wedgehog, Reali-T, Jeremy Clarkson's favourite Prince of Darkness and, of course, T.R.A.C.I.E, which I'd say would definitely still be near the top of my favourite robots list.

We even got a heat made entirely of featherweights, which was never seen again. Probably for the best; as interesting viewing as that episode can make nowadays, it probably would've got tiresome seeing one every series. As much as I disapprove of how the lower weight categories were gradually sidelined over time, you can understand why TPTB wished to see the heavyweights be the main attractions. That said, I wouldn't have minded seeing some lower weight battles in the revival.

The fact that there were enough lower weights to make up a whole episode highlights another point that Toast and Nweston, plus a few others, have made: all robots that turned up got to compete! In fact, there weren't enough to make up a full tournament, so three stock robots were bought in to make up numbers. Fair enough, but I agree with the majority view that, if they were going to throw it, they should've done so in the Gauntlet and let the actual robots go to the Trials.

As for the technical side of things, Jeremy Clarkson might not have been the best host, but bear in mind this was just the first series, and the show as a whole was still finding its feet. Had Jezza stayed for more series, I'm sure he would've settled in to the role eventually. Remember, old new Top Gear took a few series to get settled too before it became the show we're familiar with. (My thoughts on its demise and attempted reinvention are another story, and possibly another article somewhere)

That said, Phillipa Forrester and Jonathan Pearce both settled in to their roles pretty comfortably, setting the standard for what both were to offer later in the show's run, though I'd argue they did gradually improve over the next few years, but more on that when the time comes.

Overall, I say Series 1 was an excellent first series of the show, that set the foundations for the subsequent success well, but, ultimately, I don't think I can move it off the bottom of this list.