From the writers of It's Always Sunny and The Sarah Silverman Program, Blue Mountain State was a short lived, outlandish comedy about a juggernaut college football program at one of the biggest party schools in the country. Starring Darin Brooks as backup quarterback Alex Moran and Alan Ritchson as star linebacker Thad Castle, the show was a mainstay in colleges across the country in the early 2010s.
The show may not have had a long life, but has gained a cult following in recent years thanks to its risqué themes and Animal House influences. With 39 episodes in the show's run, it's time to take a look back ten years later. Here are the 10 best episodes, according to IMDb.
"Piss Test" (8.3)
After breaking up with his domineering cheating girlfriend, running back Craig Shilo decides to celebrate by indulging the vices Denise made him avoid. Unfortunately for him, this happens at the same time the NCAA decides to do a random drug test. With three days to get clean, the team is left with the option of staying sober or doing a very painful "oil change" courtesy of Thad.
The episode is one of the funnier ones of the show, especially with the players struggling to not get high or drunk. The graphic depiction of Thad demonstrating an oil change is also cringe funny, and the subplot of Sammy scoring with chicks in the mascot costume using a BMS themed whizzinator was worth a few guffaws as well.
"Death Penalty" (8.3)
The episode that essentially brought the show back to reality, "Death Penalty" highlighted all of the illegal activities that Blue Mountain State had gotten away with in the past three years and laid them bare. While preparing for the national championship game against Blackwell, the NCAA decides to finally crack down on BMS. Armed with a mountain of evidence thanks in part to Thad's inability to keep his mouth shut, the NCAA threatens the death penalty for the program.
The episode was fantastic in its ability to use continuity for the NCAA to build a case, as well as a "Whodunit" element in figuring out who the BMS mole was, but arguably the best element was Alex highlighting the real world corruption of the NCAA while noting the hypocrisy of its standards and practices.
"Bowl Game" (8.5)
After finishing the season 9-3, BMS earns an invitation to the prestigious Cypress Bowl against Clementine University. Despite being under strict rules from Thad, who's on heightened alert for sabotage, Craig manages to slip away only to be arrested for alleged rape, leaving Thad, Sammy, and Alex to try and bail him out.
The first season finale, while not as memorable as most other episodes was definitely worth a watch, especially with the lengths that both schools went to sabotaging each other, and the bizarre interrogation scene where Craig is subject to police dogs, drinking moonshine, and begging a redneck not to kill a chicken.
"Dic Pics" (8.5)
Wanting to impress a girl he likes, Alex recruits Thad, who decides to send a dick pic. Eventually Alex breaks up with the girl, but his sext makes its way around campus, causing outright embarrassment for the football team. Meanwhile Coach Daniels and Debra decide to exchange sexts, but accidentally send pics to Harmon, who believes he's in the middle of a love triangle.
This episode was very timely since it was released months after the Brett Favre sexting scandal, which was referenced. Special praise goes to Harmon's reactions to the sexts, Coach Daniels and Debra naming their genitalia Ernicio and Michelle Branch, respectively. and Thad's instructions on how to sext.
"Drug Olympics" (8.6)
Mired in a losing streak and dealing with bad luck, Thad locks the team in the Goat House to compete in a drug fueled team building exercise. Meanwhile Coach Daniels decides to hear out his coaching staff after firing a special teams coach and Sammy decides to find a party with an armless coed named Monica that is looking to go to BMS.
There was a lot to enjoy about this episode, including Craig breaking his bad juju by sleeping with The Cougar, the hastily put together drug football game, Thad getting beaten up by Monica at the beginning of the episode, and Thad doing his trademark falsetto scream when in a drug fueled haze he sees Monica on the field as a monster.
"Marathon Monday" (8.7)
It's Marathon Monday, a 24 hour drink fest on BMS. Alex "rescues" a hot marching band girl named Jill who he spends the day with and finds he really likes despite her having his personality. Meanwhile Craig finally learns the truth about Denise cheating, breaks up with her, and spends the day with Sammy, learning about his life philosophy of not caring.
Both a fun episode and a surprisingly poignant one, there were some strong moments. Craig breaking up with Denise was cathartic, and Alex getting unsolicited advice from Coach Daniels on how to deal with disappointment felt earnest, Special praise goes to the scenes where Sammy breaks beer bottles and gets out of trouble, which becomes a running gag.
"Riot" (8.8)
With starting QB Radon Randell injured before the final game, Alex pilots BMS to a win, an undefeated season, and a National Championship berth. Of course, as a result of the win, BMS students riot, putting the football team and Sammy in danger, with the students planning on hanging the mascot.
The episode is a fantastic homage to zombie films and war movies, Particular praise goes to the scene where Thad saves Larry from a fan wielding a bottle and taking multiple beanbag shots from the riot police when he's close to the Goat House. Further praise goes to the episode touching further upon Alex and Sammy's friendship and Alex's relationship with Mary Jo.
"The Corn Field, Part 1"
A continuation of "Death Penalty", fans see the results of the NCAA's decision, With all of the star players and Coach Daniels suspended for the title game, the Goats are destroyed by Blackwell. Blackwell then demands to play the "Real" BMS football team, anytime, anywhere. Thad has a vision and decides to build a football field in the middle of a corn/weed field and challenge Blackwell to a rematch.
Special praise in this episode goes to Thad's vision, as well as the construction of the football field, not to mention Thad and Sammy's efforts to get the game off the ground, as well as the references to Field of Dreams.
"Blackout" (8.8)
Just before the start of an all-important rivalry game against Buckingham, the entire BMS campus is plunged into a blackout. With a lockdown in place thanks to the events of "Riot", the BMS and Buckingham football teams play an intense game of beer pong, with Thad and Alex representing the Goats. Unfortunately for Alex, his opponent is a cheerleader who embarrassed him in high school.
The back and forth between the beer pong game and Coach Daniels's high stakes poker game with Buckingham's coaches was incredibly intense, and the rule changes and constant upping of the bets was hilarious to watch. Special praise goes to Thad developing a bromance with the Buckingham quarterback due to shared interests and jokes.
"The Corn Field, Part 2" (9.2)
The series finale, "The Corn Field, Part 2" is the only episode in the series to show actual football being played, as BMS and Blackwell play in an unsanctioned rematch of the title game that BMS lost without their starters. and serves as a fitting end to most of the storylines developed in the show's run. Fun fact, the episode was directed by Bill & Ted veteran Alex Winter.
There is a reason why this is the highest rated episode of the series, and that is the fact that the football played is exceptionally choreographed, and very well shot. Special praise goes to lineman Donnie Schrab getting insanely high to recover from a broken leg, as well as the halftime scene where Coach Daniels inspires the team to remember the first time they felt happy playing football.