Episode Chronology
As most of us know, EGB didn't air in exactly the right order (the two-part season finale being episodes 37 and 38 of 40 is evidence of this). Then, of course, things such as specified months of the year and little bits of continuity between episodes may not have been taken into account. Well, that is what I (with a little help from Jake) have done here: taken all such things into account, and come up with this chronology, dating from January 1997 onwards. A calendar we see in the very first episode (on the firehouse fridge) gives the year as 1997, and the January start was decided on (by me, and Jake agrees) as the series begins with a new college semester, with a previous semester being mentioned as early as 'Darkness at Noon, Part 2'; and then, of course, this leaves all the rest of year to play with. Enjoy!
January
1. Darkness at Noon, Part 1
As already explained, the series must start in January. The characters all meet in this episode; it was definitely intended as the first!
2. Darkness at Noon, Part 2
Obviously, this must go next.
3. Fear Itself
This seems to me to be very, very early in forming relationships. I base this claim on the perception that Eduardo really seems to be trying something with Kylie, and she is pretty much putting him off; this follows on nicely from their exchange at the end of 'Darkness at Noon', and sits well before Eduardo starts looking elsewhere in 'Witchy Woman'.
4. Witchy Woman
College (what I call) American football season is in the autumn and winter (I am told), which is convenient as this episode is potentially damaging to Eduardo and Kylie's relationship, so much better to have it early.
February
5. Grease
This has to go before 'Eyes of a Dragon', in which it is referenced, and that has to be February (better evidence than Garrett's screwed-up laptop claiming it's April)! It also works out quite well that this episode, in which Grandma Rose is said to have 'died a year ago', should go a few weeks after Kylie said that Grandma Rose died 'about a year ago' (in 'Darkness at Noon').
6. Eyes of a Dragon
Chinese New Year, which fell early in the month in 1997. The reference to 'Grease' is inconvenient, but must be honoured (it's okay to pretend that Garrett didn't say 'months' in this reference; it is not okay to pretend that he didn't mention the incident at all!).
7. The True Face of a Monster
Clearly early in forming relationships, with the core of the episode essentially being Garrett cutting some poisonous old ties and strengthening new and better ones with the Ghostbusters.
8. The Pied Piper of Manhattan
This has to go before 'The Luck of the Irish', in which the Ghostbusters know mayor's aide Jensen by name, having met him here.
March
9. Moby Ghost
Eduardo has not yet passed his driving test, so (it is implied) Kylie has to drive in Roland's absence.
10. Ghost in the Machine
Eduardo needs to take his driving test for subsequent episodes, as he does here (but he doesn't actually pass until some time between this and the next episode!).
11. The Luck of the Irish
St. Patrick's Day, and Eduardo drives in this episode.
12. The Jersey Devil
Spring break, and a basketball thing that Garrett calls 'March Madness' (I'm sure many Americans know what that is, but I don't!).
April
13. Heart of Darkness
It feels like the characters are still getting to know each other, and this is as early as I could fit it in! Also influenced by Egon's pre-'The Sphinx' involvement.
14. The Infernal Machine
Influenced by airing order, and Egon's pre-'The Sphinx' involvement.
15. The Sphinx
Egon decides to reduce his involvement in fieldwork (though, of course, he will sometimes come along as back-up).
May
16. Casting the Runes
Somewhat influenced by airing order, but mainly padding out a sparse month.
17. Killjoys
Egon's calendar says 'May' (that is, in the shots where it doesn't 'Jan'!).
18. The Unseen
It's pretty sunny, even at 'around six thirty this morning' (Kylie), and a good time for Eduardo and Kylie to take a step.
June
19. Sonic Youth
This has to go before 'Slimer's Sacrifice', in which Siren and Banshee will be seen in the containment unit.
20. Be Careful What You Wish For
Little to go on, except that people are out and about in the nice weather with some sense of purpose.
21. Glutton for Punishment
Just padding out a sparse month here!
July
22. Deadliners
Well, this month needed padding out! Ideally there would have been room for this episode earlier, due to some of the character interaction, but (to me) it doesn't seem as early as 'Fear Itself' and 'The True Face of a Monster' (my other options for opening up the earlier months) in terms of forming relationships. Now, let's say Kline's new book came out for Christmas (placing the final scene in November/December); his publishers must have had things in place for the Vathack's story anyway, and this gives him a few months in which to knock out its replacement!
23. The Crawler
Very little to go on here, but it's time it went in!
24. Ghost Apocalyptic Future
The (present) date is written up in lights in big letters: 'JULY 30'.
August
25. Slimer's Sacrifice
Civilians are specifically enjoying the sunshine at the beginning. This episode must happen some time after 'Ghost Apocalyptic Future', in which Egon speculates about how the ghosts in the containment unit would greet Slimer; well, now we know!
26. Grundelesque
Egon has invented something that would have been handy in 'Simer's Sacrifice'! The gang are finding new depths in their friendships. Casey Jackson seems to be taking a break from school.
27. 'Til Death Do Us Start
This must go before 'The Ghostmakers' because of a mirror reference that will be made in that episode, and after 'Slimer's Sacrifice' and 'Grundelesque' because Egon uses the PKE signature finding machine, which he evidently invented between those two episodes.
September
28. Mole People
Again, very little to go on, except that the relationships seem pretty well established (not that they're fully understood in this episode, but hey).
29. A Temporary Insanity
Decided by airing order (in which it follows 'Mole People'), with little else to go on.
30. Rage
Eduardo's calendar says it's September, and I'm glad about that, because I can't see this highly significant stuff happening in the first half of the year.
31. In Your Dreams
Garrett mentions he should be writing a paper, so we're back at college, and the team dynamics have come a long way (Kylie and Garrett are great friends, and Kylie and Eduardo's 'You dream about me?' exchange seems to sit well here).
October
32. Bird of Prey
It's nearly time for the crops to come in; also, Kylie and Eduardo seem to be making some progress (which follows on quite nicely from 'You dream about me?', now that I think about it!).
33. Seeds of Destruction
Little to go on here, but there is university stuff involved and this month needs another episode.
34. Dry Spell
Again, little to go on, except that this is a reasonable time for Eduardo to be writing a paper.
November
35. The Ghostmakers
Well, it had to go somewhere (after ''Til Death Do Us Start'), and something had to go here!
36. Back in the Saddle, Part 1
Coming up to Thanksgiving.
37. Back in the Saddle, Part 2
Coming up to Thanksgiving, then getting there. Eduardo and Kylie are coming along too... but they might be about to stall!
December
38. Fallout
Janine and Egon seem to have made progress, as she gives him a hug that he looks pretty into!
39. Dog Days
I am simply filling up the month with a nothing episode.
40. Home Is Where the Horror Is
The winter solstice. This is a bit of a funny one; Kylie actually says 'the summer solstice', but she clearly means winter, and she even specifies 'the longest night of the year'. After all, the 'demon feast' she talks about would not be well placed in the night with the fewest hours of darkness, and as Jake points out, Frankie and Len are hardly likely to be selling candy for their school in the dark if it's June!
1. Darkness at Noon, Part 1
As already explained, the series must start in January. The characters all meet in this episode; it was definitely intended as the first!
2. Darkness at Noon, Part 2
Obviously, this must go next.
3. Fear Itself
This seems to me to be very, very early in forming relationships. I base this claim on the perception that Eduardo really seems to be trying something with Kylie, and she is pretty much putting him off; this follows on nicely from their exchange at the end of 'Darkness at Noon', and sits well before Eduardo starts looking elsewhere in 'Witchy Woman'.
4. Witchy Woman
College (what I call) American football season is in the autumn and winter (I am told), which is convenient as this episode is potentially damaging to Eduardo and Kylie's relationship, so much better to have it early.
February
5. Grease
This has to go before 'Eyes of a Dragon', in which it is referenced, and that has to be February (better evidence than Garrett's screwed-up laptop claiming it's April)! It also works out quite well that this episode, in which Grandma Rose is said to have 'died a year ago', should go a few weeks after Kylie said that Grandma Rose died 'about a year ago' (in 'Darkness at Noon').
6. Eyes of a Dragon
Chinese New Year, which fell early in the month in 1997. The reference to 'Grease' is inconvenient, but must be honoured (it's okay to pretend that Garrett didn't say 'months' in this reference; it is not okay to pretend that he didn't mention the incident at all!).
7. The True Face of a Monster
Clearly early in forming relationships, with the core of the episode essentially being Garrett cutting some poisonous old ties and strengthening new and better ones with the Ghostbusters.
8. The Pied Piper of Manhattan
This has to go before 'The Luck of the Irish', in which the Ghostbusters know mayor's aide Jensen by name, having met him here.
March
9. Moby Ghost
Eduardo has not yet passed his driving test, so (it is implied) Kylie has to drive in Roland's absence.
10. Ghost in the Machine
Eduardo needs to take his driving test for subsequent episodes, as he does here (but he doesn't actually pass until some time between this and the next episode!).
11. The Luck of the Irish
St. Patrick's Day, and Eduardo drives in this episode.
12. The Jersey Devil
Spring break, and a basketball thing that Garrett calls 'March Madness' (I'm sure many Americans know what that is, but I don't!).
April
13. Heart of Darkness
It feels like the characters are still getting to know each other, and this is as early as I could fit it in! Also influenced by Egon's pre-'The Sphinx' involvement.
14. The Infernal Machine
Influenced by airing order, and Egon's pre-'The Sphinx' involvement.
15. The Sphinx
Egon decides to reduce his involvement in fieldwork (though, of course, he will sometimes come along as back-up).
May
16. Casting the Runes
Somewhat influenced by airing order, but mainly padding out a sparse month.
17. Killjoys
Egon's calendar says 'May' (that is, in the shots where it doesn't 'Jan'!).
18. The Unseen
It's pretty sunny, even at 'around six thirty this morning' (Kylie), and a good time for Eduardo and Kylie to take a step.
June
19. Sonic Youth
This has to go before 'Slimer's Sacrifice', in which Siren and Banshee will be seen in the containment unit.
20. Be Careful What You Wish For
Little to go on, except that people are out and about in the nice weather with some sense of purpose.
21. Glutton for Punishment
Just padding out a sparse month here!
July
22. Deadliners
Well, this month needed padding out! Ideally there would have been room for this episode earlier, due to some of the character interaction, but (to me) it doesn't seem as early as 'Fear Itself' and 'The True Face of a Monster' (my other options for opening up the earlier months) in terms of forming relationships. Now, let's say Kline's new book came out for Christmas (placing the final scene in November/December); his publishers must have had things in place for the Vathack's story anyway, and this gives him a few months in which to knock out its replacement!
23. The Crawler
Very little to go on here, but it's time it went in!
24. Ghost Apocalyptic Future
The (present) date is written up in lights in big letters: 'JULY 30'.
August
25. Slimer's Sacrifice
Civilians are specifically enjoying the sunshine at the beginning. This episode must happen some time after 'Ghost Apocalyptic Future', in which Egon speculates about how the ghosts in the containment unit would greet Slimer; well, now we know!
26. Grundelesque
Egon has invented something that would have been handy in 'Simer's Sacrifice'! The gang are finding new depths in their friendships. Casey Jackson seems to be taking a break from school.
27. 'Til Death Do Us Start
This must go before 'The Ghostmakers' because of a mirror reference that will be made in that episode, and after 'Slimer's Sacrifice' and 'Grundelesque' because Egon uses the PKE signature finding machine, which he evidently invented between those two episodes.
September
28. Mole People
Again, very little to go on, except that the relationships seem pretty well established (not that they're fully understood in this episode, but hey).
29. A Temporary Insanity
Decided by airing order (in which it follows 'Mole People'), with little else to go on.
30. Rage
Eduardo's calendar says it's September, and I'm glad about that, because I can't see this highly significant stuff happening in the first half of the year.
31. In Your Dreams
Garrett mentions he should be writing a paper, so we're back at college, and the team dynamics have come a long way (Kylie and Garrett are great friends, and Kylie and Eduardo's 'You dream about me?' exchange seems to sit well here).
October
32. Bird of Prey
It's nearly time for the crops to come in; also, Kylie and Eduardo seem to be making some progress (which follows on quite nicely from 'You dream about me?', now that I think about it!).
33. Seeds of Destruction
Little to go on here, but there is university stuff involved and this month needs another episode.
34. Dry Spell
Again, little to go on, except that this is a reasonable time for Eduardo to be writing a paper.
November
35. The Ghostmakers
Well, it had to go somewhere (after ''Til Death Do Us Start'), and something had to go here!
36. Back in the Saddle, Part 1
Coming up to Thanksgiving.
37. Back in the Saddle, Part 2
Coming up to Thanksgiving, then getting there. Eduardo and Kylie are coming along too... but they might be about to stall!
December
38. Fallout
Janine and Egon seem to have made progress, as she gives him a hug that he looks pretty into!
39. Dog Days
I am simply filling up the month with a nothing episode.
40. Home Is Where the Horror Is
The winter solstice. This is a bit of a funny one; Kylie actually says 'the summer solstice', but she clearly means winter, and she even specifies 'the longest night of the year'. After all, the 'demon feast' she talks about would not be well placed in the night with the fewest hours of darkness, and as Jake points out, Frankie and Len are hardly likely to be selling candy for their school in the dark if it's June!
