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 like specified months of the year and how much or how little Eduardo and Kylie touch each other 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.
The January start was decided on (by me, and Jake agrees) because the series begins with a new college semester, with a previous semester being mentioned as early as 'Darkness at Noon, Part 2'. This then gives us all the rest of 1997 to play with, of course. We've reached the final order by taking into account specific times of year, how well the gang seem to have got to know each other and references to previous episodes. The actual running order just fills in the gaps. Enjoy!
January
1. Darkness at Noon, Part 1
As already explained, the first episode has to go in January.
2. Darkness at Noon, Part 2
Obviously, this must go next.
3. The True Face of a Monster
Clearly very 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.
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 (looking down the line, there isn't really any serious flirtation between them until 'The Unseen' in May, although they do have their moments).
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 a 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').
February
6. Fear Itself
A get-to-know-you episode.
7. Deadliners
Also a get-to-know-you episode.
8. Eyes of a Dragon
Chinese new year.
9. The Pied Piper of Manhattan
This has to go before 'The Luck of the Irish', in which the Ghostbusters know mayor's assistant Jensen by name, having met him here.
March
10. Dog Days
The team don't seem to know each other so well yet, and they're still getting used to Egon and to ghostbusting.
11. Casting the Runes
Seems early in forming relationships; also an airing order influence.
12. The Luck of the Irish
St. Patrick's Day. Eduardo does some supervised driving, so let's just say he hasn't got his licence yet!
13. The Jersey Devil
Spring break, and a basketball thing that Garrett calls 'March Madness' (I'm sure many Americans know what that is).
April
14. The Infernal Machine
Egon is very involved, and it aired early.
15. Heart of Darkness
Seems fairly early in the proceedings with Egon and other relationships.
16. The Sphinx
Egon stops going out on calls as a matter of course.
May
17. Killjoys
Airing order influence and the gang getting to know each other better.
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. Moby Ghost
Eduardo has not yet passed his test so Kylie has to drive in Roland's absence.
20. Ghost in the Machine
Eduardo needs to take his driving test for subsequent episodes, as he does here, and he's apparently done with college for the time being.
21. Be Careful What You Wish For
Airing order influence, and people are out and about in the nice weather.
July
22. Sonic Youth
This has to go before 'Slimer's Sacrifice' as Siren and Banshee will be in the containment unit. Eduardo drives.
23. Ghost Apocalyptic Future
The (present) date is written up in lights in big letters: 'JULY 30'.
24. Slimer's Sacrifice
Civilians are enjoying the sunshine at the beginning.
August
25. Grundelesque
Egon's invented something that would have been handy in 'Simer's Sacrifice'. The gang are finding new depths in their friendships. Eduardo drives.
26. Till Death Do Us Start
Must go before 'The Ghostmakers' because of a mirror reference, and after 'Slimer's Sacrifice' and 'Grundelesque' because Egon uses the PKE signature finding machine. The gang don't know each other intimately but are comfortable being in pyjamas together.
27. The Crawler
Nothing in particular but it's going later than in the original running order, for Egon and Janine's progress, but early-ish because of Eduardo and Kylie.
September
28. Dry Spell
This aired close to some of the summer episodes, but they must be back at college because Eduardo is writing a paper.
29. In Your Dreams
Again, back at college, as Garrett mentions he should be writing a paper. Also the relationships are getting along.
30. Mole People
Decided by airing order i.e. late, and the relationships seem suitably solid.
31. A Temporary Insanity
Decided by airing order.
32. Rage
Eduardo's calendar says September, and the gang seem to have known each other for a while.
October
33. Bird of Prey
It's nearly time for the crops to come in; also, Kylie and Eduardo seem to be making some progress.
34. Seeds of Destruction
Influenced by airing order; there's university stuff involved; doesn't seem to be too early in the relationships.
35. Fallout
Decided by airing order.
November
36. The Ghostmakers
Seems right to have this late because of character interaction/relationships, and a purely personal decision to have it this late to break up the mediocre ones!
37. Glutton for Punishment
Decided by airing order.
38. Back in the Saddle, Part 1
Coming up to Thanksgiving.
39. Back in the Saddle, Part 2
Coming up to Thanksgiving, then getting there.
December
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! The guys do not seem to know each other super well yet, but on the other hand there's no reason why they shouldn't, as characterisation isn't huge here anyway. It's not ideal sticking this one on the end, but oh well – this was never going to work out perfectly!
The January start was decided on (by me, and Jake agrees) because the series begins with a new college semester, with a previous semester being mentioned as early as 'Darkness at Noon, Part 2'. This then gives us all the rest of 1997 to play with, of course. We've reached the final order by taking into account specific times of year, how well the gang seem to have got to know each other and references to previous episodes. The actual running order just fills in the gaps. Enjoy!
January
1. Darkness at Noon, Part 1
As already explained, the first episode has to go in January.
2. Darkness at Noon, Part 2
Obviously, this must go next.
3. The True Face of a Monster
Clearly very 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.
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 (looking down the line, there isn't really any serious flirtation between them until 'The Unseen' in May, although they do have their moments).
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 a 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').
February
6. Fear Itself
A get-to-know-you episode.
7. Deadliners
Also a get-to-know-you episode.
8. Eyes of a Dragon
Chinese new year.
9. The Pied Piper of Manhattan
This has to go before 'The Luck of the Irish', in which the Ghostbusters know mayor's assistant Jensen by name, having met him here.
March
10. Dog Days
The team don't seem to know each other so well yet, and they're still getting used to Egon and to ghostbusting.
11. Casting the Runes
Seems early in forming relationships; also an airing order influence.
12. The Luck of the Irish
St. Patrick's Day. Eduardo does some supervised driving, so let's just say he hasn't got his licence yet!
13. The Jersey Devil
Spring break, and a basketball thing that Garrett calls 'March Madness' (I'm sure many Americans know what that is).
April
14. The Infernal Machine
Egon is very involved, and it aired early.
15. Heart of Darkness
Seems fairly early in the proceedings with Egon and other relationships.
16. The Sphinx
Egon stops going out on calls as a matter of course.
May
17. Killjoys
Airing order influence and the gang getting to know each other better.
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. Moby Ghost
Eduardo has not yet passed his test so Kylie has to drive in Roland's absence.
20. Ghost in the Machine
Eduardo needs to take his driving test for subsequent episodes, as he does here, and he's apparently done with college for the time being.
21. Be Careful What You Wish For
Airing order influence, and people are out and about in the nice weather.
July
22. Sonic Youth
This has to go before 'Slimer's Sacrifice' as Siren and Banshee will be in the containment unit. Eduardo drives.
23. Ghost Apocalyptic Future
The (present) date is written up in lights in big letters: 'JULY 30'.
24. Slimer's Sacrifice
Civilians are enjoying the sunshine at the beginning.
August
25. Grundelesque
Egon's invented something that would have been handy in 'Simer's Sacrifice'. The gang are finding new depths in their friendships. Eduardo drives.
26. Till Death Do Us Start
Must go before 'The Ghostmakers' because of a mirror reference, and after 'Slimer's Sacrifice' and 'Grundelesque' because Egon uses the PKE signature finding machine. The gang don't know each other intimately but are comfortable being in pyjamas together.
27. The Crawler
Nothing in particular but it's going later than in the original running order, for Egon and Janine's progress, but early-ish because of Eduardo and Kylie.
September
28. Dry Spell
This aired close to some of the summer episodes, but they must be back at college because Eduardo is writing a paper.
29. In Your Dreams
Again, back at college, as Garrett mentions he should be writing a paper. Also the relationships are getting along.
30. Mole People
Decided by airing order i.e. late, and the relationships seem suitably solid.
31. A Temporary Insanity
Decided by airing order.
32. Rage
Eduardo's calendar says September, and the gang seem to have known each other for a while.
October
33. Bird of Prey
It's nearly time for the crops to come in; also, Kylie and Eduardo seem to be making some progress.
34. Seeds of Destruction
Influenced by airing order; there's university stuff involved; doesn't seem to be too early in the relationships.
35. Fallout
Decided by airing order.
November
36. The Ghostmakers
Seems right to have this late because of character interaction/relationships, and a purely personal decision to have it this late to break up the mediocre ones!
37. Glutton for Punishment
Decided by airing order.
38. Back in the Saddle, Part 1
Coming up to Thanksgiving.
39. Back in the Saddle, Part 2
Coming up to Thanksgiving, then getting there.
December
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! The guys do not seem to know each other super well yet, but on the other hand there's no reason why they shouldn't, as characterisation isn't huge here anyway. It's not ideal sticking this one on the end, but oh well – this was never going to work out perfectly!
