Least Favorite Tales episodes

[acehoneycomb]

Since there's already a thread on favorite Tales episodes, we will unfortunately have to talk about our least favorite Tales episodes (I'm sure a lot of people will say Shop Talk, because that one's pretty unpopular). My bottom 5 (there are very few bad Tales episodes, so number 5 will be a low 4 star one) are (from 5 to 1) The Play's the Thing (even though I actually liked it, I was not sure whether to put this one or Gribet here, as they're the two most average episodes), Just For Kicks (a guilty pleasure with Ace acting like a jerk and a problematic premise and moral but character development for Starlight and a few other things), Happy Birthday Sweetheart (for being forgettable, a sort of repeat of Stand By Me, and Teddy acting like more of a jerk than usual, despite him having a good reason to do this), Blue Ribbon Blues (for Sweetheart behaving unusually unpleasantly towards Teddy in some scenes and not caring about him much except at the end, Corny caring more about Yorky than Teddy at one point, and most of all Teddy having SERIOUS behavioral problems, although the episode itself was far too rough on the guy), and Shop Talk (for featuring flanderized characters, being hypocritical on moral and behavior levels, and having Lancer be a jerk rather than a nice guy. Basically, there were no good guys in this episode, just bad ones).
Sorry if it seemed a little rambly. I might have to write proper reviews on each episode at some point because every episode has something to offer on the reviewing level.

[Notes]

I don't HATE any episodes in this lovely series, to be honest. But I do have my least favorites, though they fluctuate. Happy Birthday Sweetheart is dead last on the list of my favorite episodes. Just for Kicks had problems with it, but interesting implications (not to mention a heap of fuel for my favorite ship). Shop Talk featured flanderization but, you guessed it, it had neat little implications in the beginning. Blue Ribbon Blues, I feel, had out of character Sweetheart, but for different reasons than you have. Sister of the Bride was once near the bottom, but has some HILARIOUS scenes.

I don't know if I will end up writing reviews, though I've had swings of opinion on it. Sometimes I'm game for it, and sometimes I dislike the idea. But I'd love to hear your thoughts!