Hello!
If you aren't aware, Man on a Mission is a series me and my wonderful companion, Elder Niutupuivaha, created while we served together at the beginning of the covid pandemic.
Please please if you haven't watched them, watch them here. If you have watched them, I fully recommend doing so again.
I want to write some of my thoughts about the episodes and rank them :)
I could go on and on about the details of these episodes. Perhaps I will someday. There is so much I could talk about. Behind the scenes stuff, expanded canon, various memories, and probably more.
For purposes of this post, I'll try to keep my thoughts a bit briefer for each episode. Followed by my rankings/tier list.
All the stats are current as of 10/14/22
Episode 1: Meet the Missionaries
Stats: 257 reactions, 10 comments, 7k views.
What a foundational episode. Really kick boosted the whole series.
It created so many tropes used throughout the course of the whole series. Dramatic Zoom-In. Dramatic Reveal. Bike Guy having extraordinary powers (seeing a guy from forever away that happens to be in a building but that doesn't matter). Me putting on Elder Niutupuivaha's clothes so it feels like he is in two places in one shot. Magically become Suit Guy in the last scene. Elder Niutupuivaha playing multiple characters. Breaking the fourth wall at the end.
All pivotal things to the entire series.
Episode 2: The missionaries just wanna help
Stats: 495 reactions, 18 comments, 12.5k views
So many good laughs in this one. The pacing does slow down a bit too much in the middle. Introduces perhaps my favorite character, mechanic (whom we call mechanic even though this is the only episode he does mechanic things). Toilet paper line fit perfectly with the time the video was released.
I could talk so much more, but I want to keep my thoughts brief. There's 10 episodes after all. These small paragraphs are going to add up.
Episode 3: You're never alone
Stats: 413 reactions, 31 comments, 9.4k views
Talking to himself on the video camera; really well done. Suit up scene into wheelie scene; absolutely beautiful. Mechanic with toilet paper continuity. Yessah got introduced, which is at the end of every episode going forward.
Episode 3 is oh so good. I love this episode. When it was created, I thought it was going to be impossible to top. I was wrong.
Episode 4: Turn to the Book of Mormon for Comfort
Stats: 1.2k reactions, 33 comments, 23.6k views
Episode 4 is absolutely golden. When it was created, I thought it was going to be impossible to top. I was right. Kind of. There are solid arguments for Episode 5 topping it.
Episode 4 also finishes off this three episode arc that starts in Episode 2. It is beautiful.
Seriously, this episode is incredible.
Episode 5: Families Can Be Together Forever
Stats: 1.15k reactions, 30 comments, 23.5k views
Introduces Son, who is another fantastic character. This episode is perhaps the funniest episode. Solid stuff.
Two fun facts of the day:
1. I had to re-edit the entirety of this episode (on a side note, we used Google Photos for every episode) due to our first edit becoming corrupted somehow.
2. During the re-edit, I accidentally put in the wrong bearing testimony/invitation clip. They're pretty much the same, but the one we wanted to use referenced the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which we felt was important to include.
Episode 6: Going to Church
Stats: 398 reactions, 10 comments, 8.5k views
Definitely the weakest episode so far. But it still has its moments. Bike is pretty much it's own character at this point, haha. The very end with the blurry video and words on top I think is hilarious.
So originally we had something completely different planned for this episode. But then we were informed that missionary attire would now be mandatory in all videos, so we took this episode to transition from their clothes they've been using to missionary attire.
Episode 7: Know Your Roots
Stats: 335 reactions, 5 comments, 8.1k views
I love this episode. Definitely one of the best, imo. So funny, it's shorter, which is nice, the invitation at the end is fantastic and keeps you engaged. Good stuff.
And the plot twist! Red Hat Guy and Mechanic are brothers?! We actually had that twist planned since, like, episode 2 or 3, haha.
Episode 8: The Holy Ghost is Personal
Stats: 297 reactions, 2 comments, 7.4k views
Also a weak episode, although the falling asleep scene is hilarious and the Jesus reveal is fantastic.
Also, if you haven't noticed already: Every episode has one or more pineapples in it. We failed to get a pineapple in this one until the last second, so the pineapple barely looks like a pineapple.
The pineapple is supposed to be the vase (which is vaguely pineapple-shaped) with the papers (which are supposed to be leaves) sticking out of it. Haha, yeah. Not a good pineapple.
Episode 9: The Spirit is a Guide
Stats: 293 reactions, 4 comments, 6.8k views
Stats wise, I honestly think this is the most underrated episodes, although it is hard to compare against the best of the best.
I definitely think this is the best invitation. The multiple shots keep it interesting and perky.
Episode 10: And Christ is the Way
Stats: 340 reactions, 16 comments, 9.5k views
Love the fact that Red Hat Guy is called Uncle here; I think that's awesome.
As an individual episode, this episode is weak. But as a series finale, I think it's pretty satisfying. You learn who the companion is (look, it's me!), Son gets baptized and the whole family is there for it. It's just nice.
My Official Rankings:
S-Tier: 4, 5, 7, 3, 9
A-Tier: 2, 1
B-Tier: 6, 10, 8
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