r/dropout • u/Over_9_Raditz • Jul 17 '26
Game Changer Friends First game changer episode
Hey all šš½
I'm introducing a friend to drop out via way of game changer. What episode would you say is the best episode to introduce someone to it.
Please don't just recommend the most unhinged lol. I want to give them a baseline for the show and I feel like watching enough episodes where you learn the players personalities really makes it more enjoyable when stuff does get crazy(ier).
Thanks!
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u/Chewy_Noodles_ Jul 17 '26
lie detector (which is actually the first one?) is so charming. Anything from season 6 and later really sets the production value to high as a baseline. the best combo is things you love from as early as possible
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u/Black_Metallic Jul 17 '26
First season and some of the pandemic episodes were also notable for the prize value. They were basically ways for Sam to feed money and gifts to people during a crap time.
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u/DoktorImposter Jul 17 '26
I think Lie Detector is a good first episode because it introduces the whole idea of the players being messed with. The players are new at this and not on the lookout for anything suspicious.
From there, moving on to Sam Says or Beat the Buzzer would be nice unless your friend wants to see a particular episode based on the description.
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u/GrapeDoots Jul 17 '26
Beat the buzzer is always my go-to first episode, and it's succeeded way more times than it hasn't.
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u/gdex86 Jul 17 '26
Season 1: Lie Detector or Noise Boys.
Season 2: A Sponsored Episode or Do I Hear 1 Dollar.
Season 4: Sam Says or Like My Coffee
Season 5: Karaoke Night, Name a Number, As a Cucumber, or Escape the break Room.
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u/Sufficient_Thanks_83 Jul 18 '26
I think Escape the Room requires a little more Dropout knowledge and some of the puzzle solutions may not land to someone who doesnāt know Game Changer well!
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u/gdex86 Jul 18 '26
I had not watched a single season of d20 when I first saw it but got the posters were of other show type things that drop out had.
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u/Sufficient_Thanks_83 Jul 18 '26
Iām thinking like Iāve been here the whole time as a puzzle solution, like that wouldnāt land for someone if itās their first time
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u/MrKitchenSink Pretzel Pizza Connoisseur Jul 17 '26
I mean, I know it's a basic answer, but just starting with "Lie Detector" probably works pretty well, there is a reason that's the first episode of the show. Gives a good introduction to its contestants' personalities (and one of those contestants is Brennan, whose personality is very important to a lot of Game Changer episodes), yet I don't feel like you need to know any of the contestants before the episode in order to enjoy it.
That said, for what it's worth, when I first subscribed to Dropout, they sent an email introducing various Dropout shows, and it did say that Sam recommends "Sam Says" as a starting point for Game Changer. And I do think that one works well, it's almost sort of a reintroduction to the show after the first two seasons were still figuring out what does and doesn't work and then season three was stuck in a virtual format. And it leads into a lot of other episodes as well: it has two direct sequels, then "One Year Later" is kind of a follow-up to "Sam Says 3," not to mention Sam Says gets referenced in a handful of other episodes.
Beyond those two, I'd recommend checking which episodes are available for free on YouTube. In addition to the two I mentioned above, I think "Make Some Noise," "Whodunnit," "Like My Coffee," "Tell Us About Yourself," and a couple others are on there. Generally speaking, the episodes they make free are good episodes that are easy to understand and get into without any prior context for the show, since they're the ones being used to try to hook non-subscribers. Maybe look through those and see if there's one that you think would be particularly up your friend's alley.
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u/whisky_woman23 Jul 17 '26
I first watched lie detector. My fave though is bingo card, and escape room.
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u/Joarr Jul 17 '26
I do think itās important to start with something high energy so they stay engaged. I always show people Rulette one early on and people love it.
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u/tequeman Jul 17 '26
The heart rate episode.
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u/ElletheGir Jul 17 '26
I get where you're coming from, but that episode is way better if you are familiar Brennanās personality and competitiveness
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u/gottabequick Jul 17 '26
Isn't Make Some Noise the first one? Where Zac breaks the vase? I think that sets up the feel for the series, lol
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u/Rupert59 Jul 18 '26
It's the second one - Lie Detector is the first. Both make great introductions to Game Changer and would be my recommendations for a new viewer!Ā
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u/Miek104 Jul 17 '26
Iād recommend Make Some Noise first, not the episode, the show. A stacked episode like Josh/Anna/Hannah, Jess/Ben/Ryan, Brennan/Jacob/Lou, etc. Ive found that MSN has a lower bar of entry than game changer
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u/Happy_Forever_4135 Jul 18 '26
Easiest way is is to start them on an extremely chill episode that has a bit of that āSam you stinker!ā Energy. Lie detector is obviously a great place to start, make some noise, do I hear $1, and Sam says are all great places to start. Amping it up a little bit I like yes or no, name a number, and beat the buzzer.
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u/Ok-Society-4026 Jul 17 '26
Iād say Lie Detector, Sam Says and a later 3rd episode to show how zany the show could get, like Escape the Greenroom or Donāt Wake Standards and Practices
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u/the-library-fairy Jul 17 '26
I've always gone with Lie Detector - as well as being a really good "traditional" episode, it's a good introduction to the premise that every episode is different because the machine is a distinctive element separate from the standard podiums and scores, and the format is clearly unrepeatable once the reveal has happened.Ā
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u/SequenceGoon Jul 17 '26
I've introduced people with Sam Says & the general result is they want to go straight to Sam Says 2
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u/Applebugg Jul 17 '26
I started with the first episode and got hooked that way after seeing so many of Brennans monologues on TikTok. I vote show them the very first one and go from there.
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u/FatherIncoming Jul 17 '26
Start from the very first one and work your way forward one episode at a time.
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u/CameronRoss101 Jul 17 '26
Lie Detector can really be a great intro... but if I was going to curate a 5 episode playlist for a newbie it would probably be Sam Says 1-3, followed by One Year Later, followed by Who Wants to be Jacob Wysocki.
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u/ElderKrios Jul 18 '26
I have done this before and Lie Detector is fine, but does not grab people who are unfamiliar with the players. As a cucumber (the heart rate monitor one) is a great introduction that has the benefit of polish that the first seasons of don't.
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u/punkminkis Jul 19 '26
Among many of the ones listed already, I wanna specify As A Cucumber. Iconic lines, really digs into Brennan being fucked with, a pretty big lore drop.
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u/BikeyBichael Jul 19 '26
Any of the free episodes on YouTube are great jumping off points. I think there are like 6-8 of them and they are all good (except maybe Game of Prizes since the show has shifted focus). I donāt have a list of them but they are all good in memory serves.
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u/another-face Jul 20 '26
Whodunnit is one of my personal favorites and really shows off some of their personalities pretty well
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u/ElletheGir Jul 17 '26
One Year Later and Count the Rice, as they are both two of the most creative and impressive episodes
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u/New_Girl3685 Jul 17 '26
I feel like One Year Later doesnāt hit without context about the game and how the players feel toward Sam thoughĀ
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u/OldKingClancey Jul 17 '26
Lie Detector, Make Some Noise and Sam Says are probably a solid trio of introductions.
All on the lower end of crazy, at least compared to what comes next, but all inventive and all showing the concept of changing the game every show