The BEST episodes of Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles season 1

Every episode of Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles season 1!

As a newly assigned member of the mobile infantry unit Razak's Roughnecks, Main Character and soldier stud Johnny Rico finds himself in the middle of an interstellar war against a race of highly advanced insects intent on wiping out humanity. He and other Starship Troopers must find a way to destroy the gigantic bugs and save the earth, and a lot of soldiers will be lost during this struggle. Johnny Rico is the best Trooper on the force, he is the go to guy when needed (which is all the time). He has all the statistics straight and plans ready to order.

Last Updated: 10/22/2024Network: SYFYStatus: Ended
star
8.67
3 votes

#1 - Spirits of the Departed

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 3/15/2000

As Rico Struggles with his promotion to Lt. as leader of the Roughnecks, after Razacks death, They are assigned to defend S.I.C.O.N. high Command in Honolulu. In Route to Honolulu they pick up Sgt. Brutto's son, Max, who has been assigned to the Roughnecks as per an arrangement made by Sgt. Brutto himself. The Roughnecks come under heavy attack by the bugs and are joined by Sgt. Zimm then forced into an outpost waiting for a pickup. During there struggle Rico looks to Zimm for intructions on what to do, as he is not sure of his command abilities, and assigns Zimm leader of the squad while Rico puts himself on gaurd duty. While on Gaurd Duty, Sgt. Zimm tells Rico the reason he was assigned to him back in Basic Training then to the Roughnecks is because Lt. Razak and Zimm were good friends and they knew Rico was born to be a leader so they made a deal. This gives Rico the confidence he needs and he again assumes command, ordering the Roughnecks to blow up the outposts generator,they hid

Directors: Vincent Edwards
Writer: Greg Weisman
star
8.50
6 votes

#2 - Heart

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 1/3/2000

Still in the tank, Rico grows increasingly angry and frustarted that no one is taking his claims that the bugs are coming seriously. Meanwhile, the squad is out to charting bug tunnels near the base.

Directors: Sean Song
Writer: Lydia Marano
star
8.40
5 votes

#3 - The Face of Truth

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/2000

The capture of the ""skinny"" Colonel T'Phai reveals that the entire race are being mentally controlled by the bugs. They now have a chance to free the planet... If they're not taken over by the bugs themselves.

star
8.40
5 votes

#4 - D-Day

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 2/17/2000

S.I.C.O.N. prepares for the D-Day invasion of the bug home planet of Klendathu. During the build-up Flores gets an M.I.A. notice from telling her. that her brother, Eddie is MIA - presumed dead in a retrieval ship crash. She is badly shaken by this bombshell and her performance as a trooper is severely affected. The Roughnecks land in an area deemed uninhabited by Intel, as usual Intel get it wrong and the meet stiff opposition. Flores hesitates in the DZ and Rico who's been kicked up to Sergeant to replace Brutto is worried as Lt Razak has left it to him to decide whether she is now a liability. Rico is torn and leaves Flores in charge of a group of wounded troopers from other squads whilst the Roughnecks carry on the fight. As they get bogged down in the fighting Flores is brought back to reality by the will to fight of an injured trooper from another squad. She is able to surprise the Bugs from behind and save the Roughnecks. Later she meets another trooper who

Writer: Tony Somo
star
8.40
5 votes

#5 - The Mission

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 2/25/2000

Higgins is on guard duty at a camp on Klendathu. Whilst in front of the gates he sees a trooper staggering along. As he talks to the trooper a new type of Bug, hence known as an Impostor Bug, bursts out of the suit. The Impostor is a Bug that approximates the size and shape of a human and is able to fit inside stolen power suits. As such they present a major threat to the security of S.I.C.O.N. forces. The troopers manage to kill the bug but not before it manages to drop Lt Razak and knock his helmet off. After the attack, the Roughnecks are ordered to rescue the crew of a downed transport ship. When they get to the crashed ships location they discover that the crew have been captured by Bugs. As the squad track them Bugs back to their nest Lt Razak collapses - it seems he has been infected by spores carried by the Impostor Bug. Doc and Flores go to find the fungus responsible so Doc can synthesise an antidote whilst the rest of the squad keep tracking the Bugs.

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star
8.33
3 votes

#6 - Marooned

Season 1 - Episode 39 - Aired 2/22/2000

Rico is left floating in space after his pod malfunctions during a drop.

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Deep Trouble
star
8.29
7 votes

#7 - Deep Trouble

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/22/1999

When the Roughnecks go beneath the surface of Pluto to locate the Bug army's incubation center, Flores suffers from disabling claustrophobia.

star
8.25
4 votes

#8 - Liquid Dreams

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 12/17/1999

While a monsoon hits the Zegema Base hard, Rico floats unconscious in a regeneration tank, fighting his subconscious to stay alive.

Directors: Jay Oliva
Writer: Greg Weisman
star
8.25
4 votes

#9 - Funeral for a Friend

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 3/14/2000

General Redwing has ordered the Roughnecks to be split up as she does not have a spare Lt to assign to them. They are given time, though, to time to honour Lt Razak's Last Will so they got to spread his ashes over Luna Lake in Colorado. They are joined by General Redwing and by Sgt. Brutto who is now in a wheel-chair and who doubts his own worth. The squad come across a Bug operation and try to withdraw but General Redwing and Higgins are captured. They are threatened by a Brain Bug and Rico knows he ought to order General Redwing's death. However, by using the spare fuel cells from Sgt Brutto's wheel chair Gossard and Doc blow the mountain according to Rico's plan. Sgt Brutto uses his wheel chair to swoop in and save the hostages whilst the bugs are distracted. Afterwards General Redwing tells Rico he should have had her killed. Rico tells her that was plan ""B"". General Redwing realizes the squad is too valuable to split up so she offers Rico a battlefield prom

Writer: Greg Weisman
star
8.20
5 votes

#10 - Of Flesh and Steel

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/8/1999

On a mission to capture an important mountain pass, Rico has trouble trusting the squad's newest member, a cyborg.

Directors: Alan Caldwell
star
8.20
5 votes

#11 - Hot Ice

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 11/25/1999

Having crashed on a barren asteroid, the Roughnecks try to make their way to a crashed science vessel for help.

Writer: Steve Cuden
star
8.17
6 votes

#12 - No Substitute

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 11/19/1999

The Skinnies, formerly working for the Bugs, have changed sides but one of them meets considerable resistance when he joins the squad for its assault on Zegema Beach.

Writer: Jon Weisman
Handle With Care
star
8.13
8 votes

#13 - Handle With Care

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/1/1999

The squad is assigned to assist intelligence officer Earle Walker in capturing a live Plasma Bug and bringing it back through enemy territory.

star
8.09
64 votes

#14 - Water, Water Everywhere

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/12/1999

The ""Transport"" Bug that was found bringing reinforcements and eggs to Pluto is followed back to the watery planet Hydora, where it releases barb-shooting flying bugs of a previously unknown type.

Writer: Steve Berman
star
8.00
3 votes

#15 - Court-Martial of Lt. Razak

Season 1 - Episode 40 - Aired 4/5/2000

The Roughnecks are about to be dropped on Klendathu into a hot LZ. Lt Razak tells Carmen to clear the LZ as he thinks it's too dangerous for the squad to land. Carman tells him INTEL in the form of Lt Walker ordered no weapons to be used, stealth drop only. Lt Razak overrides her and the LZ is cleared by bombs. As soon as Lt Walker finds out he tells Lt Razak that 6 squads were in that area under General Redwing but they'd lost radio contact. Lt Razak asks why he wasn't told and Walker tells him it was a covert op. on a need to know basis - and Razak didn't need to know. Back at the base Lt Razak faces a court of inquiry with Walker as prosecutor. Lt Walker charges Razak with endangering the squad and wrecking S.I.C.O.N. equipment needlessly, using troopers evidence and flash backs as proof. As the hearing goes on a swarm of bugs attacks the base prompting Lt Walker to exclaim there was a traitor in their midst feeding information to the Bugs and he points at LT Razak

star
8.00
3 votes

#16 - Propaganda Machine

Season 1 - Episode 38 - Aired 1/14/2000

Higgins is ordered to make a good Fed-Net report hiding the horrors of war and showing something positive about the bug campaign.

star
8.00
3 votes

#17 - Pluto and Beyond

Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 9/21/1999

Higgins summarizes the current state of the war on Pluto and Tophet in clips from previous episodes.

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star
8.00
4 votes

#18 - Requiem

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 3/13/2000

S.I.C.O.N has discovered that there is a vast network of Bug tunnels and colonies beneath the city of San Francisco. S.I.C.O.N. decides the only way to ensure victory is to hit the whole city with nukes the city thus destroying everything above and below ground. Because an evacuation of that size would warn the Bugs it has been decided not to warn the civilian inhabitants. Lt Razak objects to this action and, surprisingly, is supported by his nemesis from INTEL, Lt Walker. The Sky Marshal gives them 24 hours to complete the only alternate plan. They need to blow massive holes in the tunnels that run underwater and thus flush out the bugs to street level where troopers would be waiting for them. As a safeguard the bombs will be mixed with the last reserves of Toxin B3. If they fail though San Francisco will be destroyed by S.I.C.O.N. as will the two squads. Overall the mission is a success despite a bomb going non-op and needing to be reset. But Lt Razak is killed by

star
8.00
3 votes

#19 - Hide n' Seek

Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 3/17/2000

A massive bug mound has appeared outside of Buenos Aires. S.I.C.O.N. thinks the Bugs are going to assault the city again so they try to bomb the mound from the air. Plasma Tanker Bugs shot the planes down though and, because they keep changing location the air attacks are unable to neutralize them. So the Roughnecks are sent in with four other squads to locate and destroy the Tanker Bugs so the mound can be bombed to destruction. The squads dig in and hide whilst s decoy force lures the Warrior Bugs defending the Tankers away. Rico's group is almost detected by a Bug but Carl is able to mentally change its view and thus save the group. As the squads move in at night the game is given away by a trooper from another squad who launches a grenade at some Bugs. However this turns out to have a positive effect as all the Tanker Bugs start to fire all at once believing it's another aerial attack thus revealing all their positions simultaneously. The squads launch a missi

star
8.00
4 votes

#20 - Among Us

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 3/3/2000

All S.I.C.O.N. forces revert to peace status after the Bug Queen has apparently been destroyed. Carl, though, keeps insisting the Queen is still very much alive and on the earth - somewhere. After another argument General Redwing sends him on leave to cool down. Meanwhile the roughnecks are reassigned - to the moons of Jupiter to repair the radio telescopes. Rico believes Carl is right and manages to convince Lt Razak too. Razak cuts through the red tape and gets Gossard to review satellite imagery of the earth before and after the Queens assumed arrival. Gossard finds an new, unexplained, hot spot near to Little Butte, North Dakota. The roughnecks divert their shuttle there without formal authorization but the town seems to be normal - until they realize the towns- people all look alike and sound alike. A s soon as they realize this they are attacked by the residents. The Roughnecks manage to capture a resident and get back to the ship. As they take off the r

Writer: Jules Dennis
star
8.00
4 votes

#21 - Marauder

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 12/3/1999

As the squad tries to locate a brain bug on Tesca Nemerosa from underwater, Rico is trapped when his Marauder suit runs out of power.

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star
8.00
4 votes

#22 - Trackers

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 3/28/2000

The S.I.C.O.N. Fleet is hunting for the Bug Queen, after she escaped in a Transport Bug from Klendathu. Whilst in transit the Roughnecks get a mail delivery and find out Higgins had a girlfriend they weren't aware of who had just dumped him. The Roughnecks get annoyed that, whilst Higgins has the info. on them, they are ignorant about him. The Valley Forge intercepts what seems to be the Transport Bug the Queen is in and destroys it. As they make their report the same thing is received from the other fleet vessels. Carl twigs that the destroyed bugs were just decoys to distract the fleet whilst the Queen heads toward Earth. Due to Carls psychic abilities the Valley Forge is able to intercept the Queens Transport Bug. But the Bug seems resistant to all the ships weapons. 2The Roughnecks are sent into blow the Bug from the inside. They only have 48 hours before it reaches the Earth. Despite heavy resistance inside the Transport Bug they apparently achieve their missi

Writer: Jules Dennis
star
8.00
4 votes

#23 - Checkmate

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 3/6/2000

Lt Razak is called to a mission briefing to find it being given by Sky Marshall Sanchez himself. The Sky Marshall tells the assembled officers about the of the Bug Queen. He then assigns Alpha and Echo squads the mission of locating and destroying the Queen. One bit of seemingly good news is the return of Carl to the squad. But the Roughnecks are dismayed to find an apparent change in his personality. Carl guides the Roughnecks to the queens lair but is captured by Bugs enroute losing his helmet in the process. The Roughnecks find the Queen but she is holding Carl as a shield and Rico is unable to pull the trigger on his friend. In the fire fight the Queen drops Carl and Rico returns his helmet. The squad give chase to the Queen but are unable to stop her escaping on a Transport Bug - enroute to Earth!

star
8.00
6 votes

#24 - Ice-Olation

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/8/2000

Returning from a combat mission in a retrieval ship, the Zephyr, the Roughnecks are re-routed to an asteroid to join scientists from another ship, the Sequoia, in a quest for a bio-weapon against the bugs. Just as they are coming in for a landing, tiny flame-breathing bugs, Firefries, hatch from Zander's skin. The ship crashes, badly damaged, but there are no serious injuries. Teams are sent out to locate the Sequoia. One team, Razak and Doc, falls into a subterranean network where they are attacked by marshmallow-like Leeches. Another team, Brutto and T'Phai, find themselves in a battle with adult, human-sized Firefries. Razak and Doc, joined by Dizzy and Gossard from the ship, join in this battle. Meanwhile, the third team, Carmen and Rico, is buried by an avalanche, and beneath the snow they share some intimate moments. Dizzy saves them. All return to the Zephyr, where Higgins awaits with the recovering Zander. They finally realize that they're on the wrong asteroid; the Sequoia awa

star
8.00
4 votes

#25 - ...And Then There Were Two

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 12/9/1999

Rico still doesn't trust T'Phai, but In the jungle on Tesca Nemerosa, they are forced to work together when the other squad members start disappearing.

Writer: Cary Bates