The Essential "Phineas And Ferb" Episodes-Season One

     This Thursday June 5th, the long awaited fifth season of "Phineas And Ferb" will premiere at 8 PM EDT on both Disney Channel and Disney XD. To help prepare fans for the premiere, I have compiled a list of what I consider to be the most essential episodes to watch from the show's first four seasons, along with my reason (or reasons) for including that episode. To save time, the list will be divided into four articles, one for each season.

Author's Note: Episodes are listed in production order.

Rollercoaster

The episode that started it all. Premiering on August 17, 2007, this episode introduces the titular stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher, their sister Candace and mother Linda, pet platypus Perry, Major Monogram, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and neighbor Isabella  Garcia-Shapiro. It also sets up many of the show's recurring elements, such as the Big Idea (in this case, a rollercoaster), Candace's failed attempt to bust her brothers for said Big Idea, and Dr. Doofenshmirtz's latest scheme for taking over the tri-state area (in this case, a giant magnet). One recurring element you WON'T find in this episode-a musical number.

Candace Loses Her Head

This episode, which introduces both the titular character's father Lawrence Fletcher and Candace's desired love interest and (spoiler alert) eventual boyfriend Jeremy Johnson, as well as the Fireside Girls, has the Flynn-Fletchers travel to Mount Rushmore for Candace's birthday. There, Phineas and Ferb decide to surprise Candace by carving her face into the mountain. Of course, like most episodes, it gets erased thanks to Perry and Doof, but it's still a thoughtful gesture. We also get our first musical number of the series, "She's Candace", albeit in a dream sequence.

The Fast And The Phineas

This episode introduces Isabella's mother Vivian and also give us our first (non-dream sequence) musical number, "Go Phineas"

Lawn Gnome Beach Party Of Terror

In this episode, we are introduced to Candace's best friends Stacy Hirano and Jenny Brown and bully turned friend Buford Van Stomm. We also get the first of many backstories from Doofenshmirtz as we learn about the time he was forced to become his family's lawn gnome after the real one was repossessed. It also gives us one of the series' all time greatest songs in "Backyard Beach".

The Magnificent Few

This episode marks the first appearance of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz's daughter Vanessa, although the fact that she's his daughter isn't revealed until the end of the episode.

S'Winter

This episode marks the first of many times that Candace and Vanessa would interact in the series as well as the first of several times that Vanessa would be involved in one of the big ideas (in this case, combining summer and winter).

Flop Starz

While it wasn't the first episode to include a musical number, it was said musical number ("Gitchee, Gitchee, Goo") that not only became the most famous song from the series but led to Disney Channel asking series co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh to include at least one song in every episode.

Raging Bully

While he first appeared in "Lawn Gnome Beach Party Of Terror", it was this episode that saw Buford, along with Baljeet Tjinder, who debuts in this episode, officially join the main group. It also gave the series its first high profile guest star in Evander Holyfield.

Get That Bigfoot Outa My Face

This episode introduces Linda's parents, Clyde and Betty Jo Flynn, as well as the first of several women that Doofenshmirtz would date throughout the series. Would be followed by a sequel episode, "The Ballad Of Badbeard", later on in Season One.

Tree To Get Ready

Marks the first appearance of Heinz's brother (and future mayor of Danville) Roger Doofenhmirtz.

It's About Time

The first half-hour episode of the series, this episode has Phineas, Ferb and Candace travel back in time after repairing a time machine in a museum. We are also introduced to Carl the Intern and Peter the Panda in this episode.

One Good Scare Ought To Do It

This episode introduces Jeremy's little sister and Candace's nemesis Suzy Johnson, as well as of the show's most famous recurring gags the Giant Floating Baby Head. It is the second half-hour episode of the series.

A Hard Day's Knight

This episode marks the first appearance of Lawrence's parents, Reginald and Winnifred Fletcher. Much like the episode that introduced Linda's parents, it would received a sequel, "Elementary My Dear Stacy", which aired during Season Two.

I, Brobot

Phineas and Ferb created an army of robots to help with their Big Ideas, but things go awry after the robots start coming up with ideas of their own.  Features another of the series' most memorable songs, "Phinedroids and Ferbots".

Mom's Birthday

Phineas and Ferb help plan their mom's birthday party while Candace struggles to come up with the perfect gift. Features another of the show's all time greatest songs, "I Love You, Mom".

I Scream, You Scream

This episode introduces Vanessa's mother and Heinz's ex-wife (as well as Linda's frequent cooking class partner) Charlene Doofenshmirtz. One of two episodes from Season One (along with "Hail Doofania") that has Vanessa attempt to prove to her mom that her dad is evil. Features what may be the second or third most famous song from the series, "Busted". It also establishes Ferb's crush on Vanessa.

The Ballad Of Badbeard

A sequel to the aforementioned "Get That Bigfoot Outa My Face", this episode has the main characters search for the legendary treasure of Badbeard the Pirate. It also introduces another of the series' most famous recurring gags, a talking zebra that always refers to Candace as "Kevin".

Dude, We're Getting The Band Back Together 

Considered by many to be the series' turning point, this episode has Phineas, Ferb, and Candace work together to reunite their parents' favorite band, Love Handel, after Lawrence accidentally forgets their anniversary. It also marks the first time that Heinz and Perry work together as they try to throw a surprise birthday party for Vanessa. Marks the first appearance of Vanessa's first boyfriend Johnny.

Phineas And Ferb Get Busted

Sure, the events of this episode may (Spoiler alert) turn out to be a dream, but that doesn't make the emotional impact of this episode any less real. Candace finally succeeds in busting her brothers but soon realizes that not having them around isn't as fun as she thought it would be. When she learns that the rehabilitation camp they got sent to is actually a prison, she teams up with Jeremy to help them escape. 

Greece Lightning

This episode introduces Dr. Doofenshmirtz's robotic assistant Norm.

Leave The Busting To Us

Candace recruits a television show to help capture her brothers' latest big idea on tape. Introduces another one of the show's famous running gags, the farmer and his wife who constantly asks him if she thought some object he needed was just going to fall out of the sky. (Spoiler alert-it usually does).

Put That Putter Away

When Candace is unable to bust her brothers due to being sick, she asks Stacy to bust them for her; however, she soon finds herself distracted by the big idea, a miniature golf course. Features another of the series' most memorable songs, "Disco Miniature Golfing Queen".

Oil On Candace

The first episode of the series to focus on a character outside of the core group, this episode has Phineas and Ferb help Django Brown (younger brother of the aforementioned Jenny) impress his father Beppo by creating a life size painting of them.

Unfair Science Fair/Unfair Science Fair Redux (Another Story)

The first episode to feature two interconnected stories. In the first, Phineas and Ferb help Baljeet build a portal to Mars for the summer school science fair while Candace competes with another girl for a job at Slushy Burger. In the second, Candace uses the portal to travel to Mars after  mistakenly thinking her friends have abandoned her, leading to her being crowned queen of Mars. Features another one of the show's most famous songs, "Queen Of Mars".

Out To Launch

When Phineas and Ferb learn that their dad has had a star named after them, they decide to build a rocket and travel their themselves but soon find themselves and Candace lost in space.

Comet Kermillian

If "Flop Stars" gave the series its most famous song, then this episode  gave the series its most famous dance in "S.I M.P. (Squirrels In My Pants", thanks to the machinations of Suzy Johnson.

Hail Doofania

Just like the aforementioned "I Scream, You Scream", this episode has Vanessa attempting to prove to her mother that her dad is evil.

I will continue my list tomorrow with Season Two.