Ep 9. 'S' Animals

S Animal is the ninth episode of the twentieth season of the widely popular British game show QI, which stands for "Quite Interesting." The show is hosted by the legendary Stephen Fry, who has been presenting it since its inception, except for a few seasons in between. The show is known for its unique approach to trivia and general knowledge, where the questions are designed to be obscure and challenging, testing the contestants' intellect and wit.

The episode S Animals revolves around the theme of animals whose names begin with the letter 'S.' The panelists for this episode are comedians Sandi Toksvig and Joe Lycett, criminal lawyer Nazir Afzal, and writer/actor Alan Davies, who is a regular on the show. The episode begins with Fry introducing the panelists and setting the rules of the game.

As is the usual format of the show, the panelists receive points not only for correct answers but also for interesting and humorous answers. Fry then jumps straight into the first question, which is about the largest land-dwelling predator in Africa, the Spotted Hyena. The question highlights the unique anatomy of the hyena, which has a female-dominated society and where females have a pseudo-penis.

Moving on from there, Fry explores other curious and fascinating animals whose name begins with 'S.' Some of these include the Sperm whale, Snapping turtle, Sloth, and Seahorse. Fry delves into their unique quirks and abilities, such as the incredibly loud clicking noises made by Sperm Whales, the fact that Snapping turtles can bite with a force of over 600 pounds, and the Sloth's ability to turn its head 270 degrees.

However, the highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the segment where the panelists were shown various pictures of animals whose name begins with 'S' and asked to guess their scientific names. This segment was particularly challenging, as the panelists struggled to get any of the answers right, leading to much laughter and hilarity.

Throughout the episode, there were also several intriguing side notes and trivia nuggets brought up by Fry, such as the fact that the smallest fish in the world is the Paedocypris fish, which is only seven millimeters long. In another segment, Fry talks about the Black Swans, which were first discovered in Australia by Dutch explorers, and how this discovery led to the phrase "Black Swan Event," which refers to unpredictable and unexpected events that have significant consequences.

As the episode draws to a close, there is a quick round where the panelists must guess the animal based on a set of cryptic clues given by Fry. This segment is always a fan favorite, as the clues are often challenging but also humorous and pun-filled.

Overall, S Animals is a fantastic episode that provides plenty of laughs, fascinating knowledge, and intriguing trivia. As with all QI episodes, S Animals manages to entertain and educate in equal measure, and it is sure to leave viewers both amused and informed. With its diverse and engaging panel, witty host, and cleverly designed questions, QI remains one of the most beloved British game shows of all time.