The best television episodes rival any form of entertainment. As viewers, we’ve spent hours upon hours watching shows, become invested in the characters and plot lines, and are on the edge of our seats as the story progresses.
It’s not all about the payoff; sometimes, a good television episode is an excellent standalone offering. Other times, it’s the pilot episode that has us hooked from the very beginning.
Let’s celebrate the glory of television and discuss some of the most iconic TV episodes of all time.
Be warned; there may be spoilers below!
Breaking Bad – “Ozymandias”
For most of Breaking Bad, Walter White is able to hold everything together. It may not always be pretty, but more often than not, he’s in control.
Until “Ozymandias,” when it all starts to finally fall apart. Hank’s final line, “You’re the smartest guy I ever met. But you’re too stupid to see, he made up his mind ten minutes ago,” remains as impactful today as it did when the episode aired over a decade ago.
Better Call Saul – “Plan and Execution”
In the eyes of many, myself included, this is where Better Call Saul surpassed Breaking Bad.
“Plan and Execution’s” mid-season finale shocker, with Howard Hamlin’s death at the hands of Lalo Salamanca, is still one of the most shocking moments in modern television.
Game of Thrones – “The Rains of Castamere”
Speaking of shocking moments, Game of Thrones was full of them in its early, legendary run.
None more surprising than the Red Wedding, which occurs during the climax of “The Rains of Castamere.” We already knew that no one was safe in Westeros; the death of Ned Stark proved that, but for nearly all of the Stark family to be wiped out in the blink of an eye left viewers speechless. Reaction videos, especially from those unaware of what happened in the books, became viral.
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The Simpsons – “Marge vs. the Monorail”
Let’s lighten things up a bit, shall we?
Written by Conan O’Brien, many view “Marge vs. the Monorail” as one of the best episodes in Simpsons history. Yes, the guest appearances from Phil Hartman and Leonard Nimoy are great, but this is everything that makes a great Simpsons episode: a great main plot, trademark humor, and excellent throwaway jokes.
Seinfeld – “The Contest”
Larry David proved that he is indeed master of his domain by winning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for “The Contest.”
Not only is it an excellent display of comedy, but it’s also an impressive example of how to cover a controversial subject in an inoffensive way without even mentioning the taboo word surrounding the episode’s content.
The Twilight Zone – “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”
“Understand the procedure now? Just stop a few of their machines and radios and telephones and lawnmowers. Throw them into darkness for a few hours and sit back and watch the pattern.”
“The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” acted as a prophetic message for human behavior. There are indeed monsters on Maple Street, but its we who are the monsters that torment each other.
Twin Peaks – “Northwest Passage”
The first episode of David Lynch‘s Twin Peaks is a masterclass of storytelling that works not only as the pilot episode but also as a standalone movie.
While future episodes do a better job of fleshing out certain characters (looking at you, Bobby Briggs), if this were the only piece of Twin Peaks media ever to be created, it would still be one of the greatest movies of all time.
Lost – “Pilot”
From one pilot episode to another, Lost‘s premiere had viewers hooked immediately.
Like Twin Peaks‘ “Northwest Passage,” Lost‘s pilot does an excellent job of feeling like a movie. The first part of the two-part pilot is so well paced that it’s impressive how much the show packs in just 83 minutes across both parts.
I Love Lucy – “Job Switching”
Some will argue that “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” is the better episode, but I have to give it to “Job Switching.”
The scene of Lucy and Ethel struggling on the conveyor belt is peak comedy, proving why I Love Lucy is one of the greatest sitcoms in television history.
BoJack Horseman – “Free Churro”
Every season of BoJack Horseman features an episode with a unique hook. Season 3’s “Fish Out of Water” features minimal dialogue but still does an excellent job of storytelling that puts most other shows to shame.
However, Season 5’s “Free Churro” is a 26-minute monologue that dives into BoJack’s history with his mother while simultaneously setting up for one single punch line that had me rolling with laughter.
The Office – “Dinner Party”
It makes sense that one of the best episodes of The Office is also one of its most uncomfortable to rewatch.
It’s not on the same level as awkwardness as “Scott’s Tots,” but “Dinner Party” does an excellent job of highlighting the worst traits of its characters for comedic effect, most notably in this case, Michael and Jan.
Barry – “ronny/lily”
It’s ironic that Barry‘s “ronny/lily” aired the same night as one of the most anticipated episodes in television history: Game of Thrones‘ “The Long Night.” While the latter was a major disappointment, the former was an incredible piece of television.
Everything works so well in “ronny/lily,” from the over-the-top action, incredible direction and camera work, and wonderful balance between action, drama, and comedy. This is the episode that truly put Barry on the map as one of HBO’s best.
The Wire – “Middle Ground”
Speaking of HBO’s best, let’s talk about The Wire.
“Middle Ground” is not just the penultimate episode of Season 3, but this is where every build-up comes together. This was also, inexplicably, the first time an episode of The Wire was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
Mad Men – “The Suitcase”
Since “The Suitcase” is all about Don and Peggy, let’s let Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss explain it themselves:
“It’s the greatest material I’ve ever had the privilege of acting,” said Moss. Hamm added, “I’ve never ever worked on something and felt the way I felt after we shot the episode in Season 4 called ‘The Suitcase’. That one … I can’t even put it into words.”
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