So the Sci-Fi thread got me thinking: what is the single greatest TV episode ever, in your opinion? Any genre. I would put an episode from the first year of ER up for it: Love's Labor Lost. I remember seeing that episode when I was about 15 years old, and its stuck with me forever. It has the original cast, it has happiness, then heartbreak. Incredible acting from the principal characters. There was a reason that Anthony Edwards was the highest paid actor on TV for a while.
Lost: "Pilot", "The Constant". DS9" "In the Pale Moonlight" Doctor Who "Blink" ST:NG: "Best of Both Worlds" Six Feet Under: "Everyone's Waiting" GoT: "The Rains of Castamere", "Battle of the Bastards", "HardHome", "The Watchers on the Wall" Supernatural: "Swan Song"
thats a tough one. ill go with seinfeld - 'the hamptons' "shrinkage", kramer lobster poaching, the doctor who says everything is "breathtaking".
I think True Detective, season one, was the greatest single season of any show in television history. Thus, I was tempted to choose an episode from that. But none stood out from the body of work. So my winner would have to go to The Wonder Years finale: Season 6, episode 22. I cry like a baby every time I see it. Greatest show about American adolescence and heartbreak, if you ask me.
Lol I ALMOST went with that one. When Rust went undercover and had to do heroine with that biker gang? Yeah I was on the edge of my seat the whole time
Man, haven't seen all of these, but generally really like your list (the bolded parts I hugely agree with). I would add: DS9 "The Visitor" - IMO just as good as In the Pale Moonlight, just in a different way. Supernatural "Mystery Spot" and "Jus in Bello" - These were my favorites in this show, and they were back-to-back, though very different. The first was an extremely well-done, hilarious Groundhog Day ripoff, while the second was an absolutely brilliant episode defending a police station against demons after the leads get arrested. Too bad the show hasn't been this good in a really long time (I'm still getting through it, in season 10 somewhere IIRC, I'm slow to watch more now because I've mostly lost interest). The Shield "Family Meeting" - Series finale. They couldn't have ended it more brilliantly. It's the evil twin to the Six Feet Under ending. Just as good, but also terrible. There are certainly shows I like just as much or more than these, but I can't immediately think of others that have individual episodes that stood out from the pack this much for me.
got - season 6 finale fresh prince - will's dad leaves him again seinfeld - soup nazi saved by the bell - jessie is so excited the morning show - mitch's flash back
Star Trek Next Gen when Picard lives an entire life on an alien planet in what appears to be an instant to the crew. They find a weird satellite from a dead civilization and by having someone live out a lifetime it tells a detailed history of the planet. Miami Vice when they just drive to Phil Collins in the Daytona while Tubbs endlessly loads a shotgun.
Best music interlude... driving the Ferrari through Miami with the lights of the city reflected in the hood of the car while In the Air Tonight is playing... really the only thing I remember about the show...
Good Times - Episode when the telegram arrived that James passed away Seinfeld - Man hands/forbidden city/Kramer gets a job episode Simpsons - Lemon Tree is stolen by Shelbyville Fresh Prince - Will's father abandons him again Family Matters - The Dragons gang causes trouble and Urkel goes undercover Boy Meets World - On the Fence
Some great ones have already been mentioned. The X-files was such a great series that it's almost impossible to identify one "best episode". This is evident on the internet where every list of "best X-files episodes" is almost completely different from the next list. I'll mention two of them: X-files "Pusher" X-files "Bad Blood" X-files "Squeeze" There are so many other fantastic episodes that it's almost impossible to choose. Others to watch: X-files “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” X-files "War of the Coprophages" X-files "Detour" X-files "Anasazi / The Blessing Way / Paper Clip"
I’d submit something from Breaking Bad has to be here. The entire final season was some of the best TV I’ve ever seen so I will say the final episode.