I’d like to try to do this annually now. What was the best episode of TV that aired in 2016?
I’d say for this year it was Fix Everything, an episode of Dirk Gently that just aired this last week. It only works if you watched the previous 5 episodes of the show, but it was incredible. Hilarious and odd all the way through. Truly genius.
It culminated in the main villain entering a room…and we expect him to deliver a pretty bold monologue about how he has won. Or that he will explain everything. What happens?
It might be the funniest scene I’ve seen in a long, long time. My wife and I rewatch it all the time and we laugh every single time. His face! He’s so confused! So are we! And I love it.
Recently watched the Bates Motel season 4 finale, and I’m still blown away. The whole show is an anomaly - good in season 1, kinda OK-ish seasons 2 and 3, then suddenly season 4 is this dark, funny, tragic, sickening piece of beautiful television. A lot of it has to do with character arcs and whatnot, so I don’t think watching a clip packs the same punch, but if you’re looking for something to bingewatch I highly recommend it.
For me, the best episodes aired so far in 2016 are The Walking Dead season 7, episode 1 - A day will come when you won’t be and Westworld Season 1, episode 7 - Trompe L’Oeil.
The Abominable Bride / Sherlock. Skipping back and forth in time, with many in-jokes. I generally have to watch it two or three times to catch it all but Mrs Hudson in a snit because Watson’s stories only ever have her serving tea made me laugh out loud.
Probably forgetting something, but the 2 I can think of at the moment: “Nailed” from Better Call Saul (Mike robs a truck, Jimmy works a scam on Chuck) and “That’s Too Much Man” from Bojack Horseman, (Bojack and Sabrina go on a bender)
I don’t know about the best episode, but by far the most memorable episode of 2016 was “Two in the Box” from “Silicon Valley”, where Richard tries to have a serious discussion with the CEO while two horses make sweet love in the background.
The actual twist wasn’t all that that surprising, but the way it was executed was the classic situation of the character said a line and you go “oh!” another line “OH!” another line “OHHHHH!!!” the big reaveal “OHHHH SHIIIIIII”
It’s an excellent hour of TV, but I would actually rank it as the second best episode of Black Mirror this year. Black Mirror is so good, a great episode like that is not even my #1 episode.
Again, I still think Dirk Gently’s episode last week was the best, though. Humor and surprise can be harder in many ways than tears and love. Still, I love Black Mirror.
After sort of plodding along for awhile, the writers kicked it into high gear for the last 2 episodes of the season. I’d have trouble picking one over there other-- both were just wonderful.
It didn’t air in 2016, but it did air less than 12 months ago, so it kind of counts:
“And the Point of Salvation” from The Librarians (Ezekiel is the only person who remembers they’re in a time loop) is the best episode of anything I’ve seen recently.