# Greatest episodes of television ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764 "2019-06-19T18:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/1 "2019-06-19T18:37:56Z")
What are your favorite episodes of television ever? Use your own definition for greatness. I will say that generally speaking, for me it’s the episodes that are unlike any other episodes in a series that tend to stand out. Three of mine are from the past year and a half, though I’m sure there are tons more that will come to me if this thread goes anywhere. Here are my top 3 recent tv episodes, in order of greatness: 1. [Atlanta](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4288182/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt) S2E06: [Teddy Perkins](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7629358/?ref_=ttep_ep6) Atlanta is a brilliant show; one “greatest episode ever” after another, but Teddy Perkins takes it to a whole new level. So good that the dropoff between this and my next two choices is a vast chasm. 2) [Forever](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7720790/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt) S1E06: [Andre and Sarah](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8037072/?ref_=ttep_ep6) I didn’t see this one coming AT ALL, and for a minute or three I thought amazon had messed up and included an episode from a different show altogether. But it’s so compelling from pretty much the first minute that I wouldn’t have turned it off even if it were a mistake. Great show, but truly spectacular episode. 3) [Barry](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5348176/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) S2E05: [ronny/lily](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8956332/?ref_=ttep_ep5) Another great show, but this time the episode I’m singling out isn’t an unrelated one-off; it’s (mostly) a regular episode of the show. Well, okay, it’s a little out there for the show’s universe, but compared to the other two on my list this is just a normal episode. But it’s fan-fucking-tastic. What are yours? No worries about including links or episode titles if that’s a hassle; you can just describe it if you like. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/2 "2019-06-19T18:42:57Z")
The Young Ones: Bambi. (I’ll link to it later when I’m home if no one else does.) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/3 "2019-06-19T18:46:04Z")
All in the Family where Sammy Davis Jr. plays himself. Sammy figures out Archie is a bigot so at the end when they are taking a picture Sammy kisses Archie on the cheek as the shot is taken. the whole episode is top notch ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/4 "2019-06-19T18:54:29Z")
**The Outer Limits** (Original series) – _Demon with a Glass Hand_ – possibly my favorite TV science fiction episode ever. Script by Harlan Ellison. Filmed in LA’s Bradbury Building (which was also used in _Bladerunner_ and the original _D.O.A._). Nicely done, with a cute twist. Starred Robert Culp as Trent. **The Dick van Dyke show** – lots of possibilities here, but I’ll go with _It May Look like a Walnut_, the episode from which our own Twilo of Kolak took his username. **Connections** – and all of James Burke’s TV series, really, but the first episode of this first of its kind series , _The Trigger Effect_, had a big impact on me. Still does. **M.A.S.H.** – Again, a lot of good possibilities, but _Life Time_ was one of the most interesting. The doctors have only thirty minutes to repair a soldier’s artery or else he’ll be paralyzed from the waist down. To emphasize the time, they had a clock running in the corner of the screen, showing you how much time was left. When the show originally aired, the clock _was still running during the commercials_ (although not seen, of course), so the same amount of real time took place in the episode. Co-authored by long-time series medical advisor Walter Dishell and Alan Alda. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/5 "2019-06-19T19:01:27Z")
“Tales From the Citadel,” marketed as “The Ricklantis Mixup” is amazing. In a half hour, this episode of Rick and Morty tells a coming of age story of four teenagers (ala Stand By Me), a political thriller, a hostage drama, and a police drama - with all the characters being alternate versions of either Rick or Morty. It’s amazingly well-done. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/6 "2019-06-19T19:01:59Z")
After 50 years of watching tv, it’s really hard to say 😛 For the purposes of this thread, “greatest” for me is going to mean “most surprising, everybody talked about it the next day” and the first thing that sprung to mind is the episode of L.A. Law when Rosalind Shays stepped into the open elevator shaft:eek: Nowadays killing of lead characters is de rigueur but back then it made me gasp. So fun! ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/7 "2019-06-19T19:02:48Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Becoming Parts 1 & 2. The Season 2 conclusion of Buffy’s junior year in high school and her showdown with Angelus/Angel, her vampire love with the fate of the world at stake. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/8 "2019-06-19T19:10:33Z")
I won’t put mine in any order, but I think that these deserve attention: **LOST - The Constant** - this episode is a “sneak attack” episode. It plays out like a pretty good episode and surprises everyone as it goes with some major developments that are very satisfying. \*\* The Leftovers - International Assassin\*\* - such a great show and this one is absolute top from them. **Firefly - Objects in Space** - The final aired episode of Firefly originally and a great way for a show to end its excellent(though way too short) run. **Game of Thrones - Rains of Castamere** - Again, a good episode that surprises us with some major developments. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/9 "2019-06-19T19:40:11Z")
Mary Tyler Moore at Chuckles the Clown’s funeral [Link](https://youtu.be/YmBK5GslDaQ) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/10 "2019-06-19T19:40:32Z")
It’s quite dated now, but at the time, _City on the Edge of Forever_ (Star Trek TOS) was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/11 "2019-06-19T19:41:33Z")
_The Sopranos_, “Pine Barrens.” Tough guys Christopher and Paulie Walnuts totally out of their element when they try to whack a Russian mobster in a snowy forest. Best lines: > [@](#): > > Tony Soprano: [over the phone] It’s a bad connection, so I’m gonna talk fast! The guy you’re looking for is an ex-commando! He killed sixteen Chechen rebels single-handed! > Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri: Get the fuck outta here. > Tony Soprano: Yeah. Nice, huh? He was with the Interior Ministry. Guy’s some kind of Russian green beret. This guy can not come back to tell this story. You understand? > Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri: I hear you. > [the telephone connection is lost - Tony swears, and Paulie hangs up] > Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri: [turning to Christopher] You’re not gonna believe this. He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. The guy was an interior decorator. > Christopher Moltisanti: His house looked like shit. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/12 "2019-06-19T19:49:28Z")
I will nominate Dr. Who’s Blink because it is one of only maybe three Doctor Who episodes I have ever seen and I loved it so it must be something special. For shows I do watch: Hush from Buffy The Vampire Slayer The first Locke episode from Lost Star Trek TNG: The Inner Light Twilight Zone: Number 12 Looks Just Like You That’s a few off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/13 "2019-06-19T19:55:38Z")
The X-Files: Home > **[Home (The X-Files)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(The_X-Files))** > > "Home" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files, which originally aired on the Fox network on October 11, 1996. Directed by Kim Manners, it was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong. "Home" is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the overarching mythology of The X-Files. Watched by 18.85 million viewers, the initial broadcast had a Nielsen rating of 11.9. "Home" was the only episode of The X-Files to carry a TV-MA rating u... ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/14 "2019-06-19T20:14:40Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > The X-Files: Home > > [Home (The X-Files) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(The_X-Files)) That is an excellent episode and a notorious one. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/15 "2019-06-19T20:20:58Z")
_Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ – “The Body” _Magnum, P.I._ – “Did You See the Sunrise?” _Babylon 5_ – I could not say any single episode, but my favorite moment is a scene in “Ceremonies of Light and Dark”, when Londo and Lord Refa have a drink. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/16 "2019-06-19T20:24:21Z")
So many to choose from! For starters, off the top of my head: _ **Seinfeld** _, “The Contest.” The four leads have a, you know, “contest” to see how long they can, uhm, “hold out.” (It’s revealed in the series’ finale that George lied to “win” it.) _ **Dick van Dyke** _, “That’s My Boy?” With guest star Greg Morris, got the series’ loudest, longest laugh ever. _ **Combat!** _, “The Medal.” Guest star Frank Gorshin is eaten up with guilt after being wrongly credited for a dead buddy’s act of heroism. _ **Mission: Impossible** _, “The Mind of Stefan Miklos.” Steve Inhat is a Communist agent with whom the IMF seriously fucks (and fucks over). _ **Star Trek: TOS** _, “City on the Edge of Forever,” of course. “Balance of Terror” and “The Doomsday Machine” are my other two absolute favorites. _ **Star Trek: TNG** _, tie between “The Measure of a Man” and “The Drumhead.” _ **McHale’s Navy** _, “Tiger of the Pacific.” Tim Conway does a JFK impression. _ **Gilligan’s Island** _, “Nyet, Nyet, Not Yet”: _“That Gilligan is too stupid to be stupid.” “Is probably the cleverest one of them all!”_ _ **The Wild, Wild West** _, “The Night of the Big Blackmail.” Harvey Korman is a bad guy bent on creating an international scandal over President Grant. _ **Cheers!** _, “Coach’s Daughter.” No matter how many times I see it, the scene between Ernie and Lisa makes me cry. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/17 "2019-06-19T20:28:43Z")
Pine Barrens (Sopranos) and The Body (BtVS) are excellent choices, as is Inner Light (ST:TNG.) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/18 "2019-06-19T20:37:37Z")
Breaking Bad - Ozymandias Bojack Horseman - Free Churro (or Time’s arrow? hmm…) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/19 "2019-06-19T20:37:42Z")
_ **The Americans** _ is probably my favorite show in recent memory. I’m having trouble deciding between “[START](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5780830/?ref_=adv_li_tt)”, the series finale, and “[Harvest](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6268284/?ref_=ttep_ep7)”. Harvest had some great tense spy drama moments, while START was an incredibly emotional finale. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764/20 "2019-06-19T20:39:08Z")
**Futurama - _Jurassic Bark._** **DS9 - _In The Pale Moonlight_.** **X-Files - _Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose._** **TOS - _The Devil in The Dark._** **The Twilight Zone - _One for the Angels._** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-episodes-of-television-ever/835764.md?page=2)