# The best single shot in a TV episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584 "2008-05-08T17:59:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/21 "2008-05-09T11:08:08Z")
The static “weeping angels” scenes in the S3 Doctor Who episode “Blink” were pretty striking. There’s one at the tail end of this clip (major spoilers but just for that episode): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E4yXEtp6bk) Something rare in Doctor Who, the whole [ontological paradox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontological_paradox) inherent in that scene is pretty good. \*\*\* Ponder ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/22 "2008-05-09T12:11:25Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Wait…Sam “leaped” into his own life? Why didn’t they stop the machine that kept him leaping? I assume it was at an earlier point in his life, but seriously, living a few years over again sure as HELL beats “Sam Beckett never made it home,” or whatever the shit-fest the ended the show was. [/QUOTE] The scene I described was the first scene of the last episode. You and I obviously have a vast difference of opinion about the way that leap turned out, so I’ll leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/23 "2008-05-09T12:18:23Z")
Many things in Twin Peaks: The white horse appearing in the Palmer living room Leland looking in the mirror and we see BOB for the first time Josie’s face in the knob of a dresser The closeup of Jacque’s teeth as he describes the events the night Laura died ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/24 "2008-05-09T12:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=fiddlesticks] If animated shows count, the end of Futurama’s Jurassic Bark when we learn Fry’s dog never stopped waiting for him to return to the pizza parlor. [/QUOTE] You suck for posting that. Just so you know, I don’t like to cry at work. It’s very unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/25 "2008-05-09T12:21:11Z")
The scene in _Reds_ at the train station when Diane Keaton opens her eyes and sees Warren Beatty standing there looking at her. And walks into his arms very slowly. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/26 "2008-05-09T13:29:58Z")
[QUOTE=Wheeljack] If you’re in to Deep Space Nine, I nominate the last shot from Call to Arms, the last episode of season 5. Spoilers for this ten year old show below… DS9 has just fallen into Dominion control after a lengthy (and visually awesome) battle sequence. The last of the Starfleet crew from DS9 flee aboard the badly damaged Defiant, escorted by a single Klingon ship. Things have never looked so grim for our heroes. The last shot of the show is the two ships passing through empty space… suddenly they meet a [huge](http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Second_Fleet.jpg) fleet of Starfleet and Klingon ships headed right back for DS9. The two ships turn around and fall into formation, and the screen fades to black as we realize the real battle hasn’t even begun. [/QUOTE] DS9 is I think my favorite Trek series. They weren’t afraid to get down and dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/27 "2008-05-09T15:31:20Z")
I’ll nominate the fourth-season finale of Xena: Warrior Princess. Xena and her not-wife Gabrielle have been captured by the Romans. The episode ends with them both being crucified and ascending to Heaven together. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/28 "2008-05-09T16:52:30Z")
One from the unceremoniously-killed **Farscape** : season 3 episode 15, called “Infinite Possibilities, Part II: Icarus Abides”. When Crichton uses a wormhole to destroy a Scarran Dreadnought. Let’s see if I can describe this, and why it made an impression on me: The series had a running theme of “we much catch Crichton and use him to make a wormhole weapon!” This puzzled me, because I didn’t really see how wormholes could be used as weapons. Then, at the end of the above episode, the characters are facing off against a Scarran Dreadnought, which is a huge, scary ship. Think Star Destroyer, but bigger and more frightening. Crichton then uses a wormhole as a weapon: he basically opens a wormhole right in front of the Dreadnought, the other end of the wormhole linking to the core of a star. Stellar matter utterly obliterates the Dreadnought, leaving not even ash. “Ah,” I thought, “_that’s_ how to use a wormhole as a weapon.” It was awe-inspiring. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/29 "2008-05-09T20:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] The scene I described was the first scene of the last episode. You and I obviously have a vast difference of opinion about the way that leap turned out, so I’ll leave it at that. [/QUOTE] Well, I’ve seen only a handful of episodes, and my knowledge of the last episode is limited to that single, last line, which I only know from reading about it here. I just get all mad when I hear that he never made it home…but maybe in the context if the episode it’s ok? Actually, thinking about it, is the last episode the one where Sam leaps back and gets Al (that’s the other guy’s name, right?) back together with his wife? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/30 "2008-05-09T22:44:27Z")
[QUOTE=Askance] The last scene of [Blackadder Goes Forth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodbyeee...#Final_scene). [/QUOTE] Yes. After that whole series … yeah, that was a good ending. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/31 "2008-05-09T22:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=j666] Yes. After that whole series … yeah, that was a good ending. [/QUOTE] Spoiler, please? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/32 "2008-05-09T23:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Spoiler, please? [/QUOTE] [Here.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJZsZ0bWTSw) Doesn’t have the same impact if you didn’t watch the series and know the characters. I was stunned the first time I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/33 "2008-05-09T23:12:15Z")
Thanks. I don’t know, it was pretty moving as it was. (I have seen an episode or two here and there.) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/34 "2008-05-09T23:30:58Z")
I don’t know that I would call it my “favorite”, but a shot that has stuck in my brain for a long time is the episode of “ER” when Kellie Martin’s character (Lucy?) got killed. Dr Carter is stabbed by a knife-wielding crazy guy, and as he’s laying there helpless on the floor bleeding, he looks over and sees Lucy also on the floor bleeding and dying. That look on her face was just awful. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/35 "2008-05-09T23:31:15Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Spoiler, please? [/QUOTE] The link in the original post describes it very well. If you are not familiar with Blackadder, well … he was a rather unlucky Machiavelli; full of plots to promote his own interests, based on completely well founded contempt for both his superiors and lackeys \*, that never quite came off - but certainly not because of some innate nobility of said superiors and lackeys, just twists of fate or damned bad luck. He was thoroughly unlikeable and unlucky, and [unattractive](http://www.bbck.ca/images/wallpaper/blackadder02_1024.jpg) character. But all that together with the final scene set in trenches in Flanders in WWI, and … Blackadder leading his men over the top in response to orders he knows are … well, about as bright as our \*\* current military policies and practices, fills one with admiration and despair simultaneously. The decision to fade, rather than show the men cut down, squeezes and twist any hint of human optimism; it’s not ambiguous, just … a bit tasteful (or, apparently, the result of production difficulties \*\*\*) Surprising in an evil little comedy. \*\* US Citizen \*\*\* Much like the famous coconuts in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” … the typical, Gallipoli, tear-jerker ending is knocked arse over head. Aw, christ, I’ve just depressed the hell out of myself … \*Definitely lackeys, not minions ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/36 "2008-05-09T23:49:18Z")
Sportsnight. A couple establishing shots to set it up: Empty newsroom, empty control room, phones ringing, static-y TV screens. Then the camera tracks through the studio – no one at the desk either – and looks down the hallway, where a tide of people rushes through the door. You get a trademark Aaron Sorkin walk-n-talk as Natalie barks out orders, and everyone gets right back to work – 15 minutes and 30 seconds until showtime, and there’s lots to do. Dana comes in through a different door and intercepts the camera, giving orders of her own. Finally, it follows as she rounds a corner and we see Dan and Casey standing completely still in the middle of the newsroom, disconcerted, to put it mildly. [There was a bomb scare](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9qzPJfHdo4). (the first minute or so of that video) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/37 "2008-05-09T23:52:16Z")
Two moments from the very first episode of Doctor Who. 1. the teachers step through the police box doors to find a huge room inside. 2. The police box is no longer where it was, but now in a different location. A figure watches from a distance… end of episode. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/38 "2008-05-10T01:26:20Z")
[QUOTE=Wheeljack] If you’re in to Deep Space Nine, I nominate the last shot from Call to Arms, the last episode of season 5. Spoilers for this ten year old show below… DS9 has just fallen into Dominion control after a lengthy (and visually awesome) battle sequence. The last of the Starfleet crew from DS9 flee aboard the badly damaged Defiant, escorted by a single Klingon ship. Things have never looked so grim for our heroes. The last shot of the show is the two ships passing through empty space… suddenly they meet a [huge](http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Second_Fleet.jpg) fleet of Starfleet and Klingon ships headed right back for DS9. The two ships turn around and fall into formation, and the screen fades to black as we realize the real battle hasn’t even begun. Of course, they let all the air out of it in the next episode, but boy howdy, what a way to end the season! [/QUOTE] Is that the sequence where Avery Brooks breaks camera for an instant? Takes some real talent to pull that off. DS9 had some wonderful moments. The teaser from the pilot is one of the greatest sequences ever. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/39 "2008-05-10T02:08:40Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Wanderer] Is that the sequence where Avery Brooks breaks camera for an instant? [/QUOTE] Explain, please. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584/40 "2008-05-10T02:33:50Z")
1. The scene in Battlestar Galactica when Galactica, hurtling towards the ground, blazing like the wrath of God, vanishes by jumping back into space, and there’s a tremendous BOOM! as the air reoccupies the space it was in. 2. The scene in “Rome” when Titus Pullo, anticipating his own execution, sacrifices a bug and begs the gods not to save himself, but to protect his friends. 3. The Family Guy, “The Hitler Show.” “If you are in ze Los Angeles area, und vould like tickets to see Hitler!, dial two-vun-tree, DU WERDEST EINE KRANKENSCHWERTER BRAUCHEN!” 4. WKRP in Cincinnati, as Les Nessman describes the horrific turkey drop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-single-shot-in-a-tv-episode/448584.md?page=3)