Law & Order has never had a VSE. It’s had an episode that broke from its usual format, (Aftershock, the episode in which Claire Kincaid, Jill Hennesey’s character is killed) but there was no moral lesson involved except in the broadest sense. The lack of VSE’s continues to the various L&O franchises.
ER has had a number of episodes with really big happenings and even theme shows (actually most of the shows’ various interwearving storylines follow a very subtle theme) but no specific VSE’s.
Have there been any VSE’s in the CSI franchise yet? I don’t think so. Nor NYPD Blue. Would the gripping episodes of The West Wing or Third Watch be VSE’s or are they just powerful shows?
This is weak, but…
What about the last episode of Seinfeld. It was sort of a mockery of VSE’s by being a very lame one… but one none the less! I’m on to you Larry David!!!
Or not. I dunno.
Bart accidently burns down the family’s Christmas tree and attempts to bury the truth in the front yard, but when the truth is discovered the family becomes town pariahs.
Monster Garage and Iron Chef are not fictional shows with scripts or characters. Well, you know what I mean. Crank Yankers has “characters” and is scripted, to some extent, but has zero continuity or “plot” between episodes.
I agree that BtVS The Body was more of a tour de force than a VSE, but I’d nominate New Moon Rising. It’s an afterschool special smarm-fest with maturity and weepy morality.
Crank Yankers has “characters” and is scripted, to some extent, but has zero continuity or “plot” between episodes.