Really interesting article. Massive spoilers abound, so take care.
A few comments from me below in bold.
1. Six Feet Under, Thats My Dog (2004)
Although it surveyed a wide swath of the human experience over the course of its five-year run, the structure of a Six Feet Under episode changed little from week to week: In each hour, we bounce between the members of the extended Fisher family as they love, live, and plan funerals. One of the rare digressions from this formula was Thats My Dog, a pivotal episode from the shows searching fourth season. In the episode,
I remember when this episode came out it was pretty polarizing. The show came back from it to a very good episode ("Terror Starts at Home," IIRC--forgive my weirdness, but I used to know all of the SFU episode titles by heart, it was a good mnemonic device for falling asleep), but the impact of this episode at the time was shaking and unmistakable.
3. Breaking Bad, Ozymandias (2013)
Anyone who watched Breaking Bad knew that this was a story that wouldnt end happily for Walter White (Bryan Cranston), and the teasers for the final season didnt breed any new optimism, with Cranston reciting Percy Bysshe Shelleys Ozymandias over images of the New Mexico desert. The episode that shared the poems name
Look upon Vince Gilligans works, ye mighty, and despair. [Les Chappell]
Brutal ep. What happens to some of the characters...really intense to watch.
10. My So-Called Life, Life Of Brian (1994)
While My So-Called Lifes main character is a teenage girl, the series 19 episodes featured a full ensemble of beautifully drawn characters, including Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall), a painfully realistic portrait of an awkward nerd. And while there are plenty of adolescent (and adult) embarrassments to go around throughout the shows single season, the show saves one of its most painful moments for Life Of Brian, the episode that turned over narration duty from Angela Chase (Claire Danes) to Krakow for a brief window into the lovesick nerds brain. Brian decides, late in the episode, to trade up for the school dance: Though hes asked sweet-natured Delia Fisher (Senta Moses), he misinterprets a request from his longtime crush Angela as a sign that they could go to the dance together. In the shows most excruciating moment, Brian blows Delia off, doing a terrible job of sparing her feelings. Brians selfishness is both appalling and chillingly identifiable, a precise rendering of a lonely kid getting in his own way. The sharp, insightful scene is almost impossible to watch without flinching. [Jesse Hassenger]
I remember this being an awkward episode to watch. They did a good job examining Brian's character, though IIRC I remember finding the character a bit grating in general. This is a show that really took a while to click for me, but once it did I really liked it. Only watched it a few years ago, though.
16. Friday Night Lights, The Son (2009)
The Son ranks among the best episodes of Friday Night Lights five-season run, but its arguably too effective. Its such an effective hour because it epitomizes the shows efforts to depict teenagers under the weight of physical and emotional strain that would cause stable adults to crumple. Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) has to come to grips with
The Son hits too close to home, making one viewing enough. Full hearts? Absolutely. Clear eyes? Not a chance. [Joshua Alston]
One of the most difficult eps for me on a FNL rewatch. We don't skip it, by any means, but does make me well up a bit. Incredible series and stellar episode.
18. House, Wilsons Heart (2008)
Its almost cruel for a series to offer an episode as painful as Wilsons Heart as not only the second part of a two-parter but also the season finale. But thats Dr. Gregory House for you. Rarely during his eight-season run did he ever have a problem playing with peoples emotions. The preceding episode, Houses Head, was about House being involved in a
curling up in a ball to cry. [Will Harris]
The kind of episode that made me stick with House long after it sank in quality. There were episodes in this show that reached greatness, and this was chief amongst them.
Lots more interesting choices at the link, including episodes from The Office (US) and The Wire:
http://www.avclub.com/article/stream-once-and-destroy-20-great-tv-episodes-too-p-215742
A few comments from me below in bold.
1. Six Feet Under, Thats My Dog (2004)
Although it surveyed a wide swath of the human experience over the course of its five-year run, the structure of a Six Feet Under episode changed little from week to week: In each hour, we bounce between the members of the extended Fisher family as they love, live, and plan funerals. One of the rare digressions from this formula was Thats My Dog, a pivotal episode from the shows searching fourth season. In the episode,
David (Michael C. Hall), the most nervous and straitlaced of the Fisher siblings, is carjacked by a hitchhiker (Michael Weston) who puts him through an escalating series of psychological horrors. As the plot progresses, it pushes other storylines aside to take over the episode, and it dawns on viewers that we are being hijacked, too. The audience is offered no relief as we watch the hitchhiker beat David, make him smoke crack, and force him to suck on the barrel of the gun, among other cruelties. The unrelenting approach gives us our own taste of Davids hopeless feeling, and even loyal Six Feet Under viewers probably hesitate to experience it again. [John Teti]
I remember when this episode came out it was pretty polarizing. The show came back from it to a very good episode ("Terror Starts at Home," IIRC--forgive my weirdness, but I used to know all of the SFU episode titles by heart, it was a good mnemonic device for falling asleep), but the impact of this episode at the time was shaking and unmistakable.
3. Breaking Bad, Ozymandias (2013)
Anyone who watched Breaking Bad knew that this was a story that wouldnt end happily for Walter White (Bryan Cranston), and the teasers for the final season didnt breed any new optimism, with Cranston reciting Percy Bysshe Shelleys Ozymandias over images of the New Mexico desert. The episode that shared the poems name
lived up to all premonitions, bringing Walts empire to the ground with jaw-dropping finality. Its the totality of the loss that breaks the viewer, all the worst things possible happening over one hour. Hank Schrader (Dean Norris), one of the shows most noble characters, gets shot in the head and is buried in an unmarked grave. Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), whose innocence had been beaten to a pulp for more than five years, learns the true reason why the love of his life Jane died and is forced into slave labor by white supremacists. And everything Walt sold his soul for, he loses: the love of his family, the bulk of his fortune, and even his own final sense of self-worth when he realizesin a heartrending momentthat hes stooped so low as to kidnap his own infant daughter. The series continued for two more episodes, but the Heisenberg myth is definitely smashed to rubble here.
Brutal ep. What happens to some of the characters...really intense to watch.
10. My So-Called Life, Life Of Brian (1994)
While My So-Called Lifes main character is a teenage girl, the series 19 episodes featured a full ensemble of beautifully drawn characters, including Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall), a painfully realistic portrait of an awkward nerd. And while there are plenty of adolescent (and adult) embarrassments to go around throughout the shows single season, the show saves one of its most painful moments for Life Of Brian, the episode that turned over narration duty from Angela Chase (Claire Danes) to Krakow for a brief window into the lovesick nerds brain. Brian decides, late in the episode, to trade up for the school dance: Though hes asked sweet-natured Delia Fisher (Senta Moses), he misinterprets a request from his longtime crush Angela as a sign that they could go to the dance together. In the shows most excruciating moment, Brian blows Delia off, doing a terrible job of sparing her feelings. Brians selfishness is both appalling and chillingly identifiable, a precise rendering of a lonely kid getting in his own way. The sharp, insightful scene is almost impossible to watch without flinching. [Jesse Hassenger]
I remember this being an awkward episode to watch. They did a good job examining Brian's character, though IIRC I remember finding the character a bit grating in general. This is a show that really took a while to click for me, but once it did I really liked it. Only watched it a few years ago, though.
16. Friday Night Lights, The Son (2009)
The Son ranks among the best episodes of Friday Night Lights five-season run, but its arguably too effective. Its such an effective hour because it epitomizes the shows efforts to depict teenagers under the weight of physical and emotional strain that would cause stable adults to crumple. Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) has to come to grips with
the death of his father Henry, who is killed during combat in Iraq. Matt cant take solace in other peoples fond memories of Henry as a kind, funny, and brave man when his experience of his frequently absent father doesnt align with the other mourners hagiographic memories. Initially, Matt is the picture of stoicism, but as the chasm grows between his recollection of Henry and the image others have of him, Matt becomes more agitated, then insists on seeing Henrys body after a night of drinking. Though the sight of Henrys body wrecks Matt, he manages to excavate a fond, funny memory of his father and turn it into a heartfelt eulogy for a man he never knew who made him feel abandoned and unwanted. Its a heartrending farewell, and Gilford turns in an unbelievable performance. But for anyone who has struggled to come to grips with the death of someone they wanted to get to know but never had the chance,
One of the most difficult eps for me on a FNL rewatch. We don't skip it, by any means, but does make me well up a bit. Incredible series and stellar episode.
18. House, Wilsons Heart (2008)
Its almost cruel for a series to offer an episode as painful as Wilsons Heart as not only the second part of a two-parter but also the season finale. But thats Dr. Gregory House for you. Rarely during his eight-season run did he ever have a problem playing with peoples emotions. The preceding episode, Houses Head, was about House being involved in a
bus accident but unable to remember (until just before the closing credits rolled) whod been on the bus with him: Dr. Amber Volakis (Anne Dudek), girlfriend of Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), whod gone to help a drunken House get home and followed him when he stormed onto the bus. During the course of Wilsons Heart, its revealed that Ambers use of medication to combat a flu bug had caused amantadine poisoning, which, combined with the injuries she incurred in the crash, had left her kidneys irreparably damaged. She wakes up just long enough to realize her fate, say her goodbyes, and leave Wilsonand the viewersa sobbing mess. Just when you think its as bad as it can possibly get, the last moments of the episode show Wilson alone at home, finding the last note she ever wrote to him (Sorry Im not here, went to pick up House. ❤ A) and
The kind of episode that made me stick with House long after it sank in quality. There were episodes in this show that reached greatness, and this was chief amongst them.
Lots more interesting choices at the link, including episodes from The Office (US) and The Wire:
http://www.avclub.com/article/stream-once-and-destroy-20-great-tv-episodes-too-p-215742
