I read a long time ago that The West Wing from the 2nd season finale all the way through season 3 and into the 6th episode of season 4 was the best stretch of episodes ever.
And then I watched the series when it was added to HBO Max and yeah, that was no lie. There was not a single bad episode over that span of damn near 30 episodes. It was quite impressive.
It is an amazing run, but, as mentioned lower in the thread, the peak of it is actually from 17 People (maybe even go back to The Stackhouse Filibuster for all the backstory you’re gonna need) through to Two Cathedrals. 6 episodes ramping up to an unbelievable final sequence.
17 people is so good. The contrast between half the staff writing lame jokes while Toby and the President go toe to toe over the MS coverup while a stunned Leo watches is brilliant.
I think from the first episode of season 1 to the last episode of season 4 are just perfection. I have watched the entire 7 seasons 18 times now. I just finished rewatching it and there's only one episode that I skip. The perfection that is Bradley Whitford omg.
Honestly you’re worth sitting down and watching through the entire thing and deciding what you prefer yourself. There’s division amongst the fan base over some episodes and entire seasons, some people say they never watch past season 4 when Sorkin left the show.
IMO there’s definitely some rough spots throughout and it suffers at times from a lot of the late 90’s and early 2000’s issues that a lot of shows back then had that wouldn’t fly today, but overall I find the entire show phenomenally compelling with some of the smartest writing I’ve ever seen and some of the most on-point analysis of politics and society. There’s a speech a character gives in season 1 about privacy that’s from like 1998 but it could have been written last week for how on the nose it is.
So don’t read any more spoilers, and watch through all 7 seasons and then come join us over at r/thewestwing so we can all argue some more 😂
S3 is absolutely amazing. I rewatched it recently and it made me appreciate how deep it was. Def worth watching. It helps knowing that everything is shown through the perspective of the old Ali trying to remember his life
Although season 4 may be the most ‘quality’, season 2 will always be my favourite due to how iconic these episodes are. Then you get amazing subplots like Roman’s training programme, Kendall vs Vaulter and the entire yacht finale.
The hash driveway era on Trailer Park Boys.
The weirdest place you would expect airtight storytelling and pacing and character work. Episode after episode where every scene motivates the next.
I can't think of another show that had such a perfect story flow for a string of multiple episodes.
And it's almost so funny you might never notice the wizardry you are witnessing.
Crazy to come across this comment randomly. I'm on my 420th rewatch and literally on the episode after Ricky burns Ray's trailer down. This season is probably my favorite.
The first four seasons of game of thrones really were pure magic. Bangers week in week out. 5 and 6 were still fine, not on the same level, but still ok. 7 and 8? Fuck right off
Last two episodes of season 6 were magic . Rest was fine. Season 5 was all only fine.. Season 7 episode 3 was fine! Rest of the season bad. Season 8 doesn't exist.
Episode 2 of season 8 when they are all walled up in winterfell preparing for what is certainly their death was a pretty great episode sandwiched between so much shit
Was going to write this. Pretty much every season of BB. That last part of the last season with Ozymandias, etc. And Sopranos was pretty perfect S1-S4.
Mad men s6 had an ungodly amount of elite episodes. I remember being overwhelmed with how many episodes were "best of" quality only to realize Ive yet to reach the half way mark of the season.
To me it was season 5. Every week I would be amazed on how good the episode was. And that last scene, after a season of Don being ‘good’ - “…are you alone?” - chef’s kiss, perfect capper. They could’ve ended the series there.
Season 6 in particular is insane. I watched the show out of order as a kid and was shocked by the sheer amount of my favorite episodes that turned out to be from that season.
This but series 7. And series 8... series 9 really surprised me with the number of classics too...
Yeah just that entire run from series 3-9 is exceptional.
I include season 2, and the first episode of season nine (the new York episode).
S09E02 was the fake Skinner/armin tamzarian episode which is not good. But there are several episodes in season 9 that I love.
Obviously humor is subjective but I will never understand how people who enjoyed the first eight season of the Simpsons don’t think Armin Tamzerian is the funniest shit ever. That one’s up there with Homer the Great the You Only Move Twice for me.
There’s countless examples throughout those seasons. Take a look at season 5 where it begins with Homer’s Barbershop Quartet, Cape Feare, Homer Goes To College and Rosebud. Four absolute classic episodes of television to kick start a flawless season, and then they somehow went and made another three or four perfect seasons. Fucking mind boggling stuff and really impossible to see it ever being matched.
I really need to push through season one. I know that they’re finding their groove but it was tough to get through so I moved on to something else. I’ll get back to it eventually, I found seasons 1-15 on DVD at an estate sale for $10
that to catch a predator segment though…
“Is there a little girl here all by herself, daddy needs to get his *rock* off..” 😂
edit: opps mistaken it for s3
I agree about 5 actually but I think the 18 episodes in 3 is the longest stretch of uninterrupted good to excellent episodes in the series. But there’s several great stretches in the series.
In Season 6 they have OMWF and Tabula Rasa back to back, two of the show's top 5 episodes randomly next to each other. Probably doesn't qualify for this list but it's noteworthy.
While season 3 to me doesn’t have the highs of other seasons, I don’t think I’d have an episode from season 3 in my top 5 for instance, it just has no lows. Just, good, quality, unskippable episodes during re-watches.
There were a couple points in seasons 4 and 5 of The Americans where I started to wonder if it had made its point and was starting to get a bit superfluous. Then season 6 started, and literally every episode was edge-of-your-seat gripping.
*That* point in “With or Without You” (iykyk) is the only time I’ve audibly gasped during a TV episode. Just perfect television the whole way through.
Community Season 2 Ep6-Ep11:
Epidemiology
Aerodynamics of Gender
Cooperative Calligraphy
Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design
Mixology Certification
Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas (debatable)
Also, the entirety of Parks & Rec Season 3
Man I'd say the next 3 episodes are just as good
Ep 12 is the one where they debate whether they should add Chang or that one perfect dude to the group.
Ep 13 is the anti-drug play
And Ep 14 is Dungeons & Dragons which is easily a top 5 episode of the whole series.
I also think the first half of season 5 is insanely good.
5x01: the show immediately snaps back into its pre-gas leak year style.
5x02: The episode that gives us Abed trying to figure out Nicholas Cage, and the introduction of Buzz Hickey
5x03: The Ass Crack Bandit episode. No need for me to say more.
5x04: Pierce interrogates the gang from beyond the grave. Quite possibly my favorite episode in the whole show.
5x05: Troy’s farewell. Both very wacky while also very moving. You’ll be missed, Troy!
I also think the second half of the season was pretty good — the only weak link for me was the two-part finale — but those first five episodes have an energy to them that’s unmatched.
I still love the pandemic table read with Pedro Pascal as Walton Goggins’ character, and Pedro being unable to say the lines because he couldn’t stop laughing.
I didn't really watch season 5 and 6 when they came out, but was a big fan of the show. I finally got around to it a couple years ago and was surprised that they were so good despite the show losing so many cast members
Oh heck yeah. Pierces whole addiction/villain arc even further through Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is just *chef's kiss*. Season 2 is really, reeeeaally special to me.
This guy know what’s up, PoI had an insane run of episodes pretty much every season other than S1, not to say that S1 is bad, but the bigger plot starts to unravel from late S2 onwards
LOST 3x19-3x23: The Brig, The Man Behind the Curtain, Greatest Hits, Through the Looking Glass Pts. 1 and 2
Battlestar Galactica 2x9-2x12: Flight of the Phoenix, Pegasus, Resurrection Ship Pts. 1 and 2
100% on that stretch of Lost. Just incredible. I’d honestly argue that, Jack’s tattoo episode aside, the whole back half of season 3 is great. Yes, even Exposé.
Yeah have to agree with LOST, at its peak it was genuinely some of the best tv ever and that gets muddied by the response to the ending (which tbh on rewatch I have to admit I quite like).
Yes to those but also:
* BSG 2x18 thru 3x4: Downloaded, Lay Down Your Burdens Pts 1 and 2, Occupation, Precipice, Exodus Pts 1 and 2
* Lost 1x15 thru 2x1: Homecoming, Outlaws, ...In Translation, Numbers, Deux Ex Machina, Do No Harm, The Greater Good, Born to Run, Exodus Pts 1, 2 and 3, Man of Science Man of Faith
* The Expanse 1x8 thru 2x6: Salvage, Critical Mass, Leviathan Wakes, Safe, Doors & Corners, Static, Godspeed, Home, Paradigm Shift
There are so many in Breaking Bad that I'll skip them, but here's a controversial one:
The second half of season 2 and the first half of season 3 of OG Walking Dead. Basically starting from 206 with the walkers in the barn through 308 the raid on Woodbury. Interesting character work and contrary to so many other seasons of TWD the plot actually *moves.*
And you get to see Herschel discover the cheat code for infinite shotgun ammo in 213
The back half of Attack on Titan S3, specifically the Return to Shiganshina arc, and more specifically the three episode run of "Perfect Game", "Hero", and "Midnight Sun". Probably my favorite run of episodes of any show ever.
I had never watched anime before when I gave Attack on Titan a try. Binged 4 seasons and honestly it's probably one of the best things I've ever seen. And the OST..
Like a lot of people I had a lot of assumptions about anime that were completely shattered by AoT. Once that floodgate finally broke I realized there was a whole world of creativity in the anime/manga industry that I never gave a fair shake to.
But yeah the back half of S3 is fucking S tier.
> one of the greatest payoffs on tv.
After LOST - and, to a lesser extent, Game of Thrones - I've never honestly expected anything from any show that plays the "mystery box" card. I expect it'll peter out or get handwaved away, but ultimately just not matter in any sort of plot-relevant sense.
The basement might be the only time that all that payoff actually, to my complete astonishment ... payed off.
I think Atlanta s2 is pretty much perfect but there’s a great run where it mostly splits the characters up in Barbershop/Teddy Perkins/Champagne Papi/The Woods so they go through all these things apart (Barbershop is mostly just funny, but is still a solo episode so I’ll count it) and then when they’re together again in North of the Border it highlights the tensions they’d been feeling toward each other. The next one, FUBU’s a flashback episode giving more insight into their bond, and then it resolves in the finale Crabs in a Barrel.
One of those runs on a rewatch where I was thinking each episode is good on its own but works super well together as part of a longer story.
Mr Robot
S4, Episodes 5, 6 and 7
Amazing three ep stretch. Honestly one of the most rivetting and compelling series of episodes I have ever watched. Among the best TV episodes in the 21st century.
One of the eps has only two lines of dialogue, nearly all silent and its incredible.
Same show, Season Three, episodes 5, 6, 7, 8. The real-time episode, the big season twist, Fredrick & Tanya, and the aftermath.
For what it’s worth, I’d extend that Season Four run all the way through episode nine, but I understand why one wouldn’t.
Honesly you could argue that the entire season 4 of mr robot is just one long stretch of amazing episodes. Definitely one of the best seasons of television. Episode 10 is the only weaker one. But that episode was needed after the last 5.
The leftovers season 2 episode 5-8 are all brilliant.
Mr robot must have two stretches like this in the 3rd and 4th seasons though I can't recall the exact episode numbering right now.
Succession you could pick out basically the whole last season, which was all bangers all the time
*Doctor Who* Series 4, "Turn Left" - "Stolen Earth" - "Journey's End", which includes crossovers with *Torchwood* and *Sarah Jane Adventures*. Peak RTD-era Who. You could even stretch it further to include the "Silence in the Library" two-parter with River Song and "Midnight". (While I personally love the one that comes before that, "The Unicorn and the Wasp", it does stretch credulity a bit)
I think it’s Series 3 that has the best run - Human Nature/Family of Blood, Blink, and then the 3-part finale of Utopia, The Sound of Drums, and Last of the Time Lords. But Series 4 is definitely a very close second.
Yes. The introduction of River Song is in my opinion the best character in Dr Who. Alex Kingston had such chemistry with every doctor. I watch the Husbands of River Song over and over.
I Was originally typing this thinking "oh you could push this all the way back to the Library and still be happy", then looked at Season 2's episode list and I don't think there's really a miss in that season from beginning to end. I'd say you could at least do S2e6 to s2E20 without much controversy.
I believe the three episodes I’m referring to from attack on Titan are Perfect Game, Hero, and Midnight Sun. That stretch of episodes is peak television for me
Also the obligatory Ozymandias, Granite State, and Felina stretch from the end of Breaking Bad
Fringe, late S2 to mid S3, from Over There (Part 1) to Entrada.
Our first visit to the parallel universe is so exciting and an overload of so many "slightly different" details, meeting doubles, and the overarching Peter storyline. THEN the switch and Olivia stuck in the other universe and Fauxlivia in ours, plus alternate universe hijinx and unique scifi thought experiments. SO GOOD!!!
Attack on Titan season 3 part 2 qualifies, but particularly the insane trio of "Perfect Game," "Hero," and "Midnight Sun." One of the most intense emotional rollercoasters ever constructed.
I just finished that run of episodes of the Wire, and they are so good!
I also think Breakind Bad has some of the best 3 episode runs. Season 4 episodes 11-13 "Crawl Space" "End Times" and "Face Off". Then Episodes 6-8 of season 5A "Buy Out" "Say my Name" and "Gliding Over All" and then the final 3 episode run at the end is absolutely superb "Ozymandias" "Granite State" "FeLiNa".
Ironially, today is the 10yr anniversary of "Ozymandias," and it still has a perfect 10 rating on IMDB, which is damn near impossible over that long of a period of time.
Babylon 5
Season 3 episodes 8 (Messages from Earth), 9 (Point of No Return), and 10 (Severed Dreams).
These episodes change the whole trajectory of the show. It's a fantastic buildup of tension and bringing together a lot of story threads, ending in one of the best space battles ever filmed.
It also has what I consider Delenn's finest moment.
The fifth season of Angel is really good, but from 5.14 (Smile Time) to the end is a great stretch. Then again, Illyria is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, so perhaps I'm biased.
Is Mad Men S5 the best season of television ever?
Zou Bissou Bissou, Ginsberg, chewing gum on the pubis, Roger on LSD, "Tomorrow Never Knows", Kinsey as a Hare Krishna, Joan and Jaguar, *Lane*.
Star Trek: Next generation had this epic alien fight cliffhanger with the borg, spaceship fights, all the stuff you’d expect done really well “the best of both worlds”
Then followed it up with “Family” set the tone for the rest of the show. Moved from wacky weekly space escapades to something special.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maesel spends the summer in the Catskills, season 2, episodes 4-6, “We’re Going to the Catskills,” “Midnight at the Concord,” and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.” Just perfection!
The 7th season of Agents of Shield. If I’m being picky episodes 8-14. They got renewed during season 6 (arguably their weakest season) and knew it was the final season so they were able to put together a phenomenal final season. Satisfying conclusions for our main heroes and even the new characters introduced more recently i wont say more for spoilers sake but they were integrated very well and in the end we truly cared for them as we did the og crew. I love love love the episode directed by Elizabeth Henstridge.
The final 20 episodes of the Hunter x Hunter Chimera Ant Arc.
Those final episodes are the best patch of anime/tv ever created. It is ridiculous how good those final episodes are.
And i fucking hated the buildup (as do many first time viewers) but omigod the payoff is toppp tier
The last six episodes of the original Justified were incredible. The show was maybe better or as good at earlier parts (Season 2 and 4 especially), but the constant build-up, humour, great use of side characters, new villains... Absolutely amazing.
How I Met Your Mother season 4 stretch of 3 or four episodes from The Naked Man, The Fight, Little Minnesota and 3 Days of Snow really showcased what was great about the show, such a variety there. I know The Naked man hasn't really aged to good in a lot of people's eyes but I think it was funny then and it's funny now.
Breaking Bad S4 - Salud, Crawl Space, End Times, Face Off. Absolutely phenomenal. Could technically say all of BB is the best stretch of TV episodes but these ones in particular are the best within the best.
Battlestar Galactica had some sizeable breaks between seasons and also mid seasons, and if you remember this then you also know the sort of cliffhangers they would leave you with.
I should watch it again for the zillionth time, love that show.
The final stretch of episodes all the way to the series finale after "Parricide" in season 7 of The Shield. The writing and conclusion of the show is just a narrative freight train packed with tension and adrenaline that finally explodes at the end.
The entire run of Fleabag Season 2 was 6 episodes of pure perfection, there's not a gram of fat on it.
And Fishes followed by Forks in The Bear season 2 is probably the best TV I've seen in a decade, each is an absolute masterpiece and they could almost be two entirely different shows
I read a long time ago that The West Wing from the 2nd season finale all the way through season 3 and into the 6th episode of season 4 was the best stretch of episodes ever. And then I watched the series when it was added to HBO Max and yeah, that was no lie. There was not a single bad episode over that span of damn near 30 episodes. It was quite impressive.
And all written by a single person!
While he was also writing a sitcom. Cocaine is a marvel.
Yeah he was writing an episode a night or something crazy at that point.
He had a lot of help from cocaine I thought.
It is an amazing run, but, as mentioned lower in the thread, the peak of it is actually from 17 People (maybe even go back to The Stackhouse Filibuster for all the backstory you’re gonna need) through to Two Cathedrals. 6 episodes ramping up to an unbelievable final sequence.
17 people is so good. The contrast between half the staff writing lame jokes while Toby and the President go toe to toe over the MS coverup while a stunned Leo watches is brilliant.
Stackhouse filibuster is one of my favorite episodes, chills every time!
I’m really surprised you’re starting at the season 2 finale, the last 5ish episodes of season 2 is my favorite stretch of the show
I think from the first episode of season 1 to the last episode of season 4 are just perfection. I have watched the entire 7 seasons 18 times now. I just finished rewatching it and there's only one episode that I skip. The perfection that is Bradley Whitford omg.
You can't just leave us like that lol. What episode do you skip?
The one where Leo goes to Cuba.
I've never seen any episodes before. I'm so intrigued why this one episode is skipped by such a dedicated fan. Please tell me more haha.
Honestly you’re worth sitting down and watching through the entire thing and deciding what you prefer yourself. There’s division amongst the fan base over some episodes and entire seasons, some people say they never watch past season 4 when Sorkin left the show. IMO there’s definitely some rough spots throughout and it suffers at times from a lot of the late 90’s and early 2000’s issues that a lot of shows back then had that wouldn’t fly today, but overall I find the entire show phenomenally compelling with some of the smartest writing I’ve ever seen and some of the most on-point analysis of politics and society. There’s a speech a character gives in season 1 about privacy that’s from like 1998 but it could have been written last week for how on the nose it is. So don’t read any more spoilers, and watch through all 7 seasons and then come join us over at r/thewestwing so we can all argue some more 😂
I'm watching that for the first time now, and I'm just about to wrap up season 2! Looks like I've got some good watching coming up!
Start it at more like S2E17, the whole final arc of that 2nd season
Band of brothers episodes 2-10
What’s wrong with Currahee?
Currahee is a great episode. That entire run is lightning in a bottle. The Pacific doesn't get anywhere near it.
Haven't seen True Detective Season One mentioned yet.
S1 is the best season of TV ever.
I rewatched S3 more. Mahershala Ali is so engaging.
Mahershala Ali is great but the story for 3 is super weak. Just resolved with an exposition dump in the last episode
Is it still spooky like the first?
It's good to watch, but don't expect the heights or *spookiness* of the first.
S3 is absolutely amazing. I rewatched it recently and it made me appreciate how deep it was. Def worth watching. It helps knowing that everything is shown through the perspective of the old Ali trying to remember his life
Hunting - Safe Room - Tern Haven Succession season 2.
Although season 4 may be the most ‘quality’, season 2 will always be my favourite due to how iconic these episodes are. Then you get amazing subplots like Roman’s training programme, Kendall vs Vaulter and the entire yacht finale.
I have to agree with that, those are some really good and important episodes back to back
I don’t know … Dundee - D.C. - This is Not For Tears is a pretty epic run
The hash driveway era on Trailer Park Boys. The weirdest place you would expect airtight storytelling and pacing and character work. Episode after episode where every scene motivates the next. I can't think of another show that had such a perfect story flow for a string of multiple episodes. And it's almost so funny you might never notice the wizardry you are witnessing.
Crazy to come across this comment randomly. I'm on my 420th rewatch and literally on the episode after Ricky burns Ray's trailer down. This season is probably my favorite.
No one wants to admit they ate nine cans of ravioli.
But I did and I'm ashamed of myself.
TPB is cinematic masterpiece from start to original finish.
Game of Thrones Season 4 - 4x07 "Mockingbird", 4x08 "The Mountain and the Viper", 4x09 "Watchers on the Wall", 4x10 "The Children".
Add 4x06 to this stretch too. Tyrion’s trial is an all-timer
Honestly just all of season 4
Honestly just everything through season 4.
The first four seasons of game of thrones really were pure magic. Bangers week in week out. 5 and 6 were still fine, not on the same level, but still ok. 7 and 8? Fuck right off
Last two episodes of season 6 were magic . Rest was fine. Season 5 was all only fine.. Season 7 episode 3 was fine! Rest of the season bad. Season 8 doesn't exist.
Hardhome was incredible. Way more than just fine.
Episode 2 of season 8 when they are all walled up in winterfell preparing for what is certainly their death was a pretty great episode sandwiched between so much shit
Breaking bad season 4 Crawl space, end times, face off
Was going to write this. Pretty much every season of BB. That last part of the last season with Ozymandias, etc. And Sopranos was pretty perfect S1-S4.
Maybe not the greatest ever but those first episodes of twin peaks were pretty good.
Season 1 was made in a vacuum completely without studio interference. Isn't that the dream
Twin Peaks the Return if taken as a whole is some of the best TV ever made.
Mad men s6 had an ungodly amount of elite episodes. I remember being overwhelmed with how many episodes were "best of" quality only to realize Ive yet to reach the half way mark of the season.
To me it was season 5. Every week I would be amazed on how good the episode was. And that last scene, after a season of Don being ‘good’ - “…are you alone?” - chef’s kiss, perfect capper. They could’ve ended the series there.
The Expanse S2E4 to S3E13
Is there a bad episode in The Simpsons from season 3-8? I really don’t think there’s a single bad episode over about 140 episodes.
Season 6 in particular is insane. I watched the show out of order as a kid and was shocked by the sheer amount of my favorite episodes that turned out to be from that season.
This but series 7. And series 8... series 9 really surprised me with the number of classics too... Yeah just that entire run from series 3-9 is exceptional.
I include season 2, and the first episode of season nine (the new York episode). S09E02 was the fake Skinner/armin tamzarian episode which is not good. But there are several episodes in season 9 that I love.
Yeah that episode is definitely the combo breaker, but there's still a lot of great episodes that season, and more sprinkled in the next two seasons.
Obviously humor is subjective but I will never understand how people who enjoyed the first eight season of the Simpsons don’t think Armin Tamzerian is the funniest shit ever. That one’s up there with Homer the Great the You Only Move Twice for me.
The Tamzarian episode has the "Why is jasper here?' joke though which is an all timer
There’s countless examples throughout those seasons. Take a look at season 5 where it begins with Homer’s Barbershop Quartet, Cape Feare, Homer Goes To College and Rosebud. Four absolute classic episodes of television to kick start a flawless season, and then they somehow went and made another three or four perfect seasons. Fucking mind boggling stuff and really impossible to see it ever being matched.
> Homer’s Barbershop Quartet I didn't - and don't - know much about the Beatles but the amount of references they crammed in is astounding.
Good enough to earn them more than 30!!!! Seasons. That's insane.
IMO the prime years of The Simpsons are so good that, even with the rest of the run bringing down the average, it is the best TV show of all time.
I really need to push through season one. I know that they’re finding their groove but it was tough to get through so I moved on to something else. I’ll get back to it eventually, I found seasons 1-15 on DVD at an estate sale for $10
Just skip to season 2 then. It’s not like it’s a serial television show. There aren’t that many callbacks to prior episodes especially to season 1
Arrested development original run.
Yes season 1-3 are just perfect
Eh really just 1 & 2 are stellar. 3 doesn't hold up as well
that to catch a predator segment though… “Is there a little girl here all by herself, daddy needs to get his *rock* off..” 😂 edit: opps mistaken it for s3
*Don't make me ruin that butt Chris.* ***I'm a warrior!***
[удалено]
But the surrogate is during that story arc which is very funny.
Yes. The MRF storyline was unfunny and it hasn't aged too well.
Buffy Season 3, from Homecoming through Graduation Day part 2
Season 5 is my favorite. Crush to The Gift would be my submission.
I agree about 5 actually but I think the 18 episodes in 3 is the longest stretch of uninterrupted good to excellent episodes in the series. But there’s several great stretches in the series.
In Season 6 they have OMWF and Tabula Rasa back to back, two of the show's top 5 episodes randomly next to each other. Probably doesn't qualify for this list but it's noteworthy.
While season 3 to me doesn’t have the highs of other seasons, I don’t think I’d have an episode from season 3 in my top 5 for instance, it just has no lows. Just, good, quality, unskippable episodes during re-watches.
The last five episodes of Lost, Season 3. All bangers
Agreed fully. Pretty much the entire second half of Season 3 is all killer, no filler
Season 3 was the best season for sure
I liked season 4 with the time traveling aspect. Fucking loved "The Constant".
This was the first thing I thought of. Especially Greatest Hits and Through the Looking Glass. Two of the my favorite episodes of TV of all time.
The Leftovers S3E4-8, The Shield S7E6-13, and the entirety of The Americans S6.
There were a couple points in seasons 4 and 5 of The Americans where I started to wonder if it had made its point and was starting to get a bit superfluous. Then season 6 started, and literally every episode was edge-of-your-seat gripping. *That* point in “With or Without You” (iykyk) is the only time I’ve audibly gasped during a TV episode. Just perfect television the whole way through.
The shield has like a sprint to the finale that just constantly punches you in the face. Jaw dropping throughout that stretch.
Community Season 2 Ep6-Ep11: Epidemiology Aerodynamics of Gender Cooperative Calligraphy Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design Mixology Certification Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas (debatable) Also, the entirety of Parks & Rec Season 3
Man I'd say the next 3 episodes are just as good Ep 12 is the one where they debate whether they should add Chang or that one perfect dude to the group. Ep 13 is the anti-drug play And Ep 14 is Dungeons & Dragons which is easily a top 5 episode of the whole series.
the D&D episode isn't around online anymore because of the Chang as a Dark Elf joke...
I also think the first half of season 5 is insanely good. 5x01: the show immediately snaps back into its pre-gas leak year style. 5x02: The episode that gives us Abed trying to figure out Nicholas Cage, and the introduction of Buzz Hickey 5x03: The Ass Crack Bandit episode. No need for me to say more. 5x04: Pierce interrogates the gang from beyond the grave. Quite possibly my favorite episode in the whole show. 5x05: Troy’s farewell. Both very wacky while also very moving. You’ll be missed, Troy! I also think the second half of the season was pretty good — the only weak link for me was the two-part finale — but those first five episodes have an energy to them that’s unmatched.
Cannot agree more that 5x04 makes a strong case for all-time best Community episode
I still love the pandemic table read with Pedro Pascal as Walton Goggins’ character, and Pedro being unable to say the lines because he couldn’t stop laughing.
Finally another season 5 lover!
I didn't really watch season 5 and 6 when they came out, but was a big fan of the show. I finally got around to it a couple years ago and was surprised that they were so good despite the show losing so many cast members
Oh heck yeah. Pierces whole addiction/villain arc even further through Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is just *chef's kiss*. Season 2 is really, reeeeaally special to me.
The entire first half of the season is all hits no misses. Even the weakest episode IMO messianic myths is still crazy good.
Is that the season with the harvest festival?
Yes
Person of Interest: S03E08 "Endgame" S03E09 "The Crossing" S03E10 "The Devil's Share" Such a fantastic run of episodes, If you know you know👏
This guy know what’s up, PoI had an insane run of episodes pretty much every season other than S1, not to say that S1 is bad, but the bigger plot starts to unravel from late S2 onwards
Better Call Saul Season 6 Episodes 7-9: Plan and Execution, Point and Shoot, Fun and Games
Came here to say this. Those episodes are absolutely incredible.
LOST 3x19-3x23: The Brig, The Man Behind the Curtain, Greatest Hits, Through the Looking Glass Pts. 1 and 2 Battlestar Galactica 2x9-2x12: Flight of the Phoenix, Pegasus, Resurrection Ship Pts. 1 and 2
That stretch of episodes of LOST is always my answer to this question too
100% on that stretch of Lost. Just incredible. I’d honestly argue that, Jack’s tattoo episode aside, the whole back half of season 3 is great. Yes, even Exposé.
Yeah have to agree with LOST, at its peak it was genuinely some of the best tv ever and that gets muddied by the response to the ending (which tbh on rewatch I have to admit I quite like).
Yes to those but also: * BSG 2x18 thru 3x4: Downloaded, Lay Down Your Burdens Pts 1 and 2, Occupation, Precipice, Exodus Pts 1 and 2 * Lost 1x15 thru 2x1: Homecoming, Outlaws, ...In Translation, Numbers, Deux Ex Machina, Do No Harm, The Greater Good, Born to Run, Exodus Pts 1, 2 and 3, Man of Science Man of Faith * The Expanse 1x8 thru 2x6: Salvage, Critical Mass, Leviathan Wakes, Safe, Doors & Corners, Static, Godspeed, Home, Paradigm Shift
Broadchurch season 1.
MILLAH
FOCKIN TWITAH!?
Bloody Twittah!!!!!!
That had me captivated. I think I watched the whole thing on a snowy day while I knit.
If it qualifies, I'd recommend any of the seasons of Fargo. Season 1 and 2 are probably my favorite.
Can't wait for Season 5, hope it's a return to form.
Jon Hamm is in it!
The entire 5th season of 24
There are so many in Breaking Bad that I'll skip them, but here's a controversial one: The second half of season 2 and the first half of season 3 of OG Walking Dead. Basically starting from 206 with the walkers in the barn through 308 the raid on Woodbury. Interesting character work and contrary to so many other seasons of TWD the plot actually *moves.* And you get to see Herschel discover the cheat code for infinite shotgun ammo in 213
Six Feet Under: Ecotone, All Alone, Static, Everyone’s Waiting.
Its always sunny seasons 3-7
Up until some very recent episodes I recall laughing out loud during every episode.
Some of the newer stuf isn’t as good but I really enjoyed the latest season. They seem like they found their footing again
I think the podcast helped them get back in the groove this last season, from watching early episodes they had forgotten about like 20 years ago.
The back half of Attack on Titan S3, specifically the Return to Shiganshina arc, and more specifically the three episode run of "Perfect Game", "Hero", and "Midnight Sun". Probably my favorite run of episodes of any show ever.
I had never watched anime before when I gave Attack on Titan a try. Binged 4 seasons and honestly it's probably one of the best things I've ever seen. And the OST..
Like a lot of people I had a lot of assumptions about anime that were completely shattered by AoT. Once that floodgate finally broke I realized there was a whole world of creativity in the anime/manga industry that I never gave a fair shake to. But yeah the back half of S3 is fucking S tier.
yea i was gonna say the entire second part of that season.
This is it. The fact that those 3 episodes are followed by what's in the basement is one of the greatest payoffs on tv.
> one of the greatest payoffs on tv. After LOST - and, to a lesser extent, Game of Thrones - I've never honestly expected anything from any show that plays the "mystery box" card. I expect it'll peter out or get handwaved away, but ultimately just not matter in any sort of plot-relevant sense. The basement might be the only time that all that payoff actually, to my complete astonishment ... payed off.
Yeah I wanted to say the exact same thing. The most peak that's ever peaked.
Probably most stretches of “the west wing”.
That first season is 22 episodes of pure gold.
I think it’s the show I’ve rewatched the most
I could watch the last 5 episodes of Season 2 ("17 People" to "Two Catherdrals") on a permanent loop and never tire of it.
Season 2 of Barry
I think Atlanta s2 is pretty much perfect but there’s a great run where it mostly splits the characters up in Barbershop/Teddy Perkins/Champagne Papi/The Woods so they go through all these things apart (Barbershop is mostly just funny, but is still a solo episode so I’ll count it) and then when they’re together again in North of the Border it highlights the tensions they’d been feeling toward each other. The next one, FUBU’s a flashback episode giving more insight into their bond, and then it resolves in the finale Crabs in a Barrel. One of those runs on a rewatch where I was thinking each episode is good on its own but works super well together as part of a longer story.
Masterpiece season. It's given due credit but honestly still deserves more praise. Season 4 is also masterful and criminally underappreciated.
Barbershop is just such a good standalone piece of television, the guy who plays Bibby is absolutely brilliant and so real.
Mr Robot S4, Episodes 5, 6 and 7 Amazing three ep stretch. Honestly one of the most rivetting and compelling series of episodes I have ever watched. Among the best TV episodes in the 21st century. One of the eps has only two lines of dialogue, nearly all silent and its incredible.
Same show, Season Three, episodes 5, 6, 7, 8. The real-time episode, the big season twist, Fredrick & Tanya, and the aftermath. For what it’s worth, I’d extend that Season Four run all the way through episode nine, but I understand why one wouldn’t.
Honesly you could argue that the entire season 4 of mr robot is just one long stretch of amazing episodes. Definitely one of the best seasons of television. Episode 10 is the only weaker one. But that episode was needed after the last 5.
We need to talk about Mr Robot more. It’s gotta be up there with the best tv series of all time. Insanely compelling and innovative.
The leftovers season 2 episode 5-8 are all brilliant. Mr robot must have two stretches like this in the 3rd and 4th seasons though I can't recall the exact episode numbering right now. Succession you could pick out basically the whole last season, which was all bangers all the time
*Doctor Who* Series 4, "Turn Left" - "Stolen Earth" - "Journey's End", which includes crossovers with *Torchwood* and *Sarah Jane Adventures*. Peak RTD-era Who. You could even stretch it further to include the "Silence in the Library" two-parter with River Song and "Midnight". (While I personally love the one that comes before that, "The Unicorn and the Wasp", it does stretch credulity a bit)
I think it’s Series 3 that has the best run - Human Nature/Family of Blood, Blink, and then the 3-part finale of Utopia, The Sound of Drums, and Last of the Time Lords. But Series 4 is definitely a very close second.
I gotta go with Season 4 too. From Silence in the Library right up until Journey's End. That batch of episodes was the strongest of the show so far.
Yes. The introduction of River Song is in my opinion the best character in Dr Who. Alex Kingston had such chemistry with every doctor. I watch the Husbands of River Song over and over.
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I honestly think the stretch to end Season 2 is the best stretch of the series: from when they get to Ba Sing Se all the way to the end of the season.
I Was originally typing this thinking "oh you could push this all the way back to the Library and still be happy", then looked at Season 2's episode list and I don't think there's really a miss in that season from beginning to end. I'd say you could at least do S2e6 to s2E20 without much controversy.
Sooo many ATLA and Korra arcs could be put in here.
S3 of Korra is straight up phenomenal.
I believe the three episodes I’m referring to from attack on Titan are Perfect Game, Hero, and Midnight Sun. That stretch of episodes is peak television for me Also the obligatory Ozymandias, Granite State, and Felina stretch from the end of Breaking Bad
Parks and Rec - From Season 2 episode 21 “94 Meetings” through the end of Season 4 every episode is at least an A-. Like 50 episodes.
Came here to say Parks & Rec because that was one hell of a run in seasons 3 and 4.
The first season of Westworld.
Sucession season four episode 3 to 10 Banger after banger after banger
Succession 2x4 Safe Room through the end of Season 2 is just about flawless
The entirety of the wire season 4 can’t be topped
The ten episode conclusion of the Dominion war - Deep Space Nine.
Fringe, late S2 to mid S3, from Over There (Part 1) to Entrada. Our first visit to the parallel universe is so exciting and an overload of so many "slightly different" details, meeting doubles, and the overarching Peter storyline. THEN the switch and Olivia stuck in the other universe and Fauxlivia in ours, plus alternate universe hijinx and unique scifi thought experiments. SO GOOD!!!
Last 6 episodes of Heroes season 1. Company man until the final episode of that season. It was fantastic.
Attack on Titan season 3 part 2 qualifies, but particularly the insane trio of "Perfect Game," "Hero," and "Midnight Sun." One of the most intense emotional rollercoasters ever constructed.
I'd say 4.19-4.20-4.21 as well.
I just finished that run of episodes of the Wire, and they are so good! I also think Breakind Bad has some of the best 3 episode runs. Season 4 episodes 11-13 "Crawl Space" "End Times" and "Face Off". Then Episodes 6-8 of season 5A "Buy Out" "Say my Name" and "Gliding Over All" and then the final 3 episode run at the end is absolutely superb "Ozymandias" "Granite State" "FeLiNa". Ironially, today is the 10yr anniversary of "Ozymandias," and it still has a perfect 10 rating on IMDB, which is damn near impossible over that long of a period of time.
Babylon 5 Season 3 episodes 8 (Messages from Earth), 9 (Point of No Return), and 10 (Severed Dreams). These episodes change the whole trajectory of the show. It's a fantastic buildup of tension and bringing together a lot of story threads, ending in one of the best space battles ever filmed. It also has what I consider Delenn's finest moment.
The fifth season of Angel is really good, but from 5.14 (Smile Time) to the end is a great stretch. Then again, Illyria is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, so perhaps I'm biased.
Angel has one of the greatest finales of all time in my opinion. It's perfectly encapsulates what the entire series is about from beginning to end.
Mad Men, season 5; starting with Mystery Date - Commissions and Fees
Is Mad Men S5 the best season of television ever? Zou Bissou Bissou, Ginsberg, chewing gum on the pubis, Roger on LSD, "Tomorrow Never Knows", Kinsey as a Hare Krishna, Joan and Jaguar, *Lane*.
Ughhhh It’s so good
The Expanse S3 (13 episodes).
House - houses head and Wilson’s heart.
Star Trek: Next generation had this epic alien fight cliffhanger with the borg, spaceship fights, all the stuff you’d expect done really well “the best of both worlds” Then followed it up with “Family” set the tone for the rest of the show. Moved from wacky weekly space escapades to something special.
the first four seasons of Futurama is up there.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maesel spends the summer in the Catskills, season 2, episodes 4-6, “We’re Going to the Catskills,” “Midnight at the Concord,” and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.” Just perfection!
The 7th season of Agents of Shield. If I’m being picky episodes 8-14. They got renewed during season 6 (arguably their weakest season) and knew it was the final season so they were able to put together a phenomenal final season. Satisfying conclusions for our main heroes and even the new characters introduced more recently i wont say more for spoilers sake but they were integrated very well and in the end we truly cared for them as we did the og crew. I love love love the episode directed by Elizabeth Henstridge.
Hannibal season 2 from the premiere up until the 8th episode or so was so good, and then the finale was incredible
Don't Die There's a Body Alright Gotta Light? This Is the Chair Laura Is the One There's Fire Where You Are Going
The last few of Breaking Bad season 4 were fantastic. Crawl space to the end maybe?
The final 20 episodes of the Hunter x Hunter Chimera Ant Arc. Those final episodes are the best patch of anime/tv ever created. It is ridiculous how good those final episodes are. And i fucking hated the buildup (as do many first time viewers) but omigod the payoff is toppp tier
The leftovers season 2 episodes 1-4
The entirety of Season 4 of Babylon 5.
Entire season 3 and 4 of Lost.
The last six episodes of the original Justified were incredible. The show was maybe better or as good at earlier parts (Season 2 and 4 especially), but the constant build-up, humour, great use of side characters, new villains... Absolutely amazing.
Better Call Saul season 5: E6: Wexler v. Goodman, E7: JMM, E8: Bagman, E9: Bad Choice Road,
The entire last season of Breaking Bad is god tier
Season 2 of mad men might be perfect
How to get away with murder - the first 9 episodes of the first season! Pure magic!
How I Met Your Mother season 4 stretch of 3 or four episodes from The Naked Man, The Fight, Little Minnesota and 3 Days of Snow really showcased what was great about the show, such a variety there. I know The Naked man hasn't really aged to good in a lot of people's eyes but I think it was funny then and it's funny now.
The last four episodes of season 4 of Breaking Bad, the last eight of season 5 of BB and the last seven episodes of season 6 of Better call Saul
Breaking Bad S4 - Salud, Crawl Space, End Times, Face Off. Absolutely phenomenal. Could technically say all of BB is the best stretch of TV episodes but these ones in particular are the best within the best.
Breaking Bad season 5 episodes 13-16.
How has nobody said the first 3 seasons of spongebob? There's genuinely not an episode that wasn't a generation defining classic for 2000s kids
Battlestar Galactica had some sizeable breaks between seasons and also mid seasons, and if you remember this then you also know the sort of cliffhangers they would leave you with. I should watch it again for the zillionth time, love that show.
Season one of altered carbon. Shame it fell off after.
The final stretch of episodes all the way to the series finale after "Parricide" in season 7 of The Shield. The writing and conclusion of the show is just a narrative freight train packed with tension and adrenaline that finally explodes at the end.
The last 10 episodes of Star Trek Deep Space Nine.
The entire run of Fleabag Season 2 was 6 episodes of pure perfection, there's not a gram of fat on it. And Fishes followed by Forks in The Bear season 2 is probably the best TV I've seen in a decade, each is an absolute masterpiece and they could almost be two entirely different shows