Best TV episodes of 2018

January 2, 2019

So I previously wrote a post about the best new TV shows of the year and for a while, I wanted to discuss the best overall TV shows of 2018, but I realized a bunch of watch-worthy series would be left out. So, I decided to go with the best TV episodes of the year.

Some of the series I’ll be discussing bellow started off great (amazing, even) but failed to pan out. That being said, some episodes were so astoundingly good that they deserve to be mentioned and watched.

Babylon Berlin - Season 1, Episode 2

Babylon Berlin is a tour de force. Co-written and co-directed by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries and Henk Handloegten, this German crime drama set in pre-World War II Berlin is incredibly ambitious, visually stunning, and probably the most expensive German TV show ever made. The visuals are breathtaking and they alone make Babylon Berlin worth a watch. In my opinion, there were some major plot holes that I find a bit too distracting after a while, so my interest waned towards the end, but I must say that the nightclub scene in the second episode was in-cre-di-ble! One of the best TV moments ever!

Maniac - The chosen one (Season 1, Episode 1)

Every once in a while, you watch a TV show and immediately fall in love with it. You watch it, cannot keep your eyes off it and know you will be watching every single episode until the end. That happened the first time I watched Breaking Bad and it also happened the first time I saw Dexter and Lost. Breaking Bad was good from beginning to end and never let me down. Dexter and Lost, on the other hand… Maniac falls in the same category as Dexter and Lost. I was instantly drawn as soon as it started playing. It was unbelievable! Where does the show take place? And more importantly, when does it take place? This visually extraordinary series about two social outcasts (played by Jonah Hill and Emma Stone) who participate in a beyond risky drug trial was written by Patrick Somerville and directed by Cary Fukunaga. It started out fantastically (the first episodes being the best ones) and ended on such a weird note that I did not know what to think of it. As soon as they entered the dream sequences, they began to lose me. There were too many of those. Thumbs up, though, for all the visual designs and effects.

The Haunting of Hill House - Two Storms (Season 1, Episode 6)

I am a horror maniac. But lately, I find that horror movies lack imagination and creativity, but most importantly, they lack the understanding of what is scary and why. I can’t stand watching another “horror” where a character is dragged by the leg by an unseen force. That is not scary. It was scary once in Paranormal Activity and that is it. Horror deals with psychology. It plays with your mind. I was glad when we started watching The Haunting of Hill House. I would not go as far as saying that it was scary but it was at least different. It was dark and slow, and did not stoop so low as to use cheap tricks. The story is intriguing , we the viewers are emotionally invested in the characters and the build-up is engaging. It all culminates with Two Storms, a masterfully produced episode that looks like one continuous traveling shot. Some critiques have even called the episode a technical marvel. The making-of of the episode is showcased in the clip above. Unfortunately, the show went downhill from that episode on, in my opinion… Still worth a watch though!

The Americans - START (Season 6, Episode 10)

One of the best series finales EVER! That garage scene will be talked about for the years to come. I still think about it. That and the whole episode. WOW. They have managed to write an episode that no one had anticipated. Who ever said they saw it coming, lied. When The Americans ended, I was left both heart-broken and satisfied. I have seen so many amazing shows end with horrible finales, I feared that would also be the case for one of my favorite series of all time. But, they did not disappoint! I am so surprised that The Americans does not have a bigger following. Though critically acclaimed, it does not have the fan base it is supposed to have, that it deserves to have. It’s been great from season one to the very end, and will go down history as one of the greatest shows ever.

Little Drummer Girl - Episodes 1 and 2

Little Drummer Girl is a superb 6-part mini series directed by Park Chan-Wook that was aired as three 2.5-hour movies. Adapted from John le Carré’s novel by the same title, this series is visually captivating. The first episode sets the tone and wheels the viewer in with its beautiful bright colors, out-of-this-world art direction and wonderfully played characters. Once you saw movie 1 (episodes 1 and 2), you won’t be able to turn away from the following ones.

Westworld - Akane No Mai (Season 2, Episode 5)

I fell in love with Westworld last year. I have always been a sucker for series about enigmas, conspiracy theories, hidden games or messages, or the likes, and it has been a while since we were treated to a good show of that kind. Then Westworld happened. And to think that I was reluctant to watch it in the first place! I remember the movie and was convinced they will not be able to adapt it to modern times. To my amazement and great joy, Westworld exceeded by far my expectations. When season 1 ended, I wondered “what now?”. How will they be able to follow up such a strong and powerful season? I was convinced season 2 would be a disappointment. I was certain they will not be able to write a strong enough story line that can measure up to that of season 1. Once again, I was wrong! And I am glad I was. What worried me the most about season 2 was hearing they will explore other worlds. There were rumors about a samourai world and I was seriously concerned they will be spreading the story a bit too thin. As it turned out, the episode covering the samourai world, Akane No Mai, was my favorite episode of the season. It was brilliantly written and beautiful to watch. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? And if you have, watch the making-of, above, and you’ll want to see the episode again!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem (Season 13, Episode 6)

Alright, changing range here! I only discovered It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia very recently, around the time they finished airing season 12! We binge watched all 12 seasons in no time and laughed so hard the whole time. I still cannot believe it took so long for me to give this show a try! The 13th season aired this year after a brief hiatus and though weaker than the previous seasons (season 12 was the absolute best!), it had some pretty good moments. Episode 6 was one of the funniest of season 13. I did hesitate, though, between episode 6, The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem (shown here), and episode 7, The Gang does a Clip Show, where the cast recreated to perfection an iconic scene from Seinfeld’s episode, The Contest. Both episodes were hilarious but episode 6 was funnier overall, but regardless, I must say that these guys are comedic geniuses!

Future Man - Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)

Future Man’s first episode was so great! It was packed with references to a bunch of time-travel movies and TV shows that any movie and/or TV buffs would surely appreciate. I was so enthusiastic after having seen the first episode because there was finally something different, smart and funny to watch. However, the rest of the season was highly irregular, with a few good jokes here and there. The overall result was mediocre. The few good episodes they had, as great as they were, could save the whole season. That being said, the pilot as well as the episode in James Cameron’s house are definitely watch-worthy!

The Good Place - The Worst Possible Use of Free Will (Season 3, Episode 7)

I hate that I could not find a proper clip for this episode! But it doesn’t matter. The Good Place if one of the most underrated sitcoms out there and it should not be. A lot of people see its quirky, bright and almost slapstick-y exterior and shy away from watching it but truth be told The Good Place is one of the smartest series there are! How many shows do you know tackle philosophy in an approachable and unpretentious manner? And here, not only did they achieve that but they also manage to make it funny! You learn while laughing, without realizing you are learning! How great is that?? The Good Place is so smart and absurd at the same time that it is just a joy to watch. Episode 7 is about whether our actions and decisions come from free will or are they already predetermined (in which case, we cannot escape who really are), but most of the episode takes place in the Tostitos Presents A Public Library Brought To You By GoDaddy, and two of the main characters, Eleanor and Michael, debate it while referencing books like “Philosophy for Dingdongs…For Morons” and “Roses are red…and so is my neck!” by Jeff Foxworthy. It’s brilliant!

Runner-ups

Killing Eve: Nice face (Season 1, Episode 1) - The series started out great but there were too many distracting plot holes and Sandra Oh’s character, who was so likable in the beginning, ended up annoying the crap out of me.
Game of Thrones: Beyond the Wall (Season 7, Episode 6) - Viserion… I am still devastated.
Silicon Valley: Fifty-One Percent (Season 5, Episode 8) - The last few seasons of the show struggled to stay relevant and funny but the fifth season really pulled the show back together! Getting rid of Erlich was a gamble that paid off and really set the series and the remaining characters free. The season’s finale is my favorite episode of the season solely for introducing us to “kiss my piss”! Don’t think for a second that it’s vulgar; it’s actually one of the weirdest, lamest, most awkward and unexpected clap backs ever!

I am racking my brain to think of another episode worthy of being mentioned in this post. I hate it when I leave something out. It’s also during moments like these that I realize how much TV I actually watch… Not being ashamed at all, but it’s a lot, so something is bound to be forgotten!

If you haven’t seen the episodes or the shows mentioned above, I really hope you give them a try. They are worth it.

The classics - Drama edition

March 1, 2018

I started paying more attention to TV dramas during my teens. I seemed to have developed the necessary emotional maturity to fully comprehend and appreciate these shows. When I was little, I would watch TV dramas like Miami Vice, Matlock, China Beach, Columbo and Perry Mason, not because I liked them or understood them. I just watched them because that's what my father watched. He was hooked to these shows and no matter what went on in the household, he would never miss a single episode. As a young child, I could not comprehend why he loved these unfunny, dramatic shows so much. I did not understand it until I was a bit older and the switch seemed to have happened almost overnight, with ER. I don't think I took a single breath while I watched the pilot. Shows like ER made it worthwhile to break curfew. From then on, I too, was hooked, and was constantly on the lookout for new gems.

While sitcom succeed at cheering us up, dramas serve another purpose. They bring up within us strong emotions like anger, sadness, disgust, terror, apprehension and admiration, and remind us that the world is an ambivalent, frustrating, cruel and unforgiving place. They make us face our realities or help us discover someone else's, and for that very reason, we can get very easily get caught up in a drama. We love one character while hating another, we cry, laugh, get angry, worry, and become deeply invested in the storylines. There is no greater form of catharsis than watching a good dramatic show! We get to purge all our repressed emotions!

Making a top-five favorite TV drama of all-time was far more difficult a task than making one for the sitcoms. I have seen my share of dramatic shows over the years and have fallen in love with many of them, but for my top five, I chose the ones that had the longest lasting impressions on me.

1- The West Wing

The West Wing has often been accused of being idealistic, elitist and pretentious, and truth be told, it absolutely is. But what it does do is make people become interested in politics and most importantly, it holds actual real-life politicians to a higher standard. President Jed Bartlet is the American president and world leader that the people need, crave and deserve. No ulterior motives, no hidden agenda. He and his senior staff strive to make the world a better place and are willing to sacrifice their health and personal life to achieve that goal. Why? Because they are public servants and that is their job. That may be unrealistic but that is where all our leaders must set their bar. Now more than ever, everyone must be reminded of that.

2- Law & Order

For 20 seasons, Law & Order followed the exact same formula week after week and it never failed to entertain. In the intro, there's a murder. During the first half-hour of the show, the 2 lead detectives investigate and, at exactly the halfway mark, they make an arrest. The final half portion of the show takes place in court and the lawyers take over. Every single week for 20 years and we never got bored. There was a great sense of morality in Law&Order. Every week, Jack McCoy would get mad and yell almost directly at the TV. Every week, he reminded us all about right and wrong, justice and the law, accountability and responsibility. Every week, his passionate no-nonsense closing arguments would resonate through the TV and into our consciousness. Jack McCoy kept the world in place!

3- Breaking Bad

Breaking bad is probably one of the most perfect show there is. The story arc, the characters, the actors, the photography, the music, everything about the show is just unbelievable and well thought out. The show's sequel, Better Call Saul, which I thought would be an absolute disaster, turned out to be, just like Breaking Bad, an unequivocal masterpiece, thus proving that the show runner, Vince Gilligan, is an incredible genius. Vince Gilligan thought of everything, every detail. He knew from the start how his show was going to end and how his characters were going to evolve. That much is evident from the tight writing, the intricacies of the storyline and the complexity of the characters' psyche. Never have I been so sucked into a TV show, and never has a TV show made me go through such an emotional roller coaster. I started the series pitying Walter White and hoping all works out for him, and by the end, I wanted him to suffer and die! That is how you recognize a show's greatness: by its ability to play with your emotions!

4- The Sopranos

Not a typical show about the mob. Yes, they did beat people up and killed a few. They are involved in a lot of illegal activities, had affairs, took and sold drugs. But the show was not about that. It was about how Tony Soprano, the mob boss, juggled with his personal and professional problems while dealing with massive bouts of anxiety attacks and depression, which he copes with by regularly going to therapy. He is, by all definition, the "bad guy" but we sympathize with him. We watch him do and say all these horrible things and yet, we are on his side. It's both perplexing and exciting at the same time. Tony Soprano is not the stereotypical mob boss who is decisive and in control. Quite the opposite. He is strong and commands a lot of authority and yet, there's a lot of self doubt, self hatred, guilt about him. He is vulnerable and that's why we feel for him. The Sopranos is dramatic, emotional, funny, smart, and so, so violent.

5- Mad Men

Mad Men takes place in the advertising world of the 1960s, back when racism was not considered racism, people smoked profusely everywhere and men treating women like objects or possessions was an accepted facet of life. The main protagonist, Don Draper, is like Tony Soprano in that we are ambivalent about him. He is a paradox, a contradiction. He is impulsive, selfish, unfaithful, inconsiderate of other people's emotions, but he is also noble, chivalrous, loyal to a fault at times and often selfless. He can be extremely conservative (coldly rejecting a friend for being gay, mocking the hippy way of life) but at the same time, he can also be very progressive (he is anti war, he is not bothered by the color of a person's skin, and has given Peggy professional opportunities that were unthought of at the time). Through Mad Men, we got a glimpse of American history, of the best and worst of America's 1960s and 1970s.