Episodes
Episodes is a column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great.
If you’re new to reading this column, we suggest starting with these:
- Atlanta, “Teddy Perkins”
- Bojack Horseman, “That’s Too Much, Man!”
- Justified, “Bloody Harlan”
- Seinfeld, “Junior Mint”
- The Leftovers, “I Live Here Now”
Explore the entire Episodes archive below
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In ‘San Junipero,’ Heaven Is A Place On Earth
The best episode of ‘Black Mirror’ takes a detour to the ‘80s to tell a timeless queer love story.
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The ‘Lost’ Pilot Episode Just Keeps Getting Better With Age
In the latest Episode column, we revisit the bold, beautiful two-part premiere of Lost.
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The Heartfelt Long Con of ‘Better Call Saul’
The story of a sleazy lawyer’s descent into amorality pulled off one of the most meaningful series finales in recent history by becoming the one thing none of us dared hope for: a redemption story.
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One Early M*A*S*H Episode Proved That Sitcoms Can Break Our Hearts
The season one M*A*S*H episode “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” revealed the show’s bleeding heart, and gave voice to profound topics it would keep returning to throughout its storied run.
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Revisiting The ‘House’ Bus Crash That Shocked Viewers
The penultimate episode of House’s fourth season sees the death wish-chasing doctor unravel the shocking mystery of his own head injury.
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Once Upon a Time, ‘Gilmore Girls’ Danced the Night Away
In season three’s “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?” Rory and Lorelai get in over their heads at a 24-hour dance marathon.
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Let’s Revisit That Cathartic ‘Jessica Jones’ Showdown
Jessica Jones’ first season is a brutal and powerful look at intimate partner violence that ends stronger than ever.
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Love and Creativity Die “A Dark Quiet Death” in Mythic Quest’s Standalone Episode
The tech comedy’s best episode is a decades-spanning story about selling out, breaking up, and making art.
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How ‘Sharp Objects’ Ended with a Perfect Dose of Poison
Prestige mystery series don’t get much darker than ‘Sharp Objects,’ and ‘Sharp Objects’ doesn’t get much better than its sickening finale.
