Written by: Meredith Averill

Directed by: Mike Flanagan

Personally, this is one of the best episodes of TV in the last decade, and it’s nestled right in the middle of a pretty perfect show overall. “The Bent-Neck Lady” proves how so much thought-provoking and emotional storytelling can be done in the horror genre, as we see Nell’s life play out and learn what really happened to her when she returned to Hill House. This being Victoria Pedretti’s first big role, it’s amazing what she’s able to accomplish in this single episode. “The Bent-Neck Lady” basically set the precedent for Episode 5 of any Mike Flanagan show being an emotionally devastating — and often perfect — hour of TV.

Written by: Charlie Brooker

Directed by: Owen Harris

A lot of very poignant things have been written about “San Junipero,” and rightly so because it’s a flawless episode of television. Aside from the impeccable writing that brings this episode of Black Mirror to life, the performances and chemistry between Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis really make it soar, in my opinion. No matter how many times I watch this one, I get emotional, and it’s such a beautiful episode for a community of LGBTQ TV fans who want to see themselves represented on screen in hopeful stories.

Written by: Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof

Directed by: Jack Bender

To this day, “The Constant” remains one of my personal favorite episodes of television ever. The build-up of hoping and praying that Desmond and Penny will finally talk was so well done, that it makes the final moments of them on the phone even better. The chemistry between Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger is palpable, even though they aren’t even in the same room together. If you don’t cry over this episode of Lost, I’m sorry, but it’s a red flag in my book.

Written by: Craig Mazin

Directed by: Peter Hoar

I feel confident saying that The Last of Us is the best video game adaptation to date, and what made it so amazing is it not only adapted storylines and characters from the game perfectly, but it found the right places to expand stories. A great example is Bill and Frank, and how we are gifted the most beautiful (and heartbreaking) love story by making these characters bigger than their game counterparts. With a perfect story and incredible acting performance, this is a prime example of how it’s necessissary to know the source material so well when adapting that additions like this are well executed. 

Written by: Richard Curtis

Directed by: Jonny Campbell

The mark of a good TV episode, in my opinion, is when you can watch any scene from it out of context, and it somehow still makes you emotional. Even if you’ve never seen a single moment of Doctor Who, it’s hard not to cry when Vincent van Gogh stands in a museum and realizes his art matters. Not only is this one of the best episodes of the Matt Smith Doctor era, but it’s one of the best episodes of the show — right alongside “Blink.”

Written by: Joann Estoesta and Lisa Wahlander (“The Tale of Toph and Katara”), Andrew Huebner (“The Tale of Iroh”), Gary Scheppke (“The Tale of Aang”), Lauren MacMullan (“The Tale of Sokka”), Katie Mattila (“The Tale of Zuko”), Justin Ridge and Giancarlo Volpe (“The Tale of Momo”)

Directed by: Ethan Spaulding

As a whole “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is an exceptional television episode, and is arguably the best episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. While everyone’s various stories are so good, it’s “The Tale of Iroh” section that cements this as a top-tier, perfect episode for me. Watching Iroh honor his son on his birthday still makes me cry every single time I watch it. A lot of times, animated shows get overlooked when it comes to awards recognition, and this one deserves to always be celebrated.

Written by: Tim Van Patten and Terence Winter

Directed by: Steve Buscemi

If you consider yourself a TV fan, then it’s essential to watch “Pine Barrens” from The Sopranos. Yes, it’s a great drama series episode, but what makes it equally as compelling is the sheer comedy of Paulie and Christopher being trapped in the snow-covered woods, as they hunt down someone who they were going to bury but turns out they’re still alive. Tony Sirico and Michael Imperioli are formidable in this episode that’s considered not only the best of the series but one of the best episodes of TV ever.

Written by: Jesse Armstrong

Directed by: Mark Mylod

I love when a TV show surprises me, and that’s exactly what “Connor’s Wedding” did. If you watch Succession, you probably had a feeling this show would end with Logan’s death, but placing this big event in Episode 3 of the final season, instead of at the end, opens up so many great storytelling opportunities. Alongside the brilliant construction of the episode — the kids finding out over the phone, so the audience feels the desperation and is right there with them — it feels like the most human and vulnerable we’ve seen the Roy children. From Roman frantically trying to figure out if he said “I love you” to Logan to Kendall’s, “I love you, but I can’t forgive you,” to the breakdown of Shiv’s stoic facade, it was all a masterclass in acting, writing, directing, and more.

Written by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Directed by: Harry Bradbeer

God, this episode gets better and better the more you watch it. While I could’ve watched Fleabag forever, I do always admire when a creator knows the story they want to tell and doesn’t try to push it, and that’s exactly what Phoebe did. She knew the end and she executed it so perfectly, it turned into one of the best TV episodes, in my opinion. Not only is the series finale hilarious, but the more poignant moments between Fleabag and the Hot Priest, and Fleabag and Claire make this the best episode of the series — followed closely by the Season 2 premiere.

Written by: Laura Donney

Directed by: Matt Shakman

WandaVision worked on so many levels, and it still blows my mind that my two favorite Marvel characters were gifted such a profound and instrumental MCU TV show. While the way the series utilizes various sitcoms in the episodes prior to Episode 8 are iconic — and had everyone theorizing — it was “Previously On” that really cemented this show as the best Marvel series, in my opinion. Walking through Wanda’s life and grief as we see what led to her taking over West View is so moving, it’s hard to not say it was perfect. Alongside breathtaking dialogue and a performance by Elizabeth Olsen, this episode is easily one of the best TV episodes Marvel has produced to date — alongside “Parting Shot” from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., let’s be honest.

Written by: Steve Lightfoot and Bryan Fuller

Directed by: David Slade

Not to be dramatic, but Hannibal is a show I will never forgive them for canceling. It was so perfect and so well done, it deserved to go on for at least a little longer. “Mizumono” is not only an exceptional hour of television, but it is a breathtakingly brilliant season finale. The stakes are so high, the chemistry between Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen is so amazing, and it’s just an episode you have to watch to believe how good it really is. I think there’s still an indent on the edge of my couch from when I watched this one because that’s where I was stuck for the whole episode.

Written and directed by: Joss Whedon

A list like this doesn’t feel complete without “The Body” (or “Hush”) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Similar to Succession, this episode is so well done because it’s such a human episode. In a world of vampires, monsters, and more, it’s incredibly gut-wrenching when our characters experience something that happens to everyone: a very ordinary death of a loved one. I think it’s also why, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar’s impeccable performance, Emma Caulfield’s moments as Anya, who can’t grasp why Joyce is gone, hit so as hard. In a show filled with extraordinary circumstances, it’s the most heartbreaking when death can’t be explained away by an otherworldly force.

Written by: Lisa McGee

Directed by: Michael Lennox

If I’m being honest, every episode of Derry Girls is perfect to me. But, if I had to pick just one to be on this list, it’s this one. The Season 2 finale finds Derry getting excited about the arrival of President Clinton, however, it turns into an emotional moment when James’s mom tries to take him back to London. I love the friendships on this show so much and this really highlights them flawlessly. Plus, I’m absolutely obsessed that the group writing to Chelsea Clinton comes back around in the series finale — which is another impeccable episode.

Written and directed by: Alan Ball

It’s impressive enough to accomplish what viewers deem “a perfect episode of TV,” but it’s even more impressive when that same episode also happens to be a series finale. Ending any TV show is hard, but Six Feet Under still makes it look easy. I dare you to find another drama series finale as brilliant as this one. It’s no surprise a lot of the actors, writers, and more have gone on to work on other critically-acclaimed shows after Six Feet Under ended in 2005. A flawless portrayal of life, family, and more, “Everyone’s Waiting” will make anyone cry, I guarantee it. 

Written by: Luke Del Tredici

Directed by: Claire Scanlon

Another TV episode that perfectly executes the use of a single location, “The Box” is the best episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine — followed closely by “HalloVeen” — because it feels like a play. Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, and Sterling K. Brown are so great, and their comedic timing bounces off of each other effortlessly. The episode has such a simple premise, but the way it’s written and performed makes it one that you want to watch again and again because it’s just that good.

Written by: Chris McKenna

Directed by: Jeff Melman

I’ve only seen maybe two or three Community episodes in total, but this one is one of them, solely because everyone tells me it’s one of the best TV episodes ever. And they aren’t wrong. The different timelines unfolding showing what happens when each of them leaves the room is so perfectly executed and proves how an out-there concept, when done correctly, has such incredible results. Yes, I know I need to watch this whole series at some point, but for now, only really knowing this show based on this one episode — and countless memes — is pretty epic.

Written by: Dan Erickson

Directed by: Ben Stiller

I love a show that has thought out the plot and world so well, it’s hard not to fall completely obsessed with the characters, storylines, and theories surrounding it. Severance does such a good job at establishing the innie and outie worlds, and the stakes that come with them. It makes the Season 1 finale so satisfying, while also being a smart, thought-provoking episode of TV. While the whole episode is built together perfectly, it’s the final minutes that have you on the edge of your seat and cement it as one of the best episodes in recent memory.

Written by: Dan Fogelman

Directed by: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra

For me, two of the best This Is Us episodes happen in Season 1: the pilot and “Memphis.” Ron Cephas Jones and Sterling K. Brown delivered some of the best performances on This Is Us over its six-season run, and this episode is one of their best. Centered on William’s return to Memphis alongside Randall before his death, it’s an intimate and beautiful portrayal of William’s life and everything he went through. I love human stories on TV that are emotional because they are so real, genuine, and honest, and this one is a great example of how it’s beautifully executed.

Written by: Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan

Directed by: Morgan Sackett

D’Arcy Carden. That’s it. That’s the reason why this episode is flawless from beginning to end. The episode literally only works if the person playing Janet can also effortlessly pull off playing Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, AND Jason, and D’Arcy was the perfect person for the job. It still bothers me that she didn’t win an Emmy Award for her work in this episode because it’s one of the most mesmerizing performances in recent years.

Written by: Beau Willimon

Directed by: Toby Haynes

Personally, Andor Season 1 made me fall back in love with the Star Wars universe, and it was just such a beautifully crafted TV season all around. Diego Luna is so good as Cassian Andor, and I’m so happy he’s able to pe deeper into the character after first appearing in Rogue One. Of all the episodes in a stellar freshman season, nothing was more astonishing than “One Way Out,” as Cassian’s plan to escape prison is finally put into motion. The stakes are high, the acting from Luna and Andy Serkis is superb, and it set the stage for an amazing final three episodes.

Written by: Dan Levy

Directed by: Andrew Cividino and Dan Levy

Not only is this a phenomenal episode, but it’s one of the best series finales in recent memory. Similar to Fleabag and Derry Girls, I appreciate when a show knows it has told its entire story and ends on its own terms, and that’s exactly what happened with Schitt’s Creek. This episode brings together all of the things that made the series special and tie up every storyline perfectly, while also giving fans a great look at where the characters are headed after the series ends. It’s such a hopeful episode and it made me just fall in love with TV all over again.

Written by: Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan

Directed by: Chris Koch

This is another show where I haven’t seen every episode — I know, I know, I need to change this — but everyone has raved about “My Screw Up” so much, I just had to watch this, and the Season 1 episodes Brenden Fraser is also in. This episode is so good because it pulls the rug out from under the audience in the most devastating way, and it’s so well done. Hinging on brilliant performances from Fraser and John C. McGinley, “My Screw Up” is just firing on all cylinders across the board. I love when a “comedy” isn’t afraid to get serious and tackle loss, and this Scrubs episode does it flawlessly.

Written by: Mike Moore

Directed by: John Scott

The Magicians was a criminally underrated series, and it delivered some of my favorite plotlines and characters in recent years. While I have a lot of favorite moments from the show, the episode that is still one of the show’s best is “A Life in a Day,” which follows Quentin and Eliot attempting to solve an impossible puzzle as they live out their entire lives. This ultimately leads to them realizing how much they love and care for each other once they return to present day. It’s so perfect and so emotional. I can’t even put into words why it’s so good, except I know it’s flawless because the phrase “Peaches and plums” still makes me weep.

Written by: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

Directed by: Ramin Djawadi

Okay, so for me, Game of Thrones has three perfect episodes: “Battle of the Bastards,” “The Rains of Castamere,” and “The Winds of Winter.” But, if I had to choose just one to be THE best of the best, it would have to be “Battle of the Bastards.” I mean, this is a prime example of Game of Thrones at its finest. Not only does it set up the Season 6 finale perfectly, but the lead-up to Ramsey Bolton’s death was so crucial, it made his final moments even sweeter. From writing to directing, this Game of Thrones episode is a spectacle from start to finish.

Written by: Steven Knight

Directed by: Colm McCarthy

It still boggles my mind that Peaky Blinders came and went without massive amounts of Emmy Awards praise, in particular for Season 2. It’s a great season of television that, in my opinion, cements the series as one of the best drama shows in recent years. Every storyline culminates in the Season 2 finale, which literally ends with Tommy standing in a ditch. It’s such a good dramatic episode, and I wish it got the praise it (rightfully) deserved.

Written by: Morgan Murphy

Directed by: Randall Einhorn

I thought about putting another classic perfect TV episode on this list, but honestly, I wanted to shine some light on a very recent TV episode I found pretty damn amazing. Abbott Elementary has been consistently good over the course of its first two seasons, and “Teacher Conference” brilliantly utilizes all of the best qualities of the show to deliver one of its best episodes. Centered on the Abbott teachers attending a conference, Barbara, Melissa, and Ava are hilarious, Jacob is…well Jacob, but the real incredible moment comes between the greatest slow-burn TV couple in recent years, as Gregory and Janine finally share a kiss. It’s a great and long-awaited moment wrapped up in a perfect episode of the best network TV comedy right now, in my opinion.

Written by: Laurie Nunn

Directed by: Ben Taylor

Personally, Sex Education is one of the best Netflix shows, and I’ve adored watching this cast grow and go on to do some truly remarkable things. While every season has moments that are amazing, it’s the bus episode where Maeve and all of Aimee’s friends ride the bus with Aimee after she’s sexually assaulted that deserves a spot on this perfect episodes list. The episode is a love letter to female friendship and it’s done so beautifully, it’s hard not to tear up as you watch. I think it also does an amazing job of highlighting Aimee Lou Wood and Emma Mackey’s extraordinary talent and bond.

Written by: Kim Steele

Directed by: Lucy Tcherniak

Station Eleven is a perfect limited series, and if you’re looking for something to fill The Last of Us void in your life, look no further than this show. While every episode has it’s impeccable moments, for me, nothing is quite like Episode 7, when we find out what exactly happened at Frank’s apartment with Frank, Jeevan, and Kirsten. This episode is so well-executed it makes the payoff in the series finale even more beautifully touching. Himesh Patel, Mackenzie Davis, and Matilda Lawler give three of my favorite performances, and definitely they deserved more praise for their work in this series.

Written by: Seth Hoffman

Directed by: Ernest Dickerson

Okay, there are a lot of good The Walking Dead episodes that could’ve made this list — I mean, “No Sanctuary” is also incredible — but “Too Far Gone” might be one of the most stressful, but perfectly executed, hours of television I have ever sat through. I think this is also The Walking Dead at its finest. The Governor was the best villain this show had, Hershel’s death was chilling, and the fact that the episode ends with the whole group now split up made the stakes even higher. While the show had bigger villains and wilder moments as the show progressed, somehow nothing was as chilling as The Governor rolling up to the prison. 

Written by: Peter Morgan

Directed by: Stephen Daldry

This is literally only the second episode of the entire show, and very few episodes that have followed have been equally as good, in my opinion. King George’s death is a huge moment in Queen Elizabeth II’s life and the shift you feel in the episode when he dies and she ascends the throne is palpable. Claire Foy does an incredible job at showing the shift in Elizabeth without even uttering a word in most cases. It’s such a good episode from start to finish, and the final four minutes are truly some of the best minutes of television, in my opinion.

Written by: Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts

Directed by: Philip John

As a devoted fan of Diana Gabladon’s book series, Outlander has had a handful of amazing episodes, like “The Wedding,” “To Ransom a Man’s Soul,” and “Faith,” but when it comes down to it, I think “Dragonfly in Amber” might be the best from beginning to end. In the past, Claire makes the heartbreaking decision to leave Jamie at the Battle of Culloden, after they fail to change the course of history, and because she’s pregnant. Then, in 1968, Claire, Roger, and Brianna find out Jamie DID survive the Battle of Culloden. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least, and hinges on the unmatchable chemistry between Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe. I think if you look at the episode as a whole it’s the show’s strongest one to date.

Written and directed by: Sam Levinson

The best episodes of Euphoria really hinge on Zendaya. I mean, she’s won two Emmy Awards for her work as Rue Bennett for a reason. So, it’s no surprise that the Euphoria episode I find to be “perfect” is the one that focuses on Rue. Not only does it kick off with a scene that literally won Zendaya an Emmy, but the anxiety and stress that’s felt as Rue runs through the streets and into other houses, just trying to essentially escape her life, was so well-executed, it’s hard not to reason that this is the best episode of the series so far. Plus, we get the iconic moment when Rue lets slip that Cassie has been fucking Nate. Yes, Lexi’s play and the Season 1 finale are also top-tier and have their moments, but I think overall “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” is the best and most cohesive episode (so far) from beginning to end.

Written by: Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky

Directed by: Paul Feig

“Dinner Party” is The Office at its finest. A form of a “bottle episode,” all of the action happens in one location and, my god, does it include some of the funniest moments in this show’s history. From the “plasma TV” to Jan’s candle-making business, the writing and the cast are at the top of their games as this chaotic evening unfolds. What also makes this episode brilliant is somehow the bloopers make it even better.

Written by: Stephen Thompson

Directed by: Toby Haynes

Honestly, this is one of those episodes where I remember where I was when I watched it for the first time. As Sherlock’s standoff with Moriarty reaches a climax, there’s literally no way out for our favorite detective…or so we think. This episode utilized Sherlock’s “always-one-step-ahead” skills to the best of the show’s ability by having viewers think this was the last we’d see of Sherlock, only for us to find out he’s really alive. Not only was this episode great in the moment, but it has remained one of the best episodes that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, especially in the last five minutes. I still don’t know how we made it two years without a new episode after this.