The Top 25 Episodes of 2009-2010: #5-1

As a forerunner to the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards, my choices for the best of the most recent TV season which begin next week, here is a reader-requested run-through of the top 25 episodes of the 2009-2010 television season. Click on episode titles to read my original reviews of the episodes. Beware spoilers.

#5: “Chuck Versus the Beard” (Chuck)
Having a spy’s best friend discover that he’s a spy is a risky move for any show, and this series pulled it off remarkably well. The dual plotlines of the Buy More employees combating what they thought were the buyers and Chuck, Morgan, Sarah, and Casey fending off the invasion of the ring made for an extraordinarily fun hour that resulted in a great half-season of the Beard being in the loop.

#4: “No More Good Days” (Flash Forward)
Before this show got all convoluted and then cancelled at the end of its freshman season, it started off extremely well with this thrilling and engaging pilot. The blackout sequence by itself deserves commendation, and this was easily the best drama pilot of the 2009-2010 season. It’s a pity it couldn’t live up to its potential.

#3: “Pilot” (Modern Family)
This heartwarming but more importantly hilarious comedy got off to a brilliant start with a pilot episode that saved its best surprise for last – these three families are all related. While all of the cast members ultimately became memorable, the standout from the pilot is Phil, whose efforts to be the cool dad failed so miserably. This was the beginning of something truly fantastic.

#2: “Getting Closer” (Dollhouse)
The third-to-last episode of this short-lived Joss Whedon venture was astonishing and delivered not one but two completely unpredictable and awesome twists. Gone was the lovely Bennett (Summer Glau) – at the hands of Whisky, no less – and Boyd turned out to be the super bad guy in charge! This is an indicator of how great the whole show might have been had it been given more time to address all of its plotlines.

#1: “Shut the Door, Have a Seat” (Mad Men)
There’s really no comparison to the best episode of one of the greatest shows on television right now. Sterling, Cooper, Draper, and Pryce pulled off the ultimate mutiny and jumped ship to start their own agency, and the way it all played out was simply magnificent. Seeing them all huddled in a small hotel room was a great way to reboot an already masterfully good show.

Come back on Monday for the first category of the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards!

The Top 25 Episodes of 2009-2010: #10-6

As a forerunner to the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards, my choices for the best of the most recent TV season which begin next week, here is a reader-requested run-through of the top 25 episodes of the 2009-2010 television season. Click on episode titles to read my original reviews of the episodes. Beware spoilers.

#10: “Culling” (Sons of Anarchy)
Things really came to a head in the penultimate episode of the season as Clay and Jax took on Weston and Zobelle. The conflict between Uncer and Hale as the latter refuses to stand by and let Uncer proclaim “no crime has been committed” was absolutely fascinating and incredibly played out. What really made this episode awesome, however, was Tara one-upping Gemma’s skateboard to the face and beating up her supervisor at the hospital.

#9: “Sunset” (Breaking Bad)
This episode came right before the Emmy-nominated “One Minute” and really set it up brilliantly. Gus giving up Hank as restitution for Tuco’s murder to his violent cousins was only the run-up to an incredibly intense and shocking standoff where Hank came so close to coming face-to-face with Walt and Jesse, and Walt crossed yet another line by having Saul call Hank and tell him Marie was in the hospital. Bonus: the introduction of Gale.

#8: “Hungry Man” (Dexter)
This certainly wasn’t a forgettable Thanksgiving installment, and while John Lithgow and Michael C. Hall are submitting other episodes for Emmy consideration, this one could probably win them both awards. Dexter actually revealed himself when he tried to strangle Arthur at the dinner table, but what really threw me for a loop was the jaw-dropping reveal that nosy reporter Christine is Arthur’s daughter!

#7: “Full Measure” (Breaking Bad)
As if the season couldn’t get any better, the finale was even crazier and more shocking than what led up to it. Walt bartering for his life is intense as it is, and the addition of his plan to save himself by executing Gale is even more unfathomable. His near-execution by Mike followed by his frantic phone call to Jesse and that parting gunshot made this one of the most breathless season finales I’ve ever seen.

#6: “Niagara” (The Office)
In a disappointing season, it makes sense that the best episode might seem better than it is, but this is one of the all-time greatest installments of this show. The wedding was both touching and hilarious, and the reenactment of the “Forever” dance was an instant classic moment. The episode’s events also reverberated through the rest of the season, as Michael got lucky with none other than Pam’s mom.

Coming up tomorrow: #5-1

The Top 25 Episodes of 2009-2010: #15-11

As a forerunner to the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards, my choices for the best of the most recent TV season which begin next week, here is a reader-requested run-through of the top 25 episodes of the 2009-2010 television season. Click on episode titles to read my original reviews of the episodes. Beware spoilers.

#15: “Service” (Sons of Anarchy)
It’s tough to describe the intensity of this episode, which followed Gemma’s confession to Jax and Clay about her rape and featured Opie learning who actually killed Donna. Opie making Agent Stahl cry really shook the foundation of this show, breaking apart a character who once got right up after having her head smashed down on a table. This third-to-last episode sent the second season of this show into its most unstoppable and reckless mode.

#14: “The Delivery” (The Office)
I didn’t actually get a chance to review this episode because I was in the midst of traveling right before the Oscars, but Nancy’s guest review does the episode justice. It’s a wonderful hour that pays tribute to a truly great couple on the show, and like the other hour-long episode this season (stay tuned in this series), it was the comedic highlight of a woefully uneven season that addressed not just one couple but also two others.

#13: “Pilot” (Justified)
It’s no surprise that FX’s newest series had a strong debut considering the network’s history. Timothy Olyphant is a perfect fit for the role of the Wild West-style U.S. Marshal who finds himself deported to Kentucky. Boyd Crowder is one of the best and most complex villains to grace the small screen in a long time, and Ava Crowder’s first appearance was also magnificent.

#12: “En Garde” (Modern Family)
This episode was particularly fun because it gave audiences a peek into previously unseen characteristics of some of the characters. Jay making T-shirts in support of his family members, Claire and Mitchell rehashing their figure-skating, Phil spouting real estate mnemonics, and Manny preparing to fence with his whole family watching are just some of the magical moments that made this show the best new comedy of the season.

#11: “Chuck Versus Operation Awesome” (Chuck)
This episode followed the three-hour season mega-premiere and did more than hint that the third season would be just as cool as the third. Awesome in action making up stories about encountering a bear to Ellie was fun, but the most promising part of it was the introduction of the incomparable Agent Shaw, who was instantly impressive, mysterious, and a huge asset for the third season of this show.

Coming up tomorrow: #10-6

The Top 25 Episodes of 2009-2010: #20-16

As a forerunner to the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards, my choices for the best of the most recent TV season which begin next week, here is a reader-requested run-through of the top 25 episodes of the 2009-2010 television season. Click on episode titles to read my original reviews of the episodes. Beware spoilers.

#20: “I.F.T.” (Breaking Bad)
Somehow, Anna Gunn is not an Emmy nominee. I dare any Emmy voter to watch this episode, where Skyler calls the police on Walt and then is informed by them that he’s not breaking any laws, and then tell me that she doesn’t deserve it. That’s not even taking into account so many other things in this episode: her revenge affair, Jesse and Hank’s struggles, and a decapitated head on a turtle.

#19: “The Stakeout” (Parks and Recreation)
This was a standout episode from a great season because it paired up all of the characters, paving the way for hilarity all around. Mark and Ann went on a date while Leslie and Tom bonded during a stakeout which resulted in Tom getting arrested. Any scene with Ron or April, not to mention both, is fantastic, but this deserves extra credit because it was really the first of many such brilliant scenes involving the two of them.

#18: “Hybristophilia” (The Good Wife)
What did this episode not have? Alicia getting drunk, Kalinda being asked about her sexuality, the return of Dylan Baker as Colm Sweeney, Cary chewing out Alicia, Cary becoming allies with Childs, a truly interesting twist in Peter’s case, and the introduction of Carrie Preston as a lawyer on Peter’s defense team. The finale was good, but this penultimate installment was by far the best episode of this show’s first season.

#17: “Family Portrait” (Modern Family)
It’s important to go out on a high note when ending the first season of a highly-acclaimed new comedy. This show excelled in that arena by simply trying to take a family picture and encountering considerable obstacles along the way. This episode cemented the durability and longevity of this show, highlighting the relationships between all of the family members in the most endearing and hilarious way.

#16: “Bulletsville” (Justified)
FX’s terrific new drama ricocheted to the end of its first season in seemingly no time, but all of the characters had been so fully developed that it felt like they’d been around forever. The interactions between the sons and the fathers were particularly fascinating, and the closing scene doesn’t quite tie up all of the plotlines, meaning that Boyd might just stick around for another season with Raylan hot on his trail.

Coming up tomorrow: #15-11

The Top 25 Episodes of 2009-2010: #25-21

As a forerunner to the 4th Annual AFT Television Awards, my choices for the best of the most recent TV season which begin next week, here is a reader-requested run-through of the top 25 episodes of the 2009-2010 television season. Click on episode titles to read my original reviews of the episodes. Beware spoilers.

#25: “Keep This Party Going” (True Blood)
Season two really got started with this second installment, where all of the plotlines kicked into gear. Emphasis on couples and hilarious supporting characters like Eric and Lafayette was smart, and the most exciting thing was the development of two new characters. It was obvious that Maryann would be awesome after her brief appearance in season one, but Jessica proved to be much less of a distraction and far more of a boon for the show than initially anticipated.

#24: “Caballo Sin Nombre” (Breaking Bad)
An amazing season of the most intense show on television showed just how serious things had become with Walt’s attempt to minimize the tragedy of the plane crash and Jesse’s efforts to buy his parents’ house from the with the help of one duplicitous Saul. What really made this episode incredible was the fact that the two assassins were actually in Walt’s house, about to cut him apart, only to be called away by the all-powerful Gus of all people. This was only a taste of how volatile things would get on this show, but a marvelously effective and chilling one.

#23: “Fears” (Modern Family)
This midseason episode of ABC’s new comedy highlighted some great storylines, particularly Cameron and Mitchell freaking out after they thought Lily called the female pediatrician Mommy. Manny’s fear of roller coasters and everyone’s fear of Haley on the road made this episode title so simply appropriate. Claire trying to get Alex to go to her school dance was an extremely funny subplot.

#22: “Wish You Were Here” (Californication)
The season premiere proved that season three was going to be much stronger than season two, introducing not one but four fantastic new characters (look for most of them to pop in the AFT guest categories). Hank had two new women – Felicia and Jill – to flirt with, a man for Hank to with, and Charlie had his hands full with Sue Collini. The dinner party was crazy, but the establishment of Hank without Karen was perhaps the episode’s most important and lasting accomplishment.

#21: “I’ll Fly Away” (Treme)
Season one was brought to a heart-wrenching close with a farewell to two of the first year’s casualties, one who was seen on screen and made quite an impression and the other whose absence was felt throughout the whole series. What really cemented this episode as extraordinary was the devastating flashback to Hurricane Katrina and the chance to see all of our treasured characters before the flood.

Coming up tomorrow: #20-16