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:

Explore the entire Episodes archive below

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. Read More

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. Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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. Read More

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. Read More

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… Read More