The Flashback Episode That Transformed ‘Fleabag’
The fourth episode of Series 2 is sexy, sad, and the emotional key to the whole show. Read More
August 5, 2021
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
On the Particular Devastation of the ‘Chernobyl’ Premiere
For our Episodes column, we re-examine "1:23:45", the bleak, fantastic first installment of HBO's 'Chernobyl' miniseries. Read More
June 8, 2021
Revisiting the ‘Game Of Thrones’ Pilot 10 Years Later
Before it was a worldwide phenomenon, it was just a new HBO show with a hell of a good hook. Read More
April 16, 2021
How ‘Orphan Black’ Hits the Ground Running with “Natural Selection”
"Natural Selection" introduces viewers to the series' fast-paced, thrilling world, as well as to the gift that keeps on giving:… Read More
April 5, 2021
‘Justified’ and the Battle of “Bloody Harlan”
Justified's second season finale, "Bloody Harlan," is a master class in acting, directing, writing, and American myth-making. Read More
March 2, 2021
When ‘You’re the Worst’ Took a Hard Look at Marriage
One of the series' most unnerving and enlightening episodes, "LCD Soundsystem" sees Gretchen stalk a seemingly picture-perfect married couple. Read More
January 27, 2021
“Bad Blood” is ‘The X-Files’ Operating at Peak Silliness
Scully falling for a buck-toothed sheriff played by Luke Wilson? Mulder singing the Shaft theme song? That's right, we're revisiting… Read More
November 22, 2020
One of the Best ‘Mad Men’ Episodes is All About the Women
Season 5's "The Other Woman" offers a pivotal moment of character development for Joan, one that's deeply rooted in the… Read More
October 30, 2020
‘The Leftovers’ and the Many Miracles of “I Live Here Now”
The profound, emotionally devastating series closed out its second season with an all-time-great hour of television. Read More
October 16, 2020