THE AARONS 2016 - Best TV Episode
Across the board, TV is becoming more serialized. Since the rise of binge-watching, peopleās conception of shows often seems to blur an entire season into one homogenized grouping. Therefore, I think its important to highlight the singular episodes that are exemplars of the shorter storytelling format, and which stand out among their larger pack, regardless of the high quality that might surround them. Here are The Aarons for Best TV Episodes of 2016:
(Spoiler Free, of course!)
#10:Ā āNailedā (Better Call Saul, Season 2, Episode 9) - AMC
Itās a true testament to the fantastic writing of Better Call Saul that photocopying is at the center of one of the most edge-of-your-seat episodes of television in 2016.Ā āNailedā saw the tension between brothers Chuck and Jimmy McGill, played by Michael McKean and Bob Odenkirk respectively, begin to boil over, culminating in what was probably the most harrowing cliffhanger ending of the year.Ā
#9:Ā āMac & Dennis Move to the Suburbsā (Always Sunny, Season 11, Episode 5) - FXX
I binge-watched Itās Always Sunny in Philadelphia for the first time in the summer of 2016. While I tend to avoid shows that have run 8+ years, it was worth it for Always Sunny, considering the show is just as strong as it started, if not stronger. Season 11 saw one of the best episodes of the entire series, which plays to, subverts, and distorts audienceās expectations in that delightful Always Sunny way. Watching Mac and Dennis driven slowly insane by their new suburban home provided the most laugh-out-loud moments of any TV episode in 2016.
#8:Ā āThe Eternal Shriekā (The Good Place, Season 1, Episode 7) - NBC
āThe Eternal Shriekā marked the high point of The Good Placeās surprisingly strong freshman season. The episode fully embraced the high-concept absurdity that the showās premise provides through both Michaelās (Ted Danson) description of his fate if he were toĀ āretire,ā and the subsequent desperate attempt by the cast toĀ āmurderā Janet, The Good Placeās resident omnipotent assistant, resulting in a showcase for DāArcy Cardenās fantastic comedic talent.
#7: āThe Open-Ended Nature of Unwitnessed Deathsā (The Last Man on Earth, Season 3, Episode 6) - FOX
Considering all its high-concept hi-jinks, The Last Man on Earth can actually be surprisingly affecting at times. This episode sees Phil āTandy"Miller (Will Forte) drag newfound survivor Lewis (Kenneth Choi) on a road-trip, looking for signs of life from their missing loved ones, and their journey proves to be surprisingly cathartic, for both the characters and the viewer. Of course, the episode is also hilarious, specifically through Melissaās (January Jones) attempts at some Shawshank Redemption role-playing.Ā
#6:Ā āThe Adventures of Supergirlā (Supergirl, Season 2, Episode 1) - CW
Supergirl had a uneven first season at CBS, but the move to The CW seems to have empowered the show to reach its higher potential. This is seen most clearly in the fantastic first episode of the showās latest season, which has Kara (Melissa Benoist) team up with her famous cousin, played by Tyler Hoechlin. The charming banter between the two and their inspiring heroics make this episode far more enjoyable than any of the movies that DC has been putting out lately. The episode is also sure not to have Superman overshadow the series lead, containing a surprisingly emotional conversation between Kara and Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) about overcoming the fear of change.
#5:Ā āBattle of The Bastardsā (Game of Thrones, Season 6, Episode 9) - HBO
The sixth season of Game of Thrones was not only a rousing return to form, but contained one of the best episodes of the entire series, and perhaps the most action-packed episode of television ever produced.Ā āBattle of the Bastardsā is a tour de force of technical achievement for the show, comprised almost entirely of one bloody, thrilling, and expansive battle scene. The episode reportedly cost HBO quite a bit of money, but the end result was worth it, firmly cementing Game of Throneās long standing thesis that high-concept fantasy can work on the small screen.
#4: āB.A.N.ā (Atlanta, Season 1, Episode 7) - FX
One of the things that made Atlantaās freshman season so rousing and rewarding was its willingness to experiment with its format. This ambition is most clearly seen, and most deftly pulled off, inĀ āB.A.N.ā, which sees Paper Boi (Bryan Tyree Henry) participate in a round-table-discussion talk show. Like the rest of Atlanta, the episode is a perfectly mixture of smart and hilarious comedy and thought-provoking themes. The true highlight of the episode, however, may be the fake commercials scattered throughout.Ā āThe price is on the can, though!ā
#3:Ā āFish Out of Waterā (BoJack Horseman, Season 3, Episode 4) - Netflix
By now, a lot of people are adjusted to the fact that a cartoon about a talking horse is one of the most emotionally powerful shows on TV, but BoJack Horseman Season 3 showed that the series was not done surprising us. This highly-experimental episode is almost entirely dialogue free, and yet, in a true testament of talent, manages to be no less funny or affecting than the rest of the series. The episode may stand out from the rest of the series due to its risk-taking format, but it also managed to be the perfect microcosm of the showās wit, charm, ingenuity, and poignancy.Ā
#2:Ā āTwenty-Twoā (Youāre the Worst, Season 3, Episode 5) - FXX
Youāre the Worst already proved it was capable of handling heavy material while remaining one of the funniest shows on TV with its exploration of depression last season, but Season 3 proved that the show wasnāt afraid to tackle even more. This episode, which serves as an outstanding showcase for Desmin Borgesā acting talent, sees Borgesā character, Edgar, an Iraq War veteran, struggling with his PTSD, a subject matter that is rarely handled with such grace and poise. While still finding time to be funny, this episode is immensely heartbreaking, highlighting how veterans are far too often forgotten, but also powerfully cathartic, once again showing that Youāre the Worst is one of the best shows on TV currently.
AND THE BEST TV EPISODE OF 2016 IS...
#1:Ā āSan Juniperoā (Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 4) - Netflix
Some may say thatĀ āSan Juniperoā has an unfair advantage for Best TV Episode of the Year, as Black Mirrorās anthology format affords it certain risks that other shows arenāt capable of making. However, I would argue thatĀ āSan Juniperoā actually works best because of its position among the showās other standalone stories.Ā āSan Juniperoā marks somewhat of a tonal shift compared to other episodes of the show, which often fixate on the perils of advancing technology, by providing the viewer with a sweet romantic story that presents a hopeful look at a potential future (though the possible darkness of the episodeās technology is certain a subject for debate). The episode builds tension by playing to audienceās expectations for the show, then wonderfully subverts them, creating one of the most gripping and delightful episodes of television ever made. The episode features fantastic performances, specifically Mackenzie Davis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, gorgeous cinematography, which expertly captures the episodeās otherworldly, idyllic environments, and some excellent music choices.Ā āSan Juniperoā is not only the best episode of the series, but a masterpiece of television. Itās not just the best episode of TV this year, but one of the best Iāve ever seen.Ā