25. Inside Amy Schumer - 'Twelve
Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer' -
Season 3, Episode 3
This is one of the most hysterical
sketch comedy series Comedy Central has ever produced - and considering its
track record, that's remarkable. But it says a lot about brilliant this series
really is that the funniest and most remarkable episode was one where Schumer
was almost nonexistent. Put on trial for not be pretty enough to have her own
comedy series, Schumer's fate is decided - in black and white - by twelve of
the better character actors (read: ugly people) working in Hollywood. With John
Hawkes playing Henry Fonda, Paul Giamatti, Nick DiPaolo and Vincent Kartheiser
arguing for the oppositions, I'm really not sure what's the most remarkable
about this sketch - how funny, how
relevant it is (even three years later) or how very close to the original
source material it is. (Though I seriously doubt Reginald Rose would have had
the major confrontation involve dildos.) Whatever your personal views on
Schumer (and, if anything, she's become more of a flashpoint in the last year),
this episode in particular demonstrates that she is as great a hyphenate as
many of the other showrunners on this list.
24. The Sopranos - 'Long Term
Parking' - 5.12
I've been all over the map when
it comes to this groundbreaking series. At one point, I considered it the most
overrated TV show in the history of the medium, but that may have been more due
to the fact that I didn't realize what a revolutionary show it was at the time.
And my biggest complaint about it - that the characters never really made any
attempt to change - now seems ridiculous now that I know that this was one of
the bigger points that David Chase was trying to make - that change is hard, and given the opportunity, most people,
even wiseguys will take the path of least resistance. So, having reached this
conclusion, I realize I would be wrong to not
have The Sopranos on the list.
But I've decided to go a little different. My choice for the episode that was
perhaps its best moment is the episode that sealed the fate of Adrianna.
Christopher's fiance started out the series as basically arm candy, but the
second she was made by the FBI, her
character became the most gut-wrenching one to watch on the series. We've seen
more often than not what being a rat meant on this show, we knew when Christopher found out her fate
was sealed. But it is a measure of how truly heartbreaking Drea De Matteo played
the role, that when it seemed that she was being driven to her ultimate death,
we hoped there was some way out for her. (Hell, some fans lived in denial
because we never saw her get killed) The
series was never the same afterwards, and neither was Christopher.
23. Stranger Things - 'Holly, Jolly' - Episode 1.3
One of the full-blown Netflix
masterpiece is also that utter streaming rarity - a series young children
should definitely be watching. Yes, its a nostalgia piece that brings us back
to the 1980s, but it also remembers so well what it was like to be an
adolescent or an outsider. This episode marked the point for me when I realized
just how special this series really is. The scenes where (Justice for) Barb
disappears to an alien landscape. The moments we get to see the really torture
that Eleven has been going through before she appeared in Hawkins. (Matthew
Modine, evil? Who'd have thunk?) Her slow entering into the party of wonderful
boys who make up the landscape. And of course, Winona Ryder's finest (and
freakiest) hour, where, trying to communicate with Will, she puts up Christmas
light all over her wall, and has a conversation that is incredibly terrifying.
Every episode is a joyous flashback, incredibly scary, and remarkable. Picking
one episode from it is a hard sell. All I can say is: I can't wait for the
Duffer Brothers to bring us Season 3.
22. Sherlock - 'The Sign of Three' - 3.2.
It's very hard to argue that this
series wasn't one of the premiere accomplishments in TV history, as it put
Sherlock Holmes in a modern setting in a way that no other medium has every
done anywhere as effectively. Every element of Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis'
remarkable reinvention of the most famous fictional characters was remarkable,
particularly in the way it brought its classic stories into the new millennium.
Yet I don't think anyone would disagree that the series finest hour (alright,
hour and a half) was based on a moment in Holmes and Watson's life that Conan
Doyle never showed us - John Watson getting married. Every single second of
this episode is perfect - Sherlock calling Lestrade away from a major case to
help with his wedding toast, Sherlock's wedding planning in every detail, the
'bachelor party', which actually has a moment so perfectly apt, you'd be
astonished it was improvised by Benedict Cumberbatch himself. And of course, the single greatest wedding
toast that has ever been given in the history of matrimonial events. It's so hysterically funny and well done, it
actually comes as a shock when a crime happens, and Sherlock manages to solve
it in a way that demonstrates just how much his humanity has come to serve
since the arrival of John in his life. Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and the
episode itself were deservedly rewarded with Emmys for one of the great stories
of the show that is simultaneously completely atypical for Sherlock and yet somehow sums up the great detective - at least
this version of him -perfectly.
21. Glee - 'Preggers' - 1.4.
Say what you will about the mess
the series turned into in its second half, the fact remains Ryan Murphy's
musical creation was one of the great
accomplishment in TV, particularly in its first couple of seasons. Picking
out a truly perfect moment from that
period is difficult, but for me, the most incredible moments came when the
series breakout star Kurt Hummel (brilliant portrayed by Chris Colfer) finally
came out of the closet to his father. Burt's reaction (Mike O'Malley's finest
hour) was so simple and perfect, it no doubt made millions of teenagers across
the country wish that he was their father. The series also set up its most well
done storyline when high school Cheerio Quinn announces to her boyfriend that
she's pregnant - which comes as a shock to Finn because they never actually had
sex. The mess would play out far better than any storyline that the series did
in its entire run, and led me to think this was one of the great series in the
medium. It may never have truly won nationals, but it was a contender that made
me feel the title emotion a lot, never so frequently as in this episode
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