The Best Television Drama Episodes of All Time
The Best Television Drama Episodes of All Time.
My ranking - taking into account different critical sites ratings, accolades & awards won and my personal critique. Ratings were conducted under the rule that each episode is rated in their perspective television show's standards and were not directly compared to other shows episodes.
Many shows not included (as I have not watched them) some of these are: Damages, The West Wing, Mad Men, The Shield, The X Files, ER, House of Cards, Suits etc.
As this list is a solely live-action drama series list there are no comedy or animated shows taken into account.
My ranking - taking into account different critical sites ratings, accolades & awards won and my personal critique. Ratings were conducted under the rule that each episode is rated in their perspective television show's standards and were not directly compared to other shows episodes.
Many shows not included (as I have not watched them) some of these are: Damages, The West Wing, Mad Men, The Shield, The X Files, ER, House of Cards, Suits etc.
As this list is a solely live-action drama series list there are no comedy or animated shows taken into account.
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- DirectorJack BenderStarsNaveen AndrewsHenry Ian CusickEmilie de RavinJack and the survivors wait for Charlie to turn off The Others' signal-jamming device, not knowing that he has been captured at the Looking Glass station. The plan to blow up the group of Others who invade the camp fails.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt goes on the run. Jesse is taken hostage. Marie forces Skyler to tell Walter, Jr. the truth.
- DirectorMiguel SapochnikStarsPeter DinklageNikolaj Coster-WaldauLena HeadeyCersei and Loras Tyrell stand trial by the gods. Daenerys prepares to set sail for Westeros. Davos confronts Melisandre. Sam and Gilly arrive in the Citadel. Bran discovers a long-kept secret. Lord Frey has an uninvited guest.
- DirectorChris FisherStarsJim CaviezelKevin ChapmanAmy AckerFinch, Reese, Fusco and Shaw embark on one last mission to prevent Samaritan from destroying The Machine and cementing its hold over mankind.
- DirectorMiguel SapochnikStarsPeter DinklageKit HaringtonEmilia ClarkeJon and Sansa face Ramsay Bolton on the fields of Winterfell. Daenerys strikes back at her enemies. Theon and Yara arrive in Meereen.
- DirectorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyNate and Brenda's daughter Willa is born, but 2 months early and at only 2 lb. 4 oz., requiring a prolonged hospital stay. Nate is convinced she won't make it and insists that he can't accept it if she does and is "damaged", shaking Brenda's own confidence. Rico encourages David to sell the funeral home but instead he and Keith buy out Rico's 25% so he can start his own. David agrees to temporarily leave home, and goes to the funeral home. There he's confronted by Nathaniel about considering leaving the business and for his gayness, and is forced to fight his mysterious attacker back, then finally sees his face. Maya is returned to Brenda and Ruth has to face her own problems, until Maggie reveals Nate did see her, happily, as Brenda insisted. Claire takes up photography (of Ted) again and gets a job offer at a New York photo production company, but offers to be there for Ruth until she insists she go and unfreezes her account. Brenda gets a surprise visit from Nate, who finally shows love for his daughter, and someone else. Claire learns the company who gave the job offer has just failed, but Nate encourages her to go onto New York anyway.
- DirectorMiguel SapochnikStarsPeter DinklageLena HeadeyEmilia ClarkeTyrion advises Daenerys. Sansa forces Theon to tell her a secret. Cersei remains stubborn. Arya meets her first target. Jon and Tormund meet with the wildling elders.
- DirectorChris FisherStarsJim CaviezelKevin ChapmanAmy AckerSamaritan launches a cyber-attack on the stock exchange, leaving the team with no choice but to embark on a possible suicide mission in a desperate attempt to stop a global economic catastrophe.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalter White returns to Albuquerque one last time to secure his family's future and settle old scores.
- DirectorJon CassarStarsKiefer SutherlandKim RaverMary Lynn RajskubThe Russian and US Presidents are set to sign an anti-terror treaty when assassinations rock Los Angeles, a call from a distressed Chloe forces Jack into action and President Logan's wife believes there may be a conspiracy.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsEmilia ClarkeKit HaringtonRichard MaddenRobb and Catelyn arrive at the Twins for the wedding. Jon is put to the test to see where his loyalties truly lie. Bran's group decides to split up. Daenerys plans an invasion of Yunkai.
- 2011–201643mTV-149.7 (6.7K)TV EpisodeDirectorFrederick E.O. ToyeStarsJim CaviezelKevin ChapmanAmy AckerFinch's number comes up when his cover identity is blown and sets off a deadly series of encounters with Samaritan's operatives.
- DirectorSteve ShillStarsMichael C. HallJulie BenzJennifer CarpenterDexter and Arthur find themselves on a collision course, as Debra unearths a shocking long-hidden truth, Rita admits her marriage to Dexter is troubled, and Batista and LaGuerta face the consequences of an ethics breach. Season Finale.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganBuffy, Dawn, and their friends deal with the aftermath of Joyce's death.
- DirectorJack BenderStarsNaveen AndrewsHenry Ian CusickJeremy DaviesDuring the helicopter ride to the ship, Desmond's consciousness begins jumping back and forth between present day 2004 and 1996. He is forced to find Daniel Faraday in 1996 in order to get answers and stop the jumps.
- DirectorErnest R. DickersonStarsDominic WestJohn DomanFrankie FaisonIn the Season Four finale, the bodies from the vacants pile up while Burrell offers his support to Daniels and admonishes Rawls for crossing him. A distraught Bubbles finds himself at his wit's end after his revenge plan backfires.
- DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsMatthew McConaugheyWoody HarrelsonMichelle MonaghanMartin is faced with marital problems. The search for Reggie Ledoux leads the detectives to a motorcycle gang called the Iron Crusaders, which Rust worked undercover in the past.
- DirectorTimothy Van PattenStarsJames GandolfiniEdie FalcoMichael ImperioliTony makes a request to Johnny Sack on behalf of his cousin, and Adriana makes a request to the FBI, followed by one to Chris.
- DirectorMichael WaxmanStarsKyle ChandlerConnie BrittonAimee TeegardenWith the decision to close the East Dillon Football program speculation runs wild on two fronts. Will the Lions be able to win State and go out in a blaze of glory; and will Coach Taylor agree to return to coach the Dillion Panthers and a super team with the best of both schools? Tami's PA job offer adds conflict in the Taylor home as does a new development with Matt & Julie. Meanwhile Tim Riggins and Tyra talk seriously about their futures and Luke & Becky clear the air.
- DirectorJeffrey BellStarsDavid BoreanazJames MarstersJ. August RichardsIn the series finale, Angel reveals that his questionable moral behavior has been part of a bigger plan: to destroy The Circle of the Black Thorn and show the Senior Partners that the power of good can still make a difference. Wesley struggles with helping Illyria adapt to the world, scolding her for her attempts to take on Fred's form. As Gunn continues his quest of self-discovery, Lorne becomes more aware of the lack of happiness in the world. Harmony attempts to seduce Marcus Hamilton for information, Lindsey makes an important decision regarding his alliance, and Eve continues to deal with being mortal. As Spike comes closer to understanding the nature of heroism, Angel pays a visit to the one person he truly loves. On Angel's bidding, the gang goes out and spends each day as if it were their last...
- 1997–200350mTV-PG9.7 (11K)TV EpisodeDirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonEmma Caulfield FordIn this musical extravaganza, Sunnydale residents find themselves bursting into song, and flame, when a demon attempts to make Dawn his bride.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse is brought to the FBI for questioning on his knowledge of ricin. In a last effort to kill Gus, Walt must ask for help from an old enemy.
- DirectorAlex GravesStarsPeter DinklageNikolaj Coster-WaldauLena HeadeyTheon helps Ramsay seize Moat Cailin. The wildlings attack Mole's Town. Sansa comes up with a story to protect Lord Baelish. Daenerys finds out a secret about Jorah Mormont. Oberyn Martell faces Gregor Clegane, the Mountain.
- DirectorDean WhiteStarsDominic PurcellWentworth MillerRobin TunneyThe team start the escape from the hole in Scofield's cell.
- DirectorWayne RoseStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellKatee SackhoffRoslin is on board a raptor en route to the Rebel Cylon Base Star, but Gaeta has ordered to engage and destroy it. The marines have used a stun grenade on Adama and Tigh. Roslin manages to get a wireless transmission out for everyone to hear and learn what Gaeta has done. She and the others barely make it to the Base Star, where she convinces Tory and the other Cylons to use the Fleet as a cover in order to prevent Gaeta from attacking it. She also believes that Adama will be able to save the rest of the Final Four. Temporarily safe, the Rebel Cylons start voting on whether they should just jump away and count their losses. Adama is brought before Gaeta and Tigh is thrown to the brig with Caprica Six, Anders, Athena, Helo and their child Hera. Zarek comes aboard Galactica on Colonial One with the Quorum. At Gaeta's insisting, Zarek agrees to put Adama on trial for treason, with Romo Lampkin assigned as his defence lawyer. There's just one problem: The Quorum refuses to recognize Zarek's authority. However, Zarek is hell-bent on following his "The truth is told by those left standing" maxim. Only Tyrol, who's alone, and Lee, whose with Starbuck, are Galactica's last hope.