#50. The Constant
Lost, Season 4, Episode 5 |
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I'm a little surprised that it
took 50 of these things to finally get to an episode of Lost, but then I
remember the past two and a half seasons. I'm sure there are some
gems from there that I'll get to eventually, but right now, I'm reveling
in the best season yet, and this is definitely my favorite one-off so
far. It's a Desmond episode, and he time-travels (instead of
flashing back and forth) between 1996 in the Royal Scots Regiment and
2004 (or so?) on the freighter. Desmond visits my favorite new
character Daniel back in 1996 at Oxford in undoubtedly the most
illuminating flashbacks yet, and he finds Charles Widmore bidding on the
logs of the Black Rock, but the central story is that of Desmond trying
to reach Penny, and when they finally connect on Christmas, it puts all
other island romances to shame.
Daniel: You can't change the future. |
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#49. Greenzo
30 Rock, Season 2, Episode 5 |
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For part of Green Week, NBC (in
the show) hired some guy to play Greenzo, their environmental mascot,
and meanwhile, rumors of Kenneth's party build until the actual party
becomes a disaster. As with all 30 Rock episodes, let's just list
the great jokes: Jenna wears Tiger Orgasm lipstick, Liz ate the
pop-tart that Pete and his wife used sexually, Kenneth's invitation
scene plays like a horror movie and flashbacks to previous parties
feature Liz and K dancing to "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," Pete's wife trying
to small talk with Liz when she walks in on them, Cerie's "Did he just
talk to me like I'm ugly?" look, everything at Kenneth's party (and how
they all looked the morning after) and everything David Schwimmer does,
Mary V, Colonial Williamsburg, and of course, Al Gore saving a whale.
Greenzo: Hillary Clinton wants an
all-homosexual army. How will that affect my family? |
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#48. Grasshopper
Weeds, Season 3, Episode 6 |
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Nancy finally reunites with
Conrad, Heylia, and Celia after her extended tutelage with U-Turn, who
by the way, takes a turn for the worse thanks to Marvin. I love
that we finally get to highlight U-Turn in a way that shows he is more
than just a one-dimensional thug, and the boxing scene was impressive
for its camerawork alone, not to mention the beauty of the dialogue,
symbolism, and performances. Best of all, we end it with Marvin's
chance to shine, and boy does he deliver. Of course, my favorite
parts are the Nancy-Conrad reunion, where she is forced to destroy some
of his work so as not to get herself on U-Turn's bad list, and the
Nancy-Celia reunion, which is made quicker thanks to U-Turn's heroin
box. All that and the Shins sing "Little Boxes."
Vaneeta: Next time you in my face, gargle.
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#47. The Metamorphosis
The O.C., Season 4, Episode 4 |
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Season 4 started out strong,
the early arc culminating in this return to the show's strengths,
symbolized by the cold open. Summer goes through the five stages
of grief in a great montage, at the end of which she strides up to Seth
in an airport to a cover of "Hello Sunshine." Later, Taylor's
husband sends his lawyer to Newport Beach to force her to return to
Paris with him, which leads to Taylor enlist Ryan to help her get out
of it. We get hilarious information about Taylor and her husband
(and peaches), and at the end, Ryan and Taylor start to fall for each
other, kissing to the Pogues' "Love You Till the End," and later sharing
a torte. And Julie and Kaitlin go to the same night club, while
Sandy tries to make friends with Spitzie, both storylines featuring
outstanding scenes in the closing montage.
Seth: Hey, Summer, I know flying home
early is your move, but I stole it! |
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#46. The Contest
Seinfeld, Season 4, Episode 11 |
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The quintessential Seinfeld
episode is also the most controversial, so I find a place for it in the
first 50. Basically, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer make a bet,
yada yada yada, the world is entertained. What's awesome is how
they got the idea, from a hilarious encounter with George and his always
delightful mother. Of course they have hilarious encounters with
Marla the virgin, John F. Kennedy, Jr., a nurse giving a sponge bath,
and the nudist across the street from Jerry's apartment. I always
loved the talk of how they assumed Elaine would last at least until
Spring. And even better, like the episode, I haven't once
mentioned the word that is its subject.
Kramer: I'm out! |
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#45. Nixon vs. Kennedy
Mad Men, Season 1, Episode 12 |
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Everyone's excited about
Sterling Cooper's campaign for Nixon, who is practically a lock.
Don's hiring an outsider for a position Pete wants though, which Pete,
predictably, takes poorly and concocts a cowardly way to try to steal
the job, blackmailing Don with knowledge of his true identity.
Don, of course, plays it cool and tells Pete to think it through first,
after which Don frantically freaks out asking Rachel Mencken to go away
with him. She calls him a coward, Peggy cries to him about social
injustice at the office, and Don tells Pete he'll tell Cooper himself.
They go to his office, Don tells him he's hiring the outsider, and Pete
spills the beans, but Cooper not only tells him he doesn't care, but
then he tells Don to keep an eye on Pete! We also get war
flashbacks and an incredible party scene complete with Ken's play and
Harry's infidelity. Bertram Cooper:
Mr. Campbell, who cares? |
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#44. From Where to
Eternity
The Sopranos, Season 2, Episode 9 |
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Michael Imperioli's
screenwriting
debut sees his character Christopher under the knife, lying on a
surgical bed the entire episode. Meanwhile, Carmela prays for him
in an empty room in a great montage, and Christopher wakes up after all.
But he's been in Hell, and has a message for Tony and Paulie.
Paulie questions his faith, but Tony reconciles with Carmela, AJ, and
Big Pussy, over his infidelity, his overreaction to something AJ did,
and his suspicions that Pussy's a rat. Pussy, in order to get back
in Tony's good graces, tracked down Matthew Bevilaqua, who shot up
Christopher, and they take him out, after which they reminisce over
dinner. I love that the entire episode had a dark, eerie feel to
it, echoing Christopher's nightmare, and the writing was particularly
outstanding.
Tony: We're soldiers. Soldiers
don't go to hell. |
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#43. The Target
The Wire, Season 1, Episode
1 |
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The pilot of The Wire is up
there with Deadwood in its ability to introduce 20 some-odd main
characters in such a way that you are still able to distinguish them.
The plot of the episode strictly revolves around a homicide detective
checking in on a court case that wasn't his and then revealing to the
judge that it's connected to a few other cases, which starts the
Baltimore cops' case against the Barksdale family. What I love
most about this episode is that it is a microcosm of the entire
show--the plot really works as a way to show the various institutions
(homicide, narcotics, state judge, DA's office, FBI, informants, the
various levels of the Barksdale family, etc.) and how they are all
connected. Add to that my immediate love for McNulty, Bunk,
Greggs, Avon, and Judge Phelan, and this is the beginning of a beautiful
series. McNulty: That'll teach you
to give a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck. |
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#42. Interview
The Office (UK), Season 2, Episode 6 |
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The best episode of the
original version of The Office is, naturally, its last. I have
discussed my love for this episode previously, but to recap, it's a
great comedy with the best drama of the series. Tim has a talking
head where he talks about the entire point of the series--the only thing
you have in common with people at your work is a spot of carpet, and
you're with them more than you're with your loved ones--which prompts
him to declare his love for Dawn. When he does so, he turns off
his microphone and the cameras film through the blinds, and then she
hugs him, he walks out and sits down, and at last he turns on his
microphone and says the immortal line below. And that's all before
David begs for his job in yet another glorious scene, and the final line
references Dolly Parton's tits. Tim:
She said no, by the way. |
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#41. Pilot
Freaks and Geeks, Season 1, Episode 1 |
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It's in the running for my favorite
pilots, first seasons, and series of all time, and it all started here.
The magnificent homecoming dance overshadowed some earlier greatness,
but that's to be expected when you combine Styx with John Francis Daley.
In addition to the dance, we get all the requisite high school show
scenes in the very first episode, from gym class (featuring a
horrifyingly accurate dodgeball sequence) to the fight with Alan to
being bullied by Kim to analyzing an act of kindness from your crush to
cutting class. Speaking of, Nick's love for his drum kit is
awesome to behold. And Lindsay's story about her grandmother's
death is another episode highlight, at least dramatically. And
again, a ton of characters are introduced and defined enough that we
understand who they are, an early indicator of a great show.
Mr. Rosso: Guess who's in trouble.
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