Former FCC Chairman Newton Minow once called television a “vast wasteland,” but it’s come quite a long way since those words were spoken in 1961. The success of series such as I Love Lucy set the stage for greater things to come, and, in the modern era, television productions are as beloved as most movies, if not more so.
From triumphant high fantasy tales as seen in Game of Thrones to universe-spanning adventures in Doctor Who, television is an excellent medium for storytelling, and, according to IMDb, these episodes represent the very best of the best that medium has to offer. Some have produced the best TV episodes of all time.
Updated on November 14th, 2022 by Jordan Iacobucci: As the way that audiences consume television changes drastically, some have come to call the current era “The Golden Age” of television, as streaming services are shelling out large sums of money to deliver high-quality entertainment that will draw viewers to their platform. As a result, the television landscape has changed forever, though certain stellar episodes from years past will forever remain a part of television history.
“Zero X And X Rose” (2014) – 9.9
Hunter X Hunter, Stream On Amazon Prime
In one of the highest-rated episodes of an anime series ever made, the one hundred and twenty-sixth episode of Hunter x Hunter blew audiences away with the explosive continuation of Mereum and Netero’s brutal struggle. The episode remains the favorite during the series’ entire run, with fans still not fully over the incredible implications of its ending.
Fans were quick to praise “Zero X and X Rose” as the greatest episode in the series, singling out the episode’s writing as truly superb, as it captured the deep metaphors of Hunter x Hunter‘s hidden meaning as it described a world that had sunken into apathy.
“The Winds Of Winter” (2016) – 9.9
Game Of Thrones, Stream On HBO Max
In the finale to the sixth season of Game of Thrones, appropriately titled “The Winds of Winter” after the long-delayed sixth installment of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, events come to pass that would change the hierarchy of the Seven Kingdoms forever.
Despite dipping ratings for the earlier parts of the season, “The Winds of Winter” showcases everything that is great about the series. The episode begins with a solemn opening montage as Cersei Lannister’s trial begins and slowly unravels into utter chaos as the truth of her master scheme is revealed. Everything an audience member needs to know about Cersei is present in this paradigm-shifting episode of television that propelled the series forward into its final era.
“Battle Of The Bastards” (2016) – 9.9
Game Of Thrones, Stream On HBO Max
No matter how disappointing most fans found the final season of Game of Thrones, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the previous seasons consist of some of the best television episodes ever made. The season six episode “Battle Of The Bastards” was an epic showdown between two of Game of Thrones‘ most show-stealing characters: Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton.
Nothing gave fans more pleasure than seeing John go to war against Ramsey, who proved to be a horrendous villain since the very beginning. The exceptional choreography of the fight sequences made it even more memorable, as the true horrors of war play out and end in a fitting conclusion.
“The Phantom Apprentice” (2020) – 9.9
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Stream On Disney+
Star Wars: The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network in 2008 and lasted for five seasons, shifting to Netflix for a sixth and seemingly final season. However, the series was revived on Disney+, with the seventh and conclusive season launching in 2020.
This Clone Wars episode heavily features fan-favorite Star Wars characters Darth Maul and Ahsoka Tano, includes some franchise-defining lightsaber battles, and explains the hitherto unsung roles they played in the events of the third canonical Star Wars installment. The episode also serves to set up the well-loved final arc in the Clone Wars‘ run, as the series prepared for its final bow.
“Victory And Death” (2020) – 9.9
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Stream On Disney+
The series finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is also the highest-rated episode in the Star Wars franchise. “Victory and Death” concludes the final arc in the well-loved animated series, as Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex attempt to survive the unfolding of Order 66 as the war comes to a sudden and violent end.
Everything great about The Clone Wars can be found in this final episode, as it plays directly into the events of Revenge of the Sith. The true tragedy of Anakin’s downfall and the extermination of the Jedi is tangible, though the events are not seen onscreen. And, as the final moments play out for fans to view through teary eyes, the series is put in sobering perspective through the gleam in a fallen clone’s helmet.
“407 Proxy Authentication Required” (2019) – 9.9
Mr. Robot, Stream On Amazon Prime
Created by Homecoming director Sam Esmail and featuring Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, Mr. Robot is the story of a socially-challenged programmer who joins an anarchist group of hackers. “407 Proxy Authentication Required” didn’t amaze viewers and critics just from a storytelling point of view; it was visually stunning and even featured some top-notch choreography.
The whole episode takes place in a single area, between two rooms, almost like a stage play, and it is even divided into “acts.” It’s something like a modern-day version of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, albeit adapted masterfully for the small screen.
“Perfect Game” (2019) – 9.9
Attack On Titan, Stream On Hulu
The sixteenth episode of Attack on Titan‘s third season, appropriately titled “Perfect Game,” picks up the Scout Regiment’s losing battle against the Beast and Colossal Titans that are concurrently attacking separate vulnerable points. As hope begins to wane, the protagonists mount one final–and desperate–ploy to win the day.
“Perfect Game” shows exactly why Attack on Titan is one of the highest-rated anime series of all time. Mixing intense action with genuine meditations on leadership and the nature of survival, this episode soars in every sense of the word.
“Hero” (2019) – 9.9
Attack On Titan, Steam On Hulu
Attack on Titan is not just another anime series; it has transcended to the level where it is larger than life and supersedes the genre itself. The drama and action in “Hero,” the seventeenth episode of season three, were simply off the charts.
In this episode, Commander Erwin rallies a literal suicide squad to battle the Beast Titan in order to distract him and the others while Levi unleashes the fury of God on them from behind. It’s an undeniably epic sequence, and it’s up there with top-tier anime moments from acclaimed series such as Cowboy Beebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
“Felina” (2013) – 9.9
Breaking Bad, Stream On Netflix
Breaking Bad is known for producing some truly intense episodes of television. Even so, many viewers may still not have recovered from the series finale, which brought to an end each of Walter White’s long-running struggles for good.
While many series finales have dropped the ball when it comes to pleasing devoted fans of the franchise, “Felina” may go down in history as the best conclusion to a popular series ever made. Each storyline from seasons past reached its satisfying conclusion and the series itself ended fittingly, in a way that many saw coming but few were truly ready for.
“Ozymandias” (2013) – 10.0
Breaking Bad, Stream On Netflix
Breaking Bad is one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows ever, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that one of its episodes holds the rare distinction of being receiving a 10/10 user rating on IMDb. Every minute of the show’s fifth and final season is absolutely jam-packed with drama and action, and “Ozymandias” is the peak.
It is the tragic end to nearly seven years worth of storytelling. Hank is killed, and Jesse is taken captive. The White family falls apart once and for all as Walt is forced to flee. Ultimately, “Ozymandias” is arguably the greatest hour of TV ever produced.
