The Independent's the 50 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time

A brilliant episode can refine the essence of the best shows into a single, self-contained moment. Here are The Independent's favourites from over the decades.

Television shows are, inevitably, made up of parts. On the surface, there's the great, overarching story that begins with the first shot and ends with the last. But, within that narrative, there are small parts: the series, and the episode. It is the smallest of these sub-divisions, the episode, that is most intriguing. A truly brilliant episode can bridge the gap between cinema and TV. It can refine the essence of the best shows into a single, self-contained moment. At its most potent, a perfect episode is like mainlining all the myriad ingredients of prestige television in a single sitting.

Ahead of Sunday night's (14 May) BAFTA Television awards last year, The Independent's compiled a list of the greatest TV episodes of all time.

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1

This Is England '86: "Episode 4" (S1,E4)

This Is England '86: "Episode 4" (S1,E4)

2

I May Destroy You: "Ego Death" (S1,E12)

I May Destroy You: "Ego Death" (S1,E12)

3

The Sopranos: "Pine Barrens" (S3,E11)

The Sopranos: "Pine Barrens" (S3,E11)

4

Blackadder Goes Forth: "Goodbyeee" (S4,E6)

Blackadder Goes Forth: "Goodbyeee" (S4,E6)

5

The Thick of It: "Episode 6" (S3,E6)

The Thick of It: "Episode 6" (S3,E6)

6

Brideshead Revisited: "Brideshead Revisited" (S1,E11)

Brideshead Revisited: "Brideshead Revisited" (S1,E11)

7

Mad Men: "The Suitcase" (S4,E7)

Mad Men: "The Suitcase" (S4,E7)

8

The Office: "Training" (S1,E4)

The Office: "Training" (S1,E4)

9

The Simpsons: "Cape Feare" (S5,E2)

The Simpsons: "Cape Feare" (S5,E2)

10

The Wire: "Old Cases" (S1,E4)

The Wire: "Old Cases" (S1,E4)

11

Bojack Horseman: "That's Too Much, Man!" (S3,E11)

Bojack Horseman: "That's Too Much, Man!" (S3,E11)

12

It's a Sin: "Episode 3" (S1,E3)

It's a Sin: "Episode 3" (S1,E3)

13

Peep Show: "Wedding" (S4,E6)

Peep Show: "Wedding" (S4,E6)

14

The World at War: "Genocide: 1941-1945" (S1,E20)

The World at War: "Genocide: 1941-1945" (S1,E20)

15

The Singing Detective: "Skin" (S1,E1)

The Singing Detective: "Skin" (S1,E1)

16

Heimat: A Chronicle of Germany: "Soldiers and Love (1944)" (S1,E7)

Heimat: A Chronicle of Germany: "Soldiers and Love (1944)" (S1,E7)

17

Succession: "This Is Not for Tears" (S2,E10)

Succession: "This Is Not for Tears" (S2,E10)

18

The Prisoner: "Arrival" (S1,E1)

The Prisoner: "Arrival" (S1,E1)

19

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "Hush" (S4,E10)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "Hush" (S4,E10)

20

The Last of Us: "Long, Long Time" (S1,E3)

The Last of Us: "Long, Long Time" (S1,E3)

21

Pride and Prejudice: "Episode 3" (S1,E3)

Pride and Prejudice: "Episode 3" (S1,E3)

22

M*A*S*H: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (S11,E16)

M*A*S*H: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (S11,E16)

23

Atlanta: "Teddy Perkins" (S2,E6)

Atlanta: "Teddy Perkins" (S2,E6)

24

Sex and the City: "Splat!" (S6,E18)

Sex and the City: "Splat!" (S6,E18)

25

Frasier: "Ham Radio" (S4,E18)

Frasier: "Ham Radio" (S4,E18)

26

Lost: "Through the Looking Glass" (S3,E22/23)

Lost: "Through the Looking Glass" (S3,E22/23)

27

Black Mirror: "Be Right Back" (S2,E1)

Black Mirror: "Be Right Back" (S2,E1)

28

Eastenders: "Dot and Ethel" (S1,E249)

Eastenders: "Dot and Ethel" (S1,E249)

29

Boys From the Blackstuff: "Yosser's Story" (S1,E4)

Boys From the Blackstuff: "Yosser's Story" (S1,E4)

30

Fleabag: "Episode 1" (S2,E1)

Fleabag: "Episode 1" (S2,E1)

31

Doctor Who: "The Daleks: The Dead Planet" (S1,E5)

Doctor Who: "The Daleks: The Dead Planet" (S1,E5)

32

Gilmore Girls: "There's the Rub" (S2,E16)

Gilmore Girls: "There's the Rub" (S2,E16)

33

Better Call Saul: "Plan and Execution" (S6,E7)

Better Call Saul: "Plan and Execution" (S6,E7)

34

Twin Peaks: "Northwest Passage" (S1,E1)

Twin Peaks: "Northwest Passage" (S1,E1)

35

The Royle Family: "London" (S3,E5)

The Royle Family: "London" (S3,E5)

36

ER: "Love's Labor Lost" (S1,E19)

ER: "Love's Labor Lost" (S1,E19)

37

Cracker: "To Be a Somebody" (S2,E1)

Cracker: "To Be a Somebody" (S2,E1)

38

The Leftovers: "Certified" (S3,E6)

The Leftovers: "Certified" (S3,E6)

39

Edge of Darkness: "Into the Shadows" (S1,E2)

Edge of Darkness: "Into the Shadows" (S1,E2)

40

Game of Thrones: "Baelor" (S1,E9)

Game of Thrones: "Baelor" (S1,E9)

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