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.
