The mark of an unforgettable television series is the ability to highlight episodes that will stand the test of time and offer emotional, layered storytelling that remains effective with every additional viewing.
Of course, these moments can come from episodes that flip the script on what you may expect from the series, or mark a turning point in which the show transcends normal entertainment and becomes a pop culture landmark.
With this in mind, I’ve assembled 22 television episodes so good that you don’t need to even watch the series as a whole to enjoy them:
4.“Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery,” Murderville
5.“Join the Club,” The Sopranos
6.“Teddy Perkins,” Atlanta
7.“Here’s Not Here,” The Walking Dead
8.“A Trial to Watch,” The Goes Wrong Show
9.“Out of Gas,” Firefly
10.“ronny/lily,” Barry
11."The Life and Crimes of New Jack," Dark Side of the Ring
12.“Chapter 14,” Legion
13.“Episode 6,” Gangs of London
14.“Pancakes; Divorce; Pancakes,” Review
15.“Beyond the Sea,” The X-Files
16.“Escape from Sh*t Mountain,” Poker Face
17.“The Watchers on the Wall,” Game of Thrones
18.“Trou Normand,” Hannibal
19.“Black Tie,” 30 Rock
20.“Fly,” Breaking Bad
21.“The One with the Football,” Friends
22.And finally: “The Constant,” Lost
What's your favorite episode on this list? Do you know of any TV episodes that can be enjoyed without ever having seen the full series? Share in the comments below!