19 TV Scenes That Are Actually Perfect From Start To Finish

From Ted Lasso to Derry Girls to Breaking Bad, these scenes are truly the best.

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV scenes they think are 100% perfect. Here are the must-see results.

🚨 Spoilers ahead, people! 🚨

1. In Community, when Troy went downstairs to grab the pizza, and he came back 30 seconds later to find his apartment on fire and a bloody Pierce on the floor.

NBC

"The darkest timeline scene is easily the best and funniest moment. Troy runs downstairs to pick up the pizza and says he’s going to hurry so he doesn’t miss anything. Less than a minute later, he returns to utter disaster: a fire, a random gunshot wound, and a cursed doll taunting him from afar."

—emme212 and nazu

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

2. In Breaking Bad, when Nat King Cole's cheery version of "Pick Yourself Up" played during a supercut of prison killings that were orchestrated by none other than Walter White.

AMC

"This is the scene when all of the potential witnesses and informants get killed in jail, and Walter White synchronizes his watch to it while beautiful music plays in the background. He has been full-blown Heisenberg for some time at this point, but this particular moment was the pinnacle of his sociopathy. Incredible scene."

—micaharit

Here's the full scene:

AMC / youtube.com

3. In This Is Us, when Jack was totally fine after surviving the house fire, but a minute later, the doctor told Rebecca that he unexpectedly died from a heart attack.

NBC

"This scene is so perfect to me. The acting is obviously phenomenal, but the thing I love most about it is what Rebecca does after she finds out her husband just passed away...she takes a bite out of a candy bar. This moment is so small and random and subtle, but I think it's the most clever addition to any TV scene. Like, she just heard that her husband unexpectedly died, and her first reaction is to pause and eat a candy bar??? It felt so real because she's so confused and in disbelief. Whoever wrote it into the script deserves a raise."

—spenceralthouse

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

4. In How to Get Away with Murder, when Annalise intimately took off her wig and makeup before uttering the most iconic line from the series.

ABC

"Annalise taking off her wig and makeup in this scene is as if she's peeling back the layers to herself and finally letting us see a different, more vulnerable side that so few people get to see. It's such a brilliant way to illustrate a character who's letting her guard down. And then she utters that famous line! Simply perfect."

—noradominick

Here's the full scene:

ABC / youtube.com

5. In Ted Lasso, when there were sooooo many layers to the game of darts between Ted and Rupert, and each one revealed something new about Ted's character.

Apple TV+

"This scene is pure magic. It perfectly illustrates exactly who each character is, and it gives us a new, real, and personal glimpse into how Ted Lasso became Ted Lasso, all without coming across as clichéd or sappy. Like, this is the first time he really let his guard down in front of others and showed he's an actual human with faults and a history and even some trauma, rather than just deflecting every conversation or hiding behind his random pop culture references and jokes. It's just a really beautiful moment that reminds the viewer why they're rooting for this character, even if none of the people around him are."

—spenceralthouse

Here's the full scene:

Apple TV+ / youtube.com

6. In Doctor Who, when The Doctor brought Vincent van Gogh to the future and showed him just how much of an impact his art had on the world.

BBC

"The entire episode is fantastic, but Tony Curran gave the most authentic performance ever, which both broke my heart and made me feel overwhelmed with happiness. His facial expressions were so subtle and perfect. I could watch this scene on loop forever."

—savvymarie and bea7

Here's the full scene:

BBC / youtube.com

7. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, when Jake cleverly got Philip Davidson to reveal how he pulled off the perfect murder.

NBC

"The whole 'The Box' episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is so perfect, but this particular interrogation scene is especially good. In it, Sterling K. Brown’s character finally cracks, revealing in detail how he murdered the dentist. Everything about it was just so smart and so well thought out! It literally had me on the edge of my seat."

—allyh495 and princesspea09

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

8. In The Handmaid's Tale, when the group of former handmaids sought vengeance on Fred Waterford and attacked him in the woods.

Hulu

"This scene in the Season 4 finale is so wild and perfect. Basically, Fred Waterford is in prison for the majority of the season and is put on trial for his abuse and enslavement of women, but then we find out that he's actually going to get immunity and be moved into a witness protection–like program because the government wants info from him. Understandably, everyone is pissed, especially all the former handmaids.

In this scene, he's being brought to 'freedom,' but this HUGE group of former handmaids intercept him and chase him through the woods and attack. It's actually very violent, but it's so cathartic because the viewer has been waiting four entire seasons for this moment. The music makes it so intense, and parts of it are even shown in slow motion. It's even a little sad because the main character has wanted this for so long, but it's not as gratifying for her as it is to the audience. So much nuance."

—laurengarafano

Here's the full scene:

Hulu / youtube.com

9. In Derry Girls, when the first season ended by cutting back and forth between the joy of the girls on stage at the talent show and the parents reacting to the heartbreaking news of the bomb explosion.

Netflix

"This is the last scene in Season 1 when the group sets aside their fight to join Orla at the talent show so she doesn't embarrass herself. The grouchy Sister Michael stares at them as 'Dreams' by the Cranberries starts to play, and for a second you see her face slowly light up because their friendship gave her some sort of hope, or maybe it took her back to her youth. But then the scene cuts to the parents at home who are watching a news report about an explosion. This heavy, heartbreaking attack occurs in the middle of all this joy, and it reminds us that these moments in life don’t last forever — we need to cherish them. It unexpectedly made me cry."

—gabywoofwoof

Here's the full scene:

Netflix / youtube.com

10. In Mad Men, when the series ended with Don Draper meditating on a mountaintop, and you originally think he's smiling because he found inner peace, but really it's because he just came up with the concept for a new ad.

AMC

"Don Draper coming up with the Coke advert at the end of Mad Men is brilliant. You first think he'll find peace on that mountain, but then you realize that he doesn't really change at all. Instead, he learns he can exploit a whole new movement and group of people, just like he exploited the sentimental throughout the rest of the series. A genius ending."

—fayeolivia90

Here's the full scene:

AMC / youtube.com

11. In Fleabag, when Fleabag and the Priest said their final goodbyes, and even though it was a heartbreaking moment, it was clear that Fleabag knew she'd eventually be okay.

BBC One

"The tearful goodbye! The fox! The statue! The song! The 'I'll be okay, but you can't follow me anymore, so you'll just have to trust me' look Fleabag gives to the camera! The perfection!!!!!!"

—spenceralthouse

Here's the full scene:

BBC One / youtube.com

12. In The West Wing, when President Bartlet yelled at God in church because he was so angry and frustrated that Mrs. Landingham died.

NBC

"This scene from the 'Two Cathedrals' episode takes place when Jed Bartlet is alone in the church and talks directly to God. There are a lot of excellent moments from the series, but in this particular scene you can see every emotion Martin Sheen goes through, and it hurts, even if you’ve never experienced anything like it before. He’s clearly struggling between the people he loves and his faith. The scene is perfectly written, perfectly acted, and perfectly shot. And when Bartlet calls Josh Lyman his son? That gets me every time."

—nosveremosenlostribunales and stella93

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

13. In Hannibal, when the series opened by cleverly illustrating exactly how Will dissects crime scenes and puts himself in the killer's shoes.

NBC

"The opening scene of the first episode of Hannibal is genius. The way we get to see Will's ability to empathize with killers so he can analyze crime scenes is really creative and smart. Like, it's jarring to see him in the place of the murderer, then switching back to himself at the crime scene as he makes a key discovery. It establishes so clearly who he is and why he's vital to the story, plus it's beautifully shot and acted. Just a phenomenon piece of visual art."

—olliemolly

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

14. In Grey's Anatomy, when there was a shooter in the hospital, and Dr. Bailey knew that Charles wasn't going to make it out alive, so she tried to console him.

ABC

"The active shooter episode of Grey's Anatomy gets me every time. I can hold it together throughout most of the episode, but the moment when Dr. Bailey realizes that the elevators aren't working, and she starts to lose it, I HAVE to pause the episode and full-on ugly cry for a good five minutes. Here she is, wrestling with the notion that she's the ultimate coward for lying about not being a surgeon, but she also has to be a hero and comfort Charles during his last few breaths. You feel every sense of Dr. Bailey's powerlessness in this scene, which is nothing short of gut-wrenching."

—figgy211 and spenceralthouse

Here's the full scene:

ABC / youtube.com

15. In Band of Brothers, when Easy Company tried parachuting into France while under heavy attack, and everything was so intense and hectic.

HBO

"This incredible scene occurs in the second episode when Easy Company and the rest parachuted into France. I couldn’t breathe while watching it. It was beyond intense, clearly incredibly expensive to shoot, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried while watching every burned plane and failed parachute attempt. The only TV to get me in the same way was Game of Thrones' 'Battle of the Bastards' and, well, pretty much the whole of Chernobyl."

—juliaw1

Here's the full scene:

HBO / youtube.com

16. In Feud, when Joan Crawford and Bette Davis confronted each other, perfectly capturing their own heartbreak and loneliness in a rare yet tender moment.

FX

"This scene is on a whole different level. For two people who have so much in common, they're determined to make enemies with each other out of pure jealousy. This is the first time in the series when they're 100% real. Their guards are down, and they're finally willing to be vulnerable because it hits them: No one else in the world can relate to what these two aging and 'outdated' stars are going through. It's a heartbreakingly beautiful scene about two people who were once on top and will do anything to be there again."

—tessafahey

Here's the full scene:

FX / youtube.com

17. In The Good Place, when Eleanor figured out that her time in "heaven" was all a trick, and she was really being tortured in The Bad Place all along.

NBC

"The moment when Eleanor figures out that they're not actually in The Good Place is perfection. Her shocked 'holy motherforking shirtballs,' her sardonic laugh, and when called on it Michael's Cheshire Cat grin and evil giggle...they're all perfect. It's just such a great scene, and I wish I could go back and experience it again without knowing the twist."

—mikefalkstrom

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

18. In Black Mirror, when the "Nosedive" episode ended with Lacie in jail, paradoxically making her feel free for the first time ever.

Netflix

"Not only is 'Nosedive' the best episode of Black Mirror, but it also has one of the best endings of any TV show. It takes place in a society where every single interaction you have is given a rating by the other person (sort of like Uber), and the higher your rating the more perks and esteem you're granted.

Bryce Dallas Howard plays Lacie, a woman who's worked her entire life to build the most perfect-seeming persona, only for it to blow up in her face. She ends up in jail, broken, and motions a 'bad rating' to the prisoner across from her, but she no longer has her ratings device. The two randomly start making fun of each other, not because they're trying to offend the other one, but because this is the first time in their lives when their actions don't have a bad rating consequence. As their prepped insults grow harsher and louder, they both start smiling. Lacie's breakdown has now become her breakthrough. What a beautiful scene."

—spenceralthouse

Here's the full scene:

Netflix / youtube.com

19. And in The Office, when Michael proposed to Holly in front of everyone, and even though the sprinklers went off, they both kept laughing.

NBC

"Michael's proposal to Holly was so good. It was at this point in the series when I realized all the other characters loved Michael as much as he loved them. The whole thing was perfect and amazing."

—gabriellegutmann

Here's the full scene:

NBC / youtube.com

Did your favorite TV scene not make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.