TK classic standalone(-ish) TV episodes

Because the whole internet fell in love Last of UsBill and Frank erupted in a side conversation this week: How wild is it for the show to dedicate itself to a third episode so far In a standalone story? In its third week of airing, the HBO video game franchise hit has spent much of its 80-minute runtime away from the main narrative to flesh out and sweeten the side of the game into his character’s backstory. spent on And when a TV show swings for the fence like this, it often does. , telling a self-contained story can make for some of the most satisfying viewings.

A side note on labels: As pointed out by Kathryn Van Aredonnk of Vulture(opens in new window)some people refer to these as “bottle episodes”. It doesn’t always have to be — in the Bottle episode, it’s letter people included(opens in new window), is not a story. Van Arendonck finds installments that break the usual storytelling of the series, whether they focus solely on one character, group or subplot, episode-length flashbacks, or even musical episodes. proposed the “Departure Episode” of

Here, we focus on episodes that are truly enjoyable without the context of previous episodes.. There are anthology shows that have almost every episode like this, but I’m not counting them here. There are episodic and serialized shows designed for new viewers to drop by anytime to pick up a story thread. And then there are the great episodes of television where someone goes on a self-contained journey and doesn’t land without the broader context of that arc and character development (e.g. breaking bad‘s classic Bottle episode “Fly,” brilliantly directed by Rian Johnson).

These are not them. These are the episodes that you can go watch now and enjoy the stories they tell, really like short films, even if you’ve never seen the original show. Please come back and check out the rest – or don’t.

although it is not Technically A true standalone episode that begins and ends with Joel and Ellie’s ongoing journey, “Long Long Time” offers one of the best single-episode arcs in recent years. “Long Long Time” tells the story of two survivors, Bill and Frank, who fall in love and build a fulfilling life at the end of the world. Bolstered by phenomenal performances from Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett, the episode Up “Marriage” montage — sweet and devastating. This episode may have just aired, but it’s already an old episode. — By Beren Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Where to watch: Last of Us It airs Sundays on HBO and streams on HBO Max.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

exactly halfway Mythic QuestIn the chaotically entertaining, nine-episode debut season, the show slowed down for a devastating one-off flashback to the early days of the video game industry. A married creative known only as Beans (Kristin Milioti) and Doc (Jake Johnson), her team of 20-year breakthrough careers and the eponymous who made and ultimately broke them. Follow the game.the simple genius of dark quiet death, the game creates a “dark silent death” episode, stripping the main story theme of the constant, troubling tension between creativity and commerce to what is essentially a two-handed one, but more of an episode. It is your only connection to the wider MQ world.am dark quiet death The shirt the character is currently wearing. If you like Gabrielle Zevin’s 2022 book tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow Please see this ASAP. — Caitlin Welsh, Australian Editor

Where to watch: Mythic Quest is now streaming on Apple TV+.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

girl, Season 2 Episode 5, Season 6 Episode 3 “One Man’s Trash”/”American Bitch”

Many people may list “The Panic In Central Park” as their favorite one-girl only, girl episode, not because it relies on callbacks to Marnie’s long journey in the series very Works as a standalone like these two. Appearing in the second and final seasons, respectively, both pair Hannah (creator Lena Dunham) with a famous older male actor who plays the chatty, two-handed character. In the first, 20-something Hannah spends her weekends naked on a swanky brownstone with her newly estranged Ken doll-like handsome doctor (Patrick Wilson). before sunrise A place to try life that she may or may not want.

And in “American Bitch,” she’s invited to another man’s house, this time conflicted: middle-aged writer Chuck (Matthew Rhys) wants to chat a bit about an article Hannah wrote about sexual harassment allegations. However, they realize that the two are connected. As a generational writer. Airing just a few months before the Me Too movement took off, the show has one of the cleverest, most nuanced scripts of the show’s entire run, and, down to the utterly surreal final shot, it’s almost It may function as a stage play. – CW

Where to watch: girl It’s currently streaming on HBO Max.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

bojack horsemanSeason 3, Episode 4, “Fish Out Of Water”

it is one of bojack horseman It’s a self-contained undersea odyssey written by Elijah Allon and Jordan Young.to make a big comeback movie for BoJack (Will Arnett) Secretariat A legitimate nominee, “The Oscar Whisperer” publicist Anna Spanakopita (Angela Bassett), needs to send him to a major film festival. The Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals have banned BoJack for his characteristically unwelcome comments, so BoJack heads off to the world’s largest underwater film festival, the Pacific Ocean Film Festival (POFF). BoJack has only one job for him. Arrive at Premier on time.But as dismissed, there is a spanner in his work Secretariat Director Kelsey Jannings is also present, so instead his goal is to first avoid her in true BoJack style, then track her down and make things right. It’s a chaotic journey through the bottom, acknowledging connection and asking for forgiveness, whether it’s received or not.

With Jesse Novak’s groupie dreamy music and a confusing audio soundscape, the episode is set entirely underwater, with BoJack breathing in a bubble helmet unable to communicate verbally. can not. This means that there is very little dialogue for the majority of the episode, and all communication is through gestures, body language, written words, and sound effects. Titled “Fish Out of Water,” this episode throws BoJack into complete culture his shock. Either BoJack jumped into a world where he didn’t speak the language, or he didn’t feel like reading the local customs. But when he’s strayed far off course by a babbling baby seahorse, BoJack sees far more to the bottom of the ocean than he bargained for. There’s one particularly gorgeous sequence in which a tiny seahorse bounces light and sound to bring him out of a deep, dark sea cave. – Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Where to watch: bojack horseman Currently streaming on Netflix.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

Not every character can carry an episode of TV on their own, but AvatarZuko is no ordinary character. Throughout “Zuko Alone” we learn about his relationship with his mother and see him reflect on what the Fire Nation has done to the Earth Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity to explore his inner conflict between doing what is expected of him. AvatarIf we didn’t get to see Zuko’s redemption arc coming before “Zuko Alone,” this solidified his next (still emotionally complex) hero’s journey. Become

Where to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender Currently streaming on Netflix.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

Barry, Season 2, Episode 5, “Ronnie/Lily”

all hell breaks free Barry When hitman-turned-actor Barry’s target, Ronnie, turns out to be a martial arts master.then even more Hell broke loose when Ronnie’s little daughter Lily appeared and beat Ronnie down with otherworldly ferocity. When Barry wrestles with her own moral code, will he have to kill the child?—Lily grunts, bites her in the face, and jumps on the roof of her car. “ronny/lily” is a suburban violent ride that never gives up, pushing reminders of Barry’s dark past upon him with explosive results. Kudos to “Wild Mongoose” Lily for her driving this excellence of hers. — Become

Where to watch: Barry It’s currently streaming on HBO Max.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

Doctor WhoSeason 3 Episode 10 “Blink”

It’s scary to realize what you can lose in the blink of an eye. Clever Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan,education) is tasked with fighting a mysterious new threat to humanity via a cryptic message from a stalled Doctor (David Tennant). “Don’t blink,” he warns earnestly via his DVD dispatch. A unique take on the haunted house story, “Blink” not only took viewers on a diabolical and terrifying adventure, but also made him one of the franchise’s most iconic villains, the Weeping Angels. introduced. No wonder this won Steven Moffat his BAFTA Craft Award. — Christy Puchco, film editor

Where to watch: Doctor Who It’s currently streaming on HBO Max.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)