Name the best and worst episodes in any TV series

[Der_Lex]

"Stranger in a Strange Land" is a terrible episode, no doubt about it, but it didn't leave me with the same "what cheap, manipulative, melodramatic garbage did I just watch" feeling that I had after the series finale. I don't get the hate for "Exposé", though. I thought it was a brilliant, very funny way to get rid of two unpopular characters.


Anyway, two more:

Babylon 5

Best: "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars"
This was such a tough choice, since the show has a huge amount of fantastic episodes, but what I like about this episode was its original premise of showing the effect the actions of the Bab 5 personnel will have on both the near and far future, of showing how history can be misinterpreted (both unwillingly and willingly) and of course the last scene showing the death of our sun and the fate of mankind was great as well. The only downside of the episode is that it doesn't feature Londo or G'Kar, two of the most memorable characters on the show.

Worst: "TKO"
Once again proof of the premise that boxing episodes on sci fi shows always suck.



The Outer Limits (1995-2002 seasons)

Best: "Sandkings"
With a great script (adapted by Melinda Snodgrass from a story by George RR Martin, no less), a great cast (pretty much every member of the Bridges clan other than Jeff) and a great concept (a scientist playing god over a research project of intelligent alien insects finds out he's in for more than he bargained for), this is pretty much The Outer Limits at its best.

Worst: "Lithia"
Poorly written sexist garbage that takes gender stereotypes to the next level.

[Lawdog1521]

Cheers

Best: "An Old-Fashioned Wedding"
Normally wedding episodes are amongst the worst on sitcoms but this one shines. A "Two-Parter" this episode features Woody and Kelly finally getting married. What sets it apart is that each of the ensemble cast gets a chance to step up. Woody and Kelly can't keep their hands off each other, Rebecca pisses off the caterers, Sam has a jealous husband after him, Lilith is obsessed with show tunes, and Carla keeps getting thrown down the dumb waiter. The rest of the gang has to contend with a pack of ravenous dogs, a dead preacher, a drunk minister, and one catastrophe after another.

Worst: "I do, Adieu"
While there's nothing technically wrong with this one, it's the zenith of Diane being obnoxious. By the second season the whole "Sam & Diane" thing had run it's course but the writers kept going back to it. And every time they'd break them up again. By season five Diane was way too pretentious. And after all the numerous times she had left Sam hanging, after this episode one feels like slapping her. Fortunately it was also the last episode of the character. (Until the finale anyway.)

Mystery Science Theater 3000

This is a tough one because there are so many great episodes. For best I'm picking two... a Joel episode and a Mike one.

Best Joel: "Pod People"
This poorly made Italian rip-off of E.T. was perfect for the crew to riff on. From the renaissance festival villain to the horrible music (Hear the engines roar now!) this one is just asking to be mocked. It also provided a ton of great one liners for future episodes. ("Huzzah" "Smuckers""It Stinks!" Shnappy!")

Best Mike: "Laserblast"
When your town bully is played by Eddie Deezen, you're making a bad movie. An epically bad movie. Throw in an ugly protagonist, claymation aliens, and an out of place Roddy McDowell and you have prime MST3K fodder.

Worst: "Hamlet"
The crew did what they could with this one but they didn't have a lot to work with. A German television version of the play, it's almost all dialogue and set on the same set. This one will put viewers to sleep.

[SheSaidSheSaid]

But Leonard Maltin gave it two and a half stars!

No Worst Joel? As far as I'm concerned, pick anything from the first season. J Elvis Weinstein = not funny, in the slightest.

[Lawdog1521]

But Leonard Maltin gave it two and a half stars!

No Worst Joel? As far as I'm concerned, pick anything from the first season. J Elvis Weinstein = not funny, in the slightest.

I agree on that. He's just not funny. I avoid season 1 too.

[Dante1847]

as far as horrible Lost episodes go, "The Other 48 Days" ranks up there.

[FujiSkunk]

Since nobody has been brave enough yet, I'll throw this in:

"My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic"

Best Episode: Sweet and Elite
I may give a different answer the next time I'm asked to pick the best, but right now this one stands out in my mind. We get a good look at the high society of Canterlot, we get good character development from Rarity, and we don't have any distracting gee-whiz gadget or spectacle that looks impressive at first before everyone starts picking it apart later. We do have a revelation that not everyone in high society is a hopeless snob, and while that is a familiar trope, it's still nice to see when compared to a world full of Hiltons and Kardashians. The episode also benefits from a good song and of course, Pinkie Pie's party cannon.

Worst episode: The Last Roundup
Ah, the infamous "Derpy" episode. What started as a wink to the fans became a pointless and downright depressing source of controversy thanks to people who think any celebration of differences is the same as mocking those differences. Hasbro's kowtowing to those people and then reminding the fan base of their "love and tolerate" mantra didn't help the cause. But "love and tolerate" is indeed what the fans do best, and they forgave and moved on. And so it's not for any of that that I call The Last Roundup MLP's worst episode. No, it's the worst because it wrecks the character of Applejack. Would she really just up and leave her farm, which she knows cannot possibly be run by Grannie Smith and Big Macintosh by themselves (edit: forgot about Big Mac, and Apple Bloom doesn't do much on the farm anyway), all because she got emo over not winning a blue ribbon? And would the pony who is supposed to represent "Truth" really resort to lawyer-speak to weasel out of why she didn't keep a promise? No, and no. The episode isn't a total loss, but to me it is definitely the low point of the series so far.

[lvmathemagician]

The Outer Limits (1995-2002 seasons)

Best: "Sandkings"
With a great script (adapted by Melinda Snodgrass from a story by George RR Martin, no less), a great cast (pretty much every member of the Bridges clan other than Jeff) and a great concept (a scientist playing god over a research project of intelligent alien insects finds out he's in for more than he bargained for), this is pretty much The Outer Limits at its best.

Worst: "Lithia"
Poorly written sexist garbage that takes gender stereotypes to the next level.

I love the Sand Kings. One of the best episodes of any series ever in my opinion.