Top 30 Television Episodes of 2007: 30-21
Posted on January 8, 2008
30. Prison Break - Chicago (Season 2, Episode 16)
While Prison Break’s “Go” would have been in the running to be the top episode of 2006, a slightly weaker sophomore season followed by a hit-or-miss third means that their only appearance on this list is “Chicago”, which barely makes the cut. But that’s not to say this is a sub-par episode, because it isn’t. In fact, it’s got plenty of the same drama and suspense that got us hooked when Michael Scofield first got himself incarcerated at Fox River, as Michael and company try to escape the authorities’ grasp on a sweet train. You know they had to have a police car roadblock to smash through! And of course, this was the episode where mentally unstable Haywire became the third of the Fox River Eight to bite it. Our hopes of him in the unlikely event of making Amsterdam were shot down when Mahone persuaded him to jump.
29. Doctor Who - Blink (Season 3, Episode 10)
Admittedly, I don’t watch a lot of Doctor Who. I was a big fan in the short yet sweet Christopher Eccleston era, but once Rose Tyler left, I gave up on it. “Blink” turned out to be the best episode this year that I certainly didn’t intend on watching. In another Doctor-light forty-five minutes, Sally Sparrow – just your average person – finds herself trying to retrieve the TARDIS and survive against the Weeping Angels. Look away, and these Angels, seemingly ordinary statues, come to life. And once they touch you, they’ll chuck you back forty years, leaving you stranded in the 1960s. What “Blink” does right is make the atmosphere fittingly creepy. The old, dilapidated house, for starters, is the perfect setting for the final showdown, and it’s topped by chilling, suspenseful music as the unlikely hero and her boyfriend try to refrain from blinking, lest the Angels edge closer…and closer…and closer…
28. Gossip Girl - Roman Holiday (Season 1, Episode 11)
It’s been a while since I had a guilty pleasure, but Gossip Girl ticks all the boxes you could ask for in a teen soapy drama. Genuine characters? Check. Believable relationships? Check. Fights and stories that veer away from clichés? Double check. And “Roman Holiday” sums up everything I like about this show right now. Each character continues to have a surprising amount of depth. Blair (excellently played by Leighton Meester) in particular shines: on one end, she’s gutted that she can’t seem to get her father’s attention, yet on the other hand, her threat to Vanessa with cuticle scissors, telling her to back away from her best friend’s boyfriend, is totally awesome. Also worth noting are Serena and Dan, spending their first Christmas together, whose panic at finding the perfect Christmas present for each other is really endearing and shows how serious they are about this relationship, even though they come from completely different backgrounds.
27. Heroes - Cautionary Tales (Season 2, Episode 11)
With an exceptional team of writers, you would have banked Heroes on delivering an equally great sophomore season to follow up their first, but an uninspired and slow-paced first half left many loyal fans disappointed and criticising the direction of the show. Things did eventually take a turn for the better, though, and “Cautionary Tales”, the ninth of the eleven chapters in the second volume, was the epitome of the decent run of episodes that followed. This is the Heroes we want to see more of. Each subplot progresses a tremendous amount – from Hiro’s (and our) discovery that it was his personal hero, Kensei, who killed his father, to Mohinder fulfilling yet another Mendez painting when he actually shoots Bennet in the friggin’ eye! Oh, but it’s not over yet! The Company then uses Claire’s regenerative blood to revive him! What the heck!
26. Private Practice - In Which Sam Gets Taken For A Ride (Season 1, Episode 7)
Yadda yadda yadda, as interesting the mini-hostage situation was that Sam (yo, Taye!) found himself in, and as interesting as it was to see David Sutcliffe (Christopher on Gilmore Girls) making a guest appearance, I think you’re all missing the point as to why this episode squirmed its way into the thirty. So let’s run through it. Addison and Pete finally agree to a date. Cooper and Violet finally agree to sex (albeit casual with no strings attached, not the kind Cooper might want from the woman he fancies). But wait, by the end of the episode, it’s Sam and Naomi, divorced and bitter with each other, who end up getting some action. What’s up with that?! Hey…wait a minute. This is starting to feel like Grey’s Anatomy. And it’s good!
25. Grey’s Anatomy - Crash Into Me, Part I (Season 4, Episode 9)
Speaking of Grey’s, it seems that the show has bounced back from that blip at the end of last season. In the Mega Disaster of the Season™, an ambulance crashes into another right in front of Seattle Grace. What ensues is everyone crying their eyes out when Stan saves fellow paramedic Ray’s life, only to die before he can hear the Chief call him a hero. Also involved in the Mega Disaster of the Season™ is a white supremacist with a giant-ass swastika tattoo on his stomach, and faced with saving his life and saving her failing marriage, Bailey (who’s black) chooses to perform the surgery. Finally, Seth Green’s in it, which is awesome. Slightly underused, but still awesome. That screencap right there? His artery just blew, drenching intern Lexie with all his blood. Cue the “To Be Continued” card.
24. Day Break - What If He’s Free (Season 1, Episode 10)
Ah, Taye Diggs. We can’t get enough of you. I was disappointed when barely anyone stuck with Groundhog Day-influenced Day Break, leading to its demise, but let’s not dwell on the past. “What If He’s Free” continues what made the show worth watching. I honestly don’t recall another show in which the twists actually make sense as much as they do instead of using them for the sake of stirring things up and keeping the story interesting. For Day Break to come in and do that every week is bloody impressive. So, remember when Hopper’s landlord told him that the two plumbers still haven’t fixed the leak all the way back in the pilot? Turns out that they were Fencik and Buchalter. And the hostile lady artist whose address was found in Torres’ wallet? Well, she wasn’t the next target but actually the serial murderer’s sister. But the clincher was – even though Hopper solved Garza’s murder and was intent on watching the sunrise with Rita – the day repeated once more. The look on his devastated face said it all.
23. Supernatural - The Kids Are Alright (Season 3, Episode 2)
This is one creepy episode. “The Kids Are Alright”, no doubt taking some inspiration from Doctor Who’s “The Empty Child”, explores the lore of changelings. I don’t think I need to say much more other than to look at the screencap and imagine that thing tailing you around like a magnet, monotonously repeating, “mommy, can I have some ice-cream?” Believe it or not, there’s also some excellent humour embedded in this episode. See, while he’s in town, Dean visits a woman he had sex with eight, nine years ago. Now she’s raising a son who is also around that age. It’s not that original and it’s been done before in other shows, but I couldn’t help laughing the way this little kid shared the same love of heavy rock, the same hairdo, the same fashion sense – even the same mannerisms as Dean does. And if the creepiness and the humour combined still isn’t good enough for you, there’s more in the form of a massive reveal: Ruby’s a frickin’ demon!
22. How I Met Your Mother - Showdown (Season 2, Episode 20)
Neil Patrick Harris once again steals the show and more than deservedly earns an Emmy nomination with this episode as the sharply dressed Barney Stinson. Though the A-plot – Marshall and Lily trying to prove that they aren’t co-dependant and can sleep apart – was funny enough to keep me happy, Barney’s appearance on The Price Is Right, believing Bob Barker to be his father, had me laughing in stitches. His competitive nature and his determination to do his “father” proud were both endearing and absolutely hilarious at the same time. Sure, it didn’t quite reach the heights of 2006’s critically acclaimed “Slap Bet” (let’s go to the mall!), but it’s darn close. And whoever thought of the “night night” tape was an absolute genius.
21. Chuck - Chuck Versus the Truth (Season 1, Episode 8 )
I was let down by Chuck’s middle stint, so I was pleasantly surprised when “Chuck Versus the Truth” completely exceeded my expectations and turned out to be one of the funniest and most touching episodes yet. (Thankfully, since then, Chuck has managed to continue delivering solid episodes.) With Chuck, Sarah, and Casey all affected by truth serum, the story strikes a fine balance between humour (Chuck to Casey: “Your jaw was chiselled by Michelangelo himself.” Ha!) and developing Sarah’s hidden feelings for our leading man – finally confirming what we already know. Traditionally, these sort of situations get complicated with another girl, so who else than to cast Rachel Bilson of The O.C. to guest-star as the hot, quirky, loveable, and deli-owning Lou? Josh Schwartz, you’re the man.
By Ben Lee
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[…] Are Alright.” The commentary is witty and really gratifying - I suggest you wander over and take a look for […]