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- Must-watch single episodes: the year’s most memorable TV moments
- “Ballgame” — Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- “Neverland” — Alien: Earth (FX)
- “Worms” — The Bear (FX/Hulu)
- “The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time” — It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
- “God Takes Care of Fools and Babies” — Katrina: Come Hell and High Water (Netflix)
- “Bobby Gets Grilled” — King of the Hill (Hulu)
- “Through the Valley” — The Last of Us (HBO)
- “Welcome to the Black Parade” — Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)
- “Jeopardy” — Platonic (Apple TV)
- “Sloppy Joseph” — Poker Face (Peacock)
Television this year served a mix of quiet perfection and show-stopping spectacle. From a surprise cameo at a baseball stadium to a Spike Lee-directed indictment of bureaucratic failure, these single episodes rose above their seasons and lingered with viewers long after the credits rolled.
Must-watch single episodes: the year’s most memorable TV moments
“Ballgame” — Abbott Elementary (ABC)
This episode captures an accidental slice of history and makes it feel effortlessly warm. The cast films at Citizens Bank Park the night Kyle Schwarber hit four homers, and the real-world energy bleeds into the comedy. Janine’s baseball excitement, Ava’s bid for the Kiss-Cam and a playful mystery about the Phillie Phanatic give the episode a bright, communal pulse. The cameo by Schwarber amplifies the joy and makes the hour both a love letter to the city and to the ensemble’s chemistry.
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“Neverland” — Alien: Earth (FX)
Noah Hawley’s return to the Alien universe leaned into both old-school terror and bold invention. The premiere delivers classic xenomorph shocks while introducing eerie new life forms and synthetic characters. Sydney Chandler’s Wendy provides a magnetic center, and the episode tilts at corporate greed as another antagonist. It sets a tone that feels faithful yet unafraid to expand the mythology.
“Worms” — The Bear (FX/Hulu)
A quiet, character-driven hour lets Syd breathe in ways the show rarely permits. Written by co-stars Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce and directed with care by Janicza Bravo, the chapter follows Syd to a cousin’s home. She teaches, babysits and reconsiders her career in intimate scenes loaded with small, comedic details. Danielle Deadwyler and Arion King add depth, making this a tender standout in a season known for its volatility.
“The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time” — It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Season 17 offered several sharp hours, but this semi-bottle episode nails the gang’s worst impulses. They rehearse a life-changing visit tied to Frank’s reality-TV bid, staging practice dinners and scoring them with a test audience. The results are absurd and revealing, especially Dennis’ final, unsettling speech. Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Charlie Day are deadpan and deranged in equal measure.
“God Takes Care of Fools and Babies” — Katrina: Come Hell and High Water (Netflix)
Spike Lee’s installment anchors Netflix’s Katrina trilogy with searching anger and documentary craft. He focuses on the long, often bungled recovery of New Orleans after the storm. The chapter interrogates bureaucratic failure and missed lessons, using archival grit and personal testimony. Lee’s filmic fury elevates the three-part series into urgent civic history.
“Bobby Gets Grilled” — King of the Hill (Hulu)
The revived animated series balances tradition with modern commentary in this funny, thoughtful hour. Under new leadership, the show tackles cultural appropriation and conspiracy talk without losing sight of Hank’s propane-first worldview. Bobby’s culinary experiment—a Japanese-German fusion—becomes a sweet symbol of the family’s changing dynamics. Season 14 finds a respectful middle ground between nostalgia and refresh.
“Through the Valley” — The Last of Us (HBO)
When the series hits, it lands hard. This episode delivers the long-anticipated narrative pivot from the game with devastating emotional payoff. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey sell the heartbreak, while a massive horde sequence supplies the show’s biggest spectacle so far. Epic and intimate, the chapter matches the fan expectations and broadens the series’ emotional range.
“Welcome to the Black Parade” — Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)
Benito Skinner’s comedy captures the weirdness of coming home from college in a way that feels both comic and tender. A Thanksgiving trip to Idaho unspools family gossip, strained romances and small-town absurdities. The episode climaxes in a karaoke release and a surprising kiss that signal personal growth. Grace’s unfiltered performance is both hilarious and freeing.
“Jeopardy” — Platonic (Apple TV)
Luke Macfarlane’s Charlie finally gets his turn at a midlife meltdown in this physical, comedic installment. A disastrous game-show taping starts a chain of poor choices that ends with a desperate break-in. The arc gives Seth Rogen’s Will a rare role as the voice of reason and lets Macfarlane show off his timing. Physical comedy and growing vulnerability make this a memorable character study.
“Sloppy Joseph” — Poker Face (Peacock)
Rian Johnson’s procedural formula twists into unexpected territory with a school-set mystery. The victim is a class pet, and the episode plays through a child’s perspective to unsettling effect. Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie takes a lunch-lady job to reconnect with wonder and runs into a terrifyingly ruthless child antagonist. Underestimate elementary-school cruelty at your own risk—this hour subverts the show’s comfort while remaining slyly entertaining.
