I've been having a hard time of it as of late and not really wanting to blog, so I thought I'd add to the lists aplenty on the site at the moment (which I'm enjoying to no end). As the title suggests it'll be based on my top 20 episodes.

Carnivale

Babylon/Pick a Number

While it's by no means the best of the series, this two-parter of sorts is certainly an example of how to make good television; tragic, funny and entirely inappropriate, it not only adds to the ongoing arc but manages a death as dark and saddening as a certain miss Burkle's unfortunate demise.

South Park

The Jeffersons

It was this very episode of South Park that cemented my love for the show. Michael Jackson is an easy target, but it's taken to hilarious extremes in this instance and it's all the funnier for it. It was a close one between this episode and the Jennifer Lopez episode, but I got more laughs out of this.

Father Ted

Speed 3

One of the funniest episodes from one of the funniest series ever created. If you've never heard of this show then you need a kick up the arse. OK, you don't, but what you really need is to get your hands on this show. STAT.

Heroes

Company Man/Five Years Gone

It was too difficult to choose one over the other, so I'm having a joint entry. Company Man just blew me away and Five Years Gone had me fangasming like no 2moro. Both exceptionally made episodes - if you ever wanted to know why everyone made a fuss over season one, these two episodes are the perfect examples!

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

It's technically an episode, right?! I enjoyed it upon first viewage, and then loved it upon second viewage. I do not think it's Joss' best work, but as a piece of distracting entertainment, there's nothing like it. The last five or so minutes had me gasping, I should have expected it though since Joss is the source of all evil. Can't wait for the DVD, woohoo!

Buffy

I only Have Eyes For You

It stands to show how amazing the writing happens to be on this show when a (kinda) standalone episode meshed between some of the season's greatest stories happens to be one of the most absorbing pieces of television. I call it a standalone as the Angel plot doesn't really kick in till the final moments - I enjoyed Gilies thinking it was Jenny and the scoobies reluctantly trying to help him, even tho they thought otherwise. When Angel does arrive on the scene it's fan-bloody-tastic! Those final moments are absolutely stunning!

Battlestar Galactica

The Hub

The calmer storm before the even bigger storm, I chose this particular episode out of many many outstanding episodes because it shows us just how great and complex a character Roslin is. She's one of my favourite things about the show, and while season four turned her cold, which I loved, and also neglected her at times, which I hated, this episode manages to restore my faith in her. Touching, funny, and bloody exciting, it' an acting tour de force from everyone involved and one of the better episode of the season.

Lost

Pilot

I may dislike this show now, but there's no denying that this was one of the best pilots ever. With an extremely likeable cast, an interesting premise and some wonderfully weird moments throughout, this pilot was a gem from start to finish. Season one managed to keep the standard high for quite a while before catapulting into the tedious, but this episode stands the show that Lost was a show to be admired...at least for a spell.

Firefly

Out of Gas

I've always felt this should have been the pilot for the show. It's the perfect episode to introduce your friends to Firefly, at least then they'd willingly sit through the pilot, which, from past experiences, a few of my friends simply couldn't get into. It's shocking, it's funny and a compelling piece of sci-fi - TV rarely gets better than this. Well, ok, maybe it does, with the top 10 coming up soon...

Dr. Who

Blink

If it wasn't for this episode I don't think I'd be watching DW right now. In all honesty, the show hasn't produced another episode to match it so far (although Midnight comes in close, imo). Dr. Who follows a predictable, if undeniably enjoyable formula, but it rarely shifts from its comfortable storytelling zone. Blink, however, does just that - it's creepy and very cleverly written, not to mention very eerie at times. You also have Sally Sparrow...it was love at first sight!