Ten Most Memorable TV Episodes of 2008

As with the Golden (Couch) Potato Awards, this is not a “Best TV Episodes” list…rather what episodes have been the most memorable for me in the 2008 calendar year. In alphabetical order of episode title, kudos to the following shows:

“Allison from Palmdale” (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) Season 2 Episode 4

Written by Toni Graphia

Directed by Charles Beeson

As Cameron, John Connor’s Terminator-protector, Summer Glau has that great robotic-style of acting that suggests that there’s an underlying humanity to Cameron, whilst never letting the audience forget what she (or more correctly, it) truly is. However, in this episode, she lets fly and shows her versatility acting-wise, as Cameron’s malfunction causes the Terminator to have flashes of what seems to be her human origins from the future, from where she was sent (the eponymous Allison). The twist at the end that reveals the true nature of the flash-forwards is both chilling and heart-breaking at the same time.

“Chair Model” (The Office) Season 4 Episode 10

Written by BJ Novak

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz

Michael has to order a new chair, so Pam can get his old one, and Creed can get Pam’s old chair. However, he has trouble deciding, and expectedly gets sidetracked when he falls for the model in the advert for the new chair. Typically innocuous-seeming scenario set in office minutiae has hilarious consequences, as Michael decides he’s too good a catch to be the one who got away, and commands the rest of the office to get him hitched, and Dwight proceeds to find the chair model for Michael. There’s a sweet Jim/Pam moment for the ‘shippers, while “American Pie” has never been sung with as much gusto (and so off-tune) as when Dwight and Michael belted it out in the tag. Comedy gold.

“Chuck vs. Santa Claus” (Chuck) Season 2, Episode 11

Written by Scott Rosenbaum

Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill

Christmas at the Buy More is interrupted by a gunman who crashes into the store after a high-speed car chase with the police. The hostage scenario that ensues seems to take the deliriously comedic lilt that the show is so good at, replete with the goofy hostage-taker who has no idea what he's doing and only wants to return home for the holidays, and a cameo by Die Hard’s Sergeant Al Powell! However, the plot twist mid-episode that it was all a nefarious Fulcrum ruse raises the personal stakes considerably for Chuck, leading to the fateful, dark turn of events at episode’s end. Set amidst the eerie ambiance of a deserted Christmas tree lot, Chuck looks on in horror as Sarah kills the unarmed, already-surrendered Fulcrum agent, seemingly in cold blood. "Chuck" is so amiable so much of the time that this really hits home, especially given the sharp tonal shift from the start of the episode. What will this mean for Chuck and Sarah’s relationship? “Silent Night” has never sounded as haunting as it is used here.

“The Constant” (Lost) Season 4 Episode 5

Written by Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof

Directed by Jack Bender

Time-traveling chaos as Desmond experiences blackouts during his chopper trip from the island to the freighter, and flashes back to his time in the Scottish Army. Things get worse as the past self seems to juxtapose himself in the present, and he can’t recall anything that happened in the interim. Daniel the physicist tries the salvage the situation by telling Desmond to look him up in Oxford the next time he jumps back in time, where Desmond learns from past-Daniel that this constant time-flipping is very bad for the brain, and he’d better have a “constant”, something or someone to anchor his mind in reality or he risks losing it totally. Desmond naturally chooses Penny as his constant, and with Sayid’s help, calls her right as time’s running out for him. Oh, and the phone call between Desmond and Penny…totally tear-inducing, as the long-separated love-birds finally re-unite (in a manner of speaking). Last scene with Daniel flipping through the pages of his journal, and finding a page saying “If anything goes wrong, Desmond Hume will be my constant” closes this tightly-coiled and eminently satisfying episode on a perfectly enigmatic note.

“Family Meeting” (The Shield) Season 7 Episode 13

Written by Shawn Ryan

Directed by Clark Johnson

Series finale to “The Shield” sees the members of the corrupt police squad led by Vic Mackey get their comeuppance. Almost Shakespearean in its tragedy, as Mackey dodges the bullet by making a deal, but finds he’s been chained to a desk job for the next three years, and long-time associate Ronnie discovers Vic’s deal consigns him to jail. The real stomach-churner, though, is the fate that Vic’s one-time sidekick Shane chose for himself and his family. Is what happened to Vic worse than death? You decide, but this bleak, uncompromising final episode definitely pulls no punches.

“House’s Head / Wilson’s Heart” (House, MD) Season 4 Episode 15 – 16

Episode 15 written by Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Doris Egan, David Foster, and Peter Blake

Directed by Greg Yaitanes

Episode 16 written by Peter Blake, David Foster, Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend

Directed by Katie Jacobs

Even without this crackling two-parter, “House, MD” has already done much in its fourth year to wipe out what had been a disappointing third season, but “House’s Head / Wilson’s Heart” just puts the icing on top of the cake. The first part is a searing mind-boggler (hence the title) of an episode as House tries to piece together what happened to him in the wake of his short-term memory loss from an accident…the second is an absolute heart-breaker (again, ergo the title), as the folks of Princeton Plainsborough Hospital try to come to grips with the aftermath of the events stemming from House’s revelations, as he finally remembered he was with Amber during the accident. If you’re not a fan of “House, MD” before this, you will be now.

“Oversight” (Jericho) Season 2 Episode 4

Written by Robert Levine

Directed by Steve Gomer

Tension between the townsfolk and the overbearing control of the Ravenwood mercenaries hired by Jennings and Rall reaches a head, as Mimi discovers incriminating evidence of embezzlement by Goetz, the leader of Ravenwood. As Goetz tries to recover the documents, tragedy ensues as the consequent shootout results in Bonnie’s death. No, that kick in the gut you’re feeling is not imagined…I’m feeling it too. Powerful end to the installment, set to Damien Rice’s “9 Crimes”, sets up the all-out confrontation in the next episode.

“Prey” (Smallville) Season 8 Episode 6

Written by Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson

Directed by Mike Rohl

Atmospheric episode with an almost overbearing sense of foreboding centers on paramedic Davis, who somehow turns up first at a number of crime scenes. Clark believes he’s responsible for the killings, which generates tension between him and long-time friend Chloe, who stands by Davis’ innocence. Clark’s “Spider-man 2” complex of needing to save everyone in the city is, for me, a tiresome rethread of what has been done better elsewhere, but the central plot is so good, it doesn’t matter. Sam Witwer’s conflicted and menacing performance as Davis drives the episode from the start all through to the twist at the end, when he’s revealed as Superman’s nemesis Doomsday. I can’t wait for this battle.

“Ten Sessions” (How I Met Your Mother) Season 3 Episode 13

Written by Chris Harris, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas

Directed by Pamela Fryman

Probably best-known for Britney Spears’ appearance, in which she’s surprisingly good as the receptionist at the clinic where Ted goes to get his tattoo removed. However, the true guest-starring turn of the episode is Sarah Chalke’s Stella, the doctor of the clinic with whom Ted has the titular ten sessions of tattoo removal (folks…think twice before getting a tattoo). The instant rapport and on-screen chemistry between Stella and Ted during these ten sessions are irresistible (a real surprise given how irritating I find Chalke’s character Elliot on “Scrubs”), and she presents a real case that Stella could be The One for Ted (though it turns out she isn’t). The two-minute date that Ted set up for Stella to accommodate her busy schedule, set to Big Star’s “Thirteen”, is probably the most romantic TV moment of the year.

“The Ties that Bind” (Battlestar Galactica) Season 4 Episode 3

Written by Michael Taylor

Directed by Michael Nankin

Brother Cavil, resurrected after being killed by fellow Cylon Natalie in the last episode, turns the conflict into a full-blown civil war by luring the rival faction’s Base-star to a resurrection ship-less part of the galaxy, before opening fire on them. That’s right, the Cylons are killing each other, and there’s no do-over for those killed in this battle. Mutinous feelings stir up in the Demetrius as Starbuck distances herself increasingly from her crew (and let’s face it, Starbuck doesn’t exactly make for an awe-inspiring captain), while back at the Colonial Fleet, Lee exposes President Roslyn’s shady Big Brother plans for the government. And saving the best for last, Callie unwittingly uncovers that Tori, Anders, Tigh and her hubby Tyrol are four of the final five Cylons. The very foundations of her existence rocked, she attempts suicide by trying to blast both her and her baby Nicky out of Galactica’s airlock, only for Tori to talk her down. End of story? Not quite, as Tori, after getting Nicky from Callie, shuts the airlock down on Callie and blows her out into space. Secret is safe. Shocking, disturbing, gutwrenching….I’m running out of adjectives here to describe this turn of events, which still gives me the shivers even as I'm writing them now. Poor, poor Callie. Even for "Battlestar Galactica", I never thought they could go to such a deep, dark place.

Honorable mentions: Double Booked (Burn Notice, Season 2 Episode 8); Heal Thyself (ER, Season 15, Episode 7); The Prodigal (Stargate Atlantis, Season 5 Episode 14)