Top 10 BEST TV Episodes of All Time

#10: "The Contest" "Seinfeld" (1989-98)

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Top 10 Seinfeld Episodes

When it first debuted, "Seinfeld" was unlike any sitcom on the air. Whereas most network sitcoms focused on a workplace or home life, Larry David's laugh riot adamantly rejected such focus. Though the classic "show about nothing" concept commonly referred to is kind of a misnomer, it was never better when it was pushing taboos - and that’s exactly what this episode did. “The Contest” saw the gang competing with one another to see who could avoid pleasuring themselves the longest. As you can imagine, this led to some unbearable tension for all involved, and gave viewers something they’d never seen on television before - a conversation about being “ "master of your domain". The biggest laugh? Local weirdo Cosmo Kramer's near instant failure.

#9: "The Suitcase" "Mad Men" (2007-15)

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Mathew Weiner's “Mad Men” offered a brutally honest look at the sexism, racism, political tension and male machismo that characterized the business world in the ‘60s - a decade that’s far too easy to romanticize. The show was arguably never better, however, than when it was diving deep into character analysis as it does with Don Draper and ambitious secretary Peggy Olson in this episode. "The Suitcase" spends most of its runtime with the two sharing drinks, dinner and unusually honest conversation. It all comes to a head in one of Don's few truly genuine moments. It’s frequently cited as being among the best episodes of the entire series - and considering the overall high quality of the show, that’s saying a whole lot.

#8: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" "I Love Lucy" (1951-57)

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In the golden age of television, Lucille Ball's family comedy reigned supreme. Across six seasons, the talented actor and comedian created too many timeless moments to count, but "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" is without a doubt the show’s greatest gift to comedy. In the episode, Lucy does an ad for a new health tonic with the unpronounceable name Vitameatavegimin, which is 23 percent alcohol. Take after take sees Lucy beginning to feel the effects of the product and she’s soon struggling with the already ridiculously unpronounceable name. Physical comedy, over-the-top facial expressions and that impossibly chipper delivery of her lines - this is Lucille Ball firing on all cylinders. Over 50 years later, the episode remains as funny and quotable as ever.

#7: "The Constant" "Lost" (2004-10)

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Top 20 BEST TV Episodes of All Time

"The Constant" focuses on Desmond Hume, whose consciousness begins travelling back and forth between 1996 and 2004. Though revisiting his past brings insight, it could also prove fatal, so it's a race to steady his place in the world, by finding the titular constant – someone he knew in both time periods. Apparently the writers took twice as long as usual to develop the script for this episode and it shows - this is an extremely tightly constructed 43 minutes of television. Not only is it well-crafted, but it also manages to pack an emotional punch. The popularity of “Lost” would ultimately pave the way for other puzzle box sci-fi shows like "The Leftovers", which deserves a nod for its season 2 episode, "International Assassin".

#6: "Homer's Enemy" "The Simpsons" (1989-)

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Top 10 Times Homer Simpson Said What We Were All Thinking

For over 30 seasons, Matt Groening's idiosyncratic family has been broadcast into the homes of millions. Though later seasons have been criticized for a dip in quality, in its prime, it was an unstoppable force, one willing to venture into then-uncharted dark territory for an animated series. “Homer’s Enemy” introduces Frank Grimes, who is aghast at the oafish Homer's incredible luck. It's a great, self-aware takedown of the show's tendency to put Homer in unlikely situations – places he has no right to be. All of this converges in Grimes having a mental breakdown that ultimately results in his death. The episode polarized critics at the time, but it’s gone down as a landmark moment in television history.

#5: "The Rains of Castamere" "Game of Thrones" (2011-19)

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HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series was arguably THE watercooler show. The series made it clear in season 1 that no character was safe, but even so, nothing could have prepared us for the events of what would come to be known as The Red Wedding. At the time, many fans and critics were upset by what was described as abusive or manipulative writing. In hindsight however, we’ve come to really appreciate this episode and its sickening twist. Yes, it was awful to experience, but the character motivations made sense. Game of Thrones, as a series, redefined television and viewer expectations, and rarely did it do so quite as effectively as in "The Rains of Castamere".

Walter White may start "Breaking Bad" as a milquetoast chemistry teacher, but by the end he's a full-on drug lord - complete with bad guy hat and a series of corpses in his wake. It's only in the series’ second-to-last episode that he really returns to his root motive: ensuring the well-being of his family at his own expense. In the episode's climax, White calls his wife and unloads on her, knowing the is listening in. But his tirade has an ulterior motive: he wants to exonerate his wife of any wrongdoing by placing all the blame at his feet. It's a powerful scene and incredibly fitting. Walter made a lot of bad choices, but he always was the smartest man in the room.

With the dawn of the new millennium came the age of the antihero, and “The Sopranos” was a game-changer – the first HBO show to really shake up how television narrative works. Rather than episodes-of-the-week, this David Chase mob drama told a complete story over several seasons and episodes. There were times, however, when the show took a break to focus on the smaller moments. In "Pine Barrens", gangsters Paulie and Christopher find themselves lost in the woods after a confrontation with a Russian mobster goes awry. There's something almost lyrical about Paulie and Christopher's trek, particularly because their victim is hardly mentioned - as if they didn't matter as much as the journey. What can we say? It’s just incredible television.

There's an urban legend that after the final episode of "M*A*S*H", "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", New York City suffered a water shortage from most of the city flushing their toilets at the same time. It's not true, but that people believe it speaks to the show's popularity. The prolific show had countless moments of humor, heart and tragedy, but none more shocking than Henry's sudden death in "Abyssinia, Henry". The commanding officer receives his orders to go home and leaves after a bittersweet farewell. Then Corporal Radar O'Reilly enters with the news. It's a heartbreaking turn, but one that felt true to a show that was never afraid to remind us of the horrors of war. Before we reveal our number 1 pick, here are some honorable mentions. "Chuckles Bites the Dust" "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77) "Stress Relief" "The Office" (2005-13) “33” "Battlestar Galactica" (2004-09) “Part 8” "Twin Peaks" (1990-91; 2017) “Who Goes There” "True Detective" (2014-)

#1: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" "The Twilight Zone" (1959-64)

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Rod Serling's sci-fi anthology show is known for groundbreaking storytelling, using science fiction the best way it can – as a mask for deeper social commentary. From "To Serve Man"'s double meaning to “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”'s obvious communist allegory, it was often the smartest show on television. But the most memorable episode was even remade in the film anthology with John Lithgow in the title role. "Nightmare" deals with a gremlin destroying an airplane piece-by-piece mid-flight, with an aviophobic William Shatner the only helpless witness. The episode has been spoofed countless times, but nothing tops the original - be it in terms of style or substance. The practical effects might age, but not the universality of fear.