Below, find my top ten episodes for the 2005-2006 television season below, in no particular order. And a few spoilers ahead, including "The Sopranos" and "Lost." Also, my apologies to the finale of "Six Feet Under," but the show remains on my very long "To Watch" list.
The Sopranos, "Members Only" - Let's ease into things with "The Sopranos" returning after a very long break, to begin its final season. Most of the episode is spent catching us up on all the characters and how they've been - AJ's in college and no one is the wiser about Adriana - but things take an increasingly dark turn as the Eugene Pontecorvo story plays out. And then Uncle Junior ends things with a bang.
Doctor Who, "The Girl in the Fireplace" - I love how this episode is really the whole series in miniature. The Doctor stumbles across an interesting new person, only gets a very limited amount of time with them, yet impacts their lives profoundly. Having time travel just speeds the familiar cycle up considerably. Reinette is such a memorable character, it's a shame that she only appears in this episode.
Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus" - Just when you thought that the Galactica was finally catching a break, finding a lost Battlestar - surprise! They're baddies. Led by Michelle Forbes as a merciless admiral, the Pegasus is a dark mirror to the Galactica, pushing the show into much darker territory as we learn about their treatment of Cylon prisoners. It's one of the gutsiest, most harrowing episodes of the show's run.
Avatar, "The Blind Bandit" - Toph's introductory episode is such a wonderful series of subversions, and really expands what the show does with earthbending. The animation is great, but this pick is chiefly for the humor. Toph trash-talking the Boulder immediately establishes so much about her, and the fact that she can back it up is such a joy. The whole series improved dramatically with her in the mix.
South Park, "Trapped in the Closet" - Some of the jokes have aged very badly, but this episode of "South Park" remains indispensable for its no-hold-barred takedown of Scientology. The closet bit with the celebrities was widely parodied at the time, but once the "This is what Scientologists actually believe" segment hit the wider culture, the credibility of the organization plummeted permanently.
My Name is Earl, "Pilot" - "Earl" aired in an awkward timeslot, so I never saw much of it beyond a few episodes in the first season, but I always loved the pilot, where we're introduced to a reformed reprobate played by Jason Lee, and learn about his karmic quest. The worldbuilding and the character introductions are so fun - Hey, Crabman! - and the cast instantly clicks like few others have.
30 Days, "Minimum Wage" - Morgan Spurlock is cancelled, but back in 2005 he made one the better reality TV shows, having volunteers live totally different lives for 30 days to try and foster more empathy and understanding. Spurlock and his fiancee at this time were the subject of the first episode, where they live off minimum wage for a month. And it's both illuminating and infuriating to see play out.
Lost, "One of Them" - Sayid never got enough screen time. He's one of the most complicated "Lost'" characters, with a very checkered past, but the writers often didn't seem to know what to do with him. This episode is one of the few times they confront his capacity for evil head-on, as he interrogates Henry Gale for information. The performances really give their scenes together a rare intensity.
Arrested Development, "The Ocean Walker" - The entire arc with Rita is wonderful, spoofing romantic-comedy tropes and giving Charlize Theron a chance to show off her comedy chops. However, the end of the arc, where the shoe finally drops, and we learn the very non-PC reason for Rita's behavior is just brilliant. Also, I just love awkward wedding episodes, and this one has a doozy.
Mushishi "Light of the Eyelid" - You're going to start seeing more animation on these lists, as we move into the period where I was an active otaku. "Mushishi" is an anthology series about supernatural creatures who inadvertently cause trouble for human beings, and this particular episode stands out for its quiet, mesmerizing storytelling and absolutely gorgeous animation.
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