Below, find my top ten episodes for the 2012-2013 television season below, in no particular order. And a few spoilers ahead, including that one episode of "Game of Thrones." Yes, that one.
House of Cards, "Chapter 1" - Arguably this is the most culturally pivotal episode on this list, because "House of Cards" was the first real streaming hit when Netflix decided to move into original programming. I'm picking the premiere episode, because I admire the skill with which we are introduced to Kevin Spacey's ruthless congressman, Frank Underwood, and everyone in his circle. This also marked the start of director David Fincher's long relationship with Netflix.
Orphan Black, "Variations Under Domestication" - The marvel of "Orphan Black" was always Tatiana Maslany's multiple performances as the various clones, and uptight suburban mom Alison is my favorite. So, of course I love the episode where Alison has to juggle hosting a neighborhood party and trying to get answers out of a suspicious Donnie at the same time. This is also my favorite Vic episode, because he's at his best when the universe is out to get him.
Utopia, "Episode 1" - "Utopia" immediately gained attention for its disturbing use of graphic violence, including a torture scene in the first episode. What struck me the most was the art direction, which uses a lot of whimsical imagery and exaggerated artifice, adding to the uneasy feeling that something is very wrong. Couple that with Cristobal Tapia De Veer's psychedelic score, and "Utopia" quickly stood out from the crowd as a totally singular piece of media.
The Americans, "The Clock" - This is only the second episode of the show, but it's already established that characters on both sides will be difficult to root for. On the one hand you have the Jennings, who demonstrate that they're willing to do some pretty despicable things to fulfill their missions, and on the other there's Stan Beeman, who spends this episode digging up information to use as leverage to get Nina to spy for him. Should we root for both? Or neither?
Rick & Morty, "Rick Potion No. 9" - About halfway through the show's excellent first season, this is the episode that fully won me over, thanks to an ending where Rick essentially just gives up on the terrible situation he's caused, finds a new dimension for himself and Morty, and nothing is actually resolved. The animation is fabulous at rendering its monsters, the writing is incredibly dark and twisted, and I'd never heard "Cronenberg" used as a verb before this episode.
Breaking Bad, "Dead Freight" - It's a train heist episode! This'll be fun, right? The caper episodes of "Breaking Bad" were always some of my favorites, but this time around Todd is involved, and Todd demonstrates that he does not have any scruples whatsoever. As Walt and Jesse compromise themselves further and further, they cross lines they would never have crossed in prior seasons, and get too comfortable with the worst people, until inevitable tragedy strikes.
Hannibal, "Coquilles" - I absolutely had to have an episode from the first season of "Hannibal." After all this time, it still seems crazy that this aired in prime time on network television. "Coquilles" had one of the most grisly of the show's famous murder tableaux, where the partial nudity is what got the creators into trouble, not the mutilated corpses. I also love the first appearance of Gina Torres as Phyllis "Bella" Crawford, alongside her real life husband, Lawrence Fishburne.
Person of Interest, "God Mode" - Here's a fun one. "Person of Interest" was a nice balance of action show and crime procedural, but occasionally they would do a pure action episode, and this was one of the best. Reese and Shaw are both given direct access to the Machine in the second season finale, allowing them to use "God Mode" - exploiting the Machine's omniscience to become unstoppable. Amy Acker's Root also continues to be a very entertaining villain.
Game of Thrones, "The Rains of Castamere" - I wish I hadn't known this episode was coming, because it didn't live up to the hype. How could it? "Game of Thrones" was already known for its shocking and bloody twists, and this was one of the most shocking and the most bloody. It absolutely impacted what television storytelling could do moving forward, though not all for the better. At least Michelly Fairley got to show that Catelyn was capable of some real violence on her way out.
Mad Men, "In Care Of" - In many ways "Mad Men" is bookended by two of Don Draper's pitches. The brilliant Carousel pitch in the first season shows him weaponizing the power of nostalgia. Here, we have its inverse, the Hershey pitch, where Don's unnerving and unvarnished revelation about the truth of his past becomes the final straw that prompts the firm to cut ties. However, it's a truth that Don is finally ready to face, as we turn toward the show's final chapters.
Honorable Mention
Parks and Rec, "Leslie and Ben" - Because who doesn't love it when the right people get married to each other?
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