Below, find my top ten episodes for the 2006-2007 television season below, in no particular order. And a few spoilers ahead, including that one episode of "The Wire." I'm also cheating and counting a certain two-parter as a single episode.
30 Rock, "Black Tie" - Let's start off with the episode of "30 Rock" where we meet Jack's ex-wife, played by Isabell Rossellini, and Paul Reubens shows up as a degenerate Habsburg prince. This was the first episode of the show that really clicked for me - the absurdity, the character dynamics, and of course the amazing use of the guest stars. This is also the episode that got closest to putting Jack and Liz together, which thankfully never went anywhere.
Heroes, "Company Man" - The first season of "Heroes" was a phenomenon, and the best episode of that season was the spotlight episode for Jack Coleman's shady Noah Bennet character. Written by Bryan Fuller, it's a villain/antihero origin story that shows how Bennet operates as a morally ambivalent agent of "The Company," who is nonetheless a good father who will make big sacrifices as needed. Alas, the show was never this strong again.
Battlestar Galactica, "The Occupation" - I really liked the New Caprica arc. This season premiere clues us in on what's been going on with all the characters, and the new status quo and conflicts that have developed. Gaius is a collaborator, Tigh is leading the resistance, and Starbuck is in prison under the thumb of a Callum Keith Rennie Cylon who is in love with her. Lots of real world parallels and gutsy ideas are in play here that I really enjoyed.
Dexter, "Born Free" - This episode was spoiled for me, as I didn't see it until the network broadcast in 2008, but I adored it. The first season of "Dexter" is still probably the best one, and the truth about the Ice Truck Killer was one of the show's best reveals. The performances are key to the episode's intensity, with Michael C. Hall and Christian Camargo taking no prisoners as a season's worth of tensions finally all pay off in the bloodiest way possible.
Doctor Who, "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood" - And here's that two-parter. What would happen if the Doctor became human? And in the face of an implacable threat, what would it mean to sacrifice that human existence? This would be my pick for the best David Tennant era "Doctor Who" story, where the Doctor barely appears, but the consequences of his actions are far-reaching and deeply impactful for everyone involved.
How I Met Your Mother, "Slap Bet" - Let me clarify that this is the first "Slap Bet" episode, the one that sets up all the ones that followed and where Lily is appointed Slap Bet Commissioner. However, the highlight of the episode is the Robin Sparkles reveal, which is such a wonderful, nostalgic bit of nonsense that is somehow both celebratory of and deeply insulting to Canada. This is likely the best episode of the show, just based on all the callbacks to it.
Venture Bros. "Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?"- It came down to this or "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II," but I'm going with the State Dinner based on the quality of the dialogue and the character interactions. I may have never laughed harder than at Mrs. Manstrong's come-ons to Brock, or Dean being possessed by the Ghost of Abraham Lincoln. What's certain is that I can never watch "The Manchurian Candidate" with a straight face again.
Extras, "David Bowie" - It's one thing for David Bowie to put in a guest appearance on your sitcom. It is quite another to have him show up to compose your own personal diss track and lead a sing-along insulting you to your face. Of course, Ricky Gervais wrote the lyrics himself. I wasn't a regular viewer of "Extras," but this episode and the clip of Bowie's appearance achieved near-universal acclaim almost instantly, and still brings a smile to my face.
Lost, "Through the Looking Glass" - "We have to go back!"
The Wire, "Final Grades" - The fourth season of "The Wire" is one of the best seasons of television ever made, bar none. I was completely gutted the first time I saw the finale, and the fates of the four boys we'd been following all year were revealed. Never was it more apparent that the kids never had a chance, only reaching good outcomes through extraordinary intervention. And in the case of Carver and Randy, even that wasn't enough.
Honorable Mention
The Lost Room
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