Top 10 Episodes Of The Office (U.S.)

Pippity Poppity, Gimme Da Zoppidy!

I finally finished watching the U.S. version of The Office (2005-2013) some weeks ago, and it has definitely cemented itself as one of my favorite sitcoms since then. Ranking its very best episodes was a tough job, but after putting a lot of thought into it, I managed.

SPOILER ALERT: Discussing the best episodes of a series like this would be challenging without spoilers, so I will be giving away specific plot points. Do not read this, if you haven't watched/finished the series but might do so someday.

Here are my honorable mentions: Goodbye, Toby (Season 4, Episode 14), Livin' The Dream (Season 9, Episode 21), Michael's Last Dundies (Season 7, Episode 20), Search Committee (Season 7, Episode 24), The Negotiation (Season 3, Episode 18)

15. Gossip (Season 6, Episode 1)

Season 6 opens with an absolutely fantastic premiere, packed with memorable moments and great laughs. From the "PARKOUR!" cold open to the main storyline, where Michael Scott (Steve Carell) spreads a rumor about Stanley (Leslie David Baker) and then tries to make it right by spreading a bunch of false rumors to bury it, Gossip is simply a stone-cold classic. The comedic highlight of the episode for me is Andy (Ed Helms) hearing the false rumor that he himself is gay, and starting to question his sexuality because of it. The line "Michael - am I gay?" is delivered by Helms with absolute perfection.

14. Casino Night (Season 2, Episode 22)

The story of Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) is without a doubt the greatest love story told on any television series, and this season 2 finale featured one of the most iconic major developments in their romance. While the bulk of the episode is devoted to casino-related shenanigans in the warehouse (including Kevin (Briam Baumgartner) being a poker pro, Michael struggling between two dates and Hooters catering the event), things get very dramatic towards the end.

The scene where Jim tells Pam about his feelings is one of the most vulnerable and real-feeling scenes in the entire series. Moments later, the episode ends with quite the cliffhanger, as the two of them kiss but the aftermath is left open (don't forget, Pam was engaged to Roy (David Denman) at that point). The episode took a bold move in advancing the relationship of Jim and Pam, making for an emotional viewing experience.

13. Dinner Party (Season 4, Episode 9)

If you're wondering why this episode, often considered by fans to be the greatest of the series, isn't higher - I'm guessing it's because the 'cringe humor' that The Office is known for isn't my #1 favorite thing about the series. Don't get me wrong, I love the show's cringiness, but there are other elements in it that I appreciate more, such as the creative writing and character development. It makes sense that for the cringe humor side of the series, Dinner Party is the epitome of what makes The Office great, as the levels of discomfort are off the charts.

We follow Michael and Jan (Melora Hardin) as they host a couples' dinner party to Jim, Pam, Andy and Angela (Angela Kinsey). The toxic nature of Michael and Jan's horrible but well-written relationship unveils itself slowly but surely to a whole new level, through a series of brilliantly built jokes and twists. Gags such as the camera next to the bed and Michael's tiny television, as well as the overall uncomfortable chemistry between him and Jan, make for a viewing experience that is absolutely hellish in the best way possible.

12. Weight Loss (Season 5, Episode 1)

There's a lot to enjoy in this season 5 premiere. Michael has fantastic chemistry with his new love interest Holly (Amy Ryan), the office's involvement in a weight loss competition makes for some decent satire, and the triangle drama between Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Andy and Angela starts to escalate.

But really, there's only one reason for why this episode made it all the way to my top 15, and that is Jim's proposal to Pam. While it isn't as elaborate as some of the most legendary TV proposal scenes (including one from this same series; more on that later), it feels very real and very appropriate for those two characters. The camerawork adds a lot of atmosphere, as the 'documentary crew' is forced to film the proposal from the other side of the road in the rain, therefore making the dialogue hard to comprehend, which makes for a wonderful stylistic choice. Another absolutely epic Jim&Pam moment.

11. Beach Games (Season 3, Episode 22)

The penultimate episode of The Office's greatest season is quite simply loads of fun. Michael takes the crew to the beach under the pretence of having a fun recreational day, while actually he's grooming his potential follower as Regional Manager, assuming he'll get a job in corporate. The episode is filled with hilarious contests between Jim, Stanley and Dwight - while Andy spends a majority of the episode adrift in the nearby lake.

The episode also contains the most defining character moment of Pam Beesly, one of the show's best characters. After struggling with multiple problems throughout the season, she takes a brave walk across a set of hot coals, thus gaining the confidence pour her heart out to her colleagues in a truly breathtaking sequence. From calling them out on not coming to her art show to telling Jim about her true feelings, Pam's speech is a great pinnacle of her well-written development from a shy pushover to a strong and independent thinker.

10. Business School (Season 3, Episode 16)

Business School follows multiple narratives, all of which are above-average even for the show's high standards. Michael is a guest speaker at Ryan's (B.J. Novak) business school, where he gives a hysterically awful speech. Meanwhile, there's a bat in the office, as Dwight goes full Van Helsing to get rid of it. Jim seizes the opportunity to perform one of his greatest pranks - pretending that he was bitten by the bat, and that he's slowly turning into a vampire. Dwight, of course, is completely fooled by Jim's shenanigans.

The episode's definitive high point is the surprisingly heartwarming ending, where Michael saves Pam's day by coming to her art show and being a supportive friend. Throughout the episode, Pam had gotten more and more frustrated about no one showing up or appreciating her art, and the average first-time viewer might have expected Jim to be the one who shows up at the last minute - but the writers thought outside the box. After two and a half seasons of being a jerk (especially to Pam) for most of the time, Michael had a sudden moment of vast empathy and humanity, that would go on to take his character arch into a more and more likable direction. Pam's tearful embrace of Michael after he compliments her art is one of the sweetest moments in the show's nine-season run.

9. A.A.R.M. (Season 9, Episode 22)

The second-last episode of the entire series is so filled with closure that it would've worked as a series finale - although the one after it was even better. There is a lot going on in A.A.R.M., as character archs are coming to their sweet closing points and long-term storylines are resolved. Jim proves his love for Pam by asking the documentary crew to prepare a video montage of their greatest moments together, Dwight realizes with some help from Jim that he's in love with Angela and proposes to her, and the employees gather to watch the first episode of the documentary about their lives as it is finally released. It's all very beautiful.

Also, Jim convincing Dwight to hire himself as "Assistant to Assistant to the Regional Manager", thus becoming an assistant to Jim despite also being Jim's boss, is one of his most amusing pranks.

8. Company Picnic (Season 5, Episode 26)

The eventful finale of season 5 is filled with cringe, laughs and tears - the perfect Office combination. The cringe comes from the fantastically built scene where Michael and Holly are doing a skit at Dunder Mifflin's company picnic and accidentally reveal that the Buffalo branch is closing, before Buffalo's employees have heard about it. Hard to watch, but absolute comedy gold. The more conventional laughs come from the various hijinks going on during the picnic, especially the high-stakes volleyball match between the Scranton branch and corporate.

And the tears? That final scene, where Jim and Pam find out that Pam is pregnant. It is an unexpected moment, and the acting performances really sell it. The scene where Jim exits the room, looks at the camera in joyful disbelief, and then returns to embrace his wife, is the best acting I've seen from Krasisnski (very much including his more serious performance in the movie A Quiet Place (2018)).

7. Gay Witch Hunt (Season 3, Episode 1)

The Office has exceptionally many great season premieres, but this one towers above the rest. First of all, the story is taken in a very intriguing direction, as Jim transfers to the Stamford branch of Dunder Mifflin, beginning a multi-episode story arch that follows two different branches until they eventually merge. This leads to the fantastic introductions to Karen (Rashida Jones) and Andy Bernard, who would both go on to make the series a lot better with their presence. Following Jim in this new environment is fascinating, although it is heartbreaking to see Pam trying to make do without his company (it's the little things, such as her glance at Ryan when Michael says something dumb and Ryan not realizing what's funny about it, that really get me).

Also, the episode deals with homophobia in an absolutely brilliant manner. After Michael outs Oscar (Oscar Nunez) as gay, he tries to salvage the situation with an awareness-themed seminar, only making things worse as usual. Much of the episode's dialogue is a pitch-perfect satire of homophobic attitudes, and the combination of cringe comedy and real-life lessons really hits a sweet spot. Also, the episode features what is certainly one of the most memorable kisses in the series, if not the most romantic.

6. Garage Sale (Season 7, Episode 18)

Despite appearing in a relatively small amount of episodes, Holly Flax is one of the show's better characters, and one of the main reasons is that she was written to be the perfect love interest for Michael Scott - and in that they succeeded, thus creating one of the best romances in a series full of great (and terrible) romances. Their epic love story culminates in Garage Sale, as Michael proposes to Holly in a truly spectacular sequence. From the tour of the most important locations of their relationship and the hilarious line of challenging proposals from other employees as a psychological test, to the candle-lit room and the sprinkler going off to create an atmospheric happy accident, the engagement scene is the stuff of legends.

This is also the episode that begins the endgame for Michael's character arch. Steve Carell was leaving the series, but not before his character was written out in the best way possible. While his exit would actually happen a few episodes later (more on that ahead), Garage Sale is where it started: Holly decides to move to Colorado to take care of her parents, and Michael decides to move with her, thus leaving his Dunder Mifflin job behind. It's a huge step for the series, and they bring it about magnificently - nothing proves Michael's love for Holly quite as much as the fact that he was willing to let go of his other great love, Dunder Mifflin.

5. The Job (Season 3, Episode 23)

The two-part finale of season 3 has a lot going on; following the events of Beach Games, several of the main characters are now interviewing for the same job at corporate, and viewers and characters alike are at the edge of their seats concerning who will get it. I just love that they ended up going with Ryan the temp out of the blue, as this decision was amusing at the time but also led to one hell of a curveball in his character arch in the next season. Meanwhile, Dwight enjoys his time as acting manager, as Michael is so sure of getting the job that he already passes the torch of Regional Manager to his loyal Assistant (to the) Regional Manager.

The Job also contains the hands-down greatest talking head interview segment of the series, which is also one of the most quintessential Jim&Pam moments. When the scene takes place, the viewer doesn't yet know what exactly Jim has done concerning the job interview, his relationship with Karen and his feelings for Pam. The answer is revealed as Pam is talking to the cameras, when the interview is suddenly interrupted by Jim who enters the room and asks Pam out. Jenna Fischer's acting is phenomenal, as her facial expression after Jim leaves is one the most earnest and realistic expressions of sheer joy that I've seen from any actor. A truly epic turning point for their relationship.

4. Stress Relief (Season 5, Episode 13)

The Office is filled with absolutely fantastic cold opens - Kevin's famous chili, the 'Asian Jim' prank and the musical number in the season 7 premiere to name a few. But none of them hold a candle to Dwight's fire drill in Stress Relief, probably the best cold open from any comedy series. The sheer escalation of well-directed panic and chaos is a thing to behold, as the situation gets worse and worse and Dwight maintains his cocky attitude, blissfully unaware of how over-the-line his drill is.

The rest of the episode is pretty great as well, as the fire drill leads to Stanley having a heart attack, thus leading to Michael dealing with workplace stress. Upon realizing that he is the main cause for his employees' stress, Michael tries to save the day by holding a 'celebrity roast' of himself in the warehouse, which leads to a variety of hilarious moments. The ending, where Michael gets back at everyone by roasting them and Stanley cracks up in laughter, is a hysterical and strangely sweet moment, perfect for wrapping up this extremely memorable two-parter.

3. Goodbye, Michael (Season 7, Episode 21)

One may argue that Michael's departure hurt the series, as seasons 8 and 9 weren't among the show's strongest. But with the situation being that Steve Carell wanted to leave the show, they sure did the best possible job in writing him out. Already his second-last episode Michael's Last Dundies was quite a tear-jerker, as the characters were gearing up for their boss's departure, but that was nothing compared to the emotional powerhouse that Goodbye, Michael was.

Michael accomplishes the perfect set of goodbyes by leaving a day earlier than his employees were expecting, and having a subtle but special moment with each of his employees during his actual final day. He makes things right with Dwight through a game of paintball, he gets a sweet going-away present from Phyllis, and so on. Towards the end, there are several moments bound to move you to tears, including Creed Bratton's (Creed Bratton) "See you tomorrow, boss!" and Jim's honest conversation with Michael about what a good boss he was.

What really gets me is the final airport scene, where Pam rushes to hug Michael and say her goodbye. The friendship between the two of them had grown into a beautiful thing during the later seasons, and the style choice of the dialogue not being audible (because Michael already handed his mic back to the documentary crew) adds emotional value to the scene. What an exit.

2. Niagara, Parts 1&2 (Season 6, Episodes 4-5)

The first part of Jim and Pam's iconic wedding episode is filled with hilarious shenanigans - Kevin loses his shoes, Jim accidentally reveals Pam's pregnancy to everyone, and Michael generally acts like himself. It's a bunch of fun. Towards the end of the second part, things take a turn for the emotional, and by 'emotional' I mean 'I cried like a baby'. Even in its most touching parts, The Office often keeps a tongue-in-cheek humorous approach, and thus it is appropriate that we cut between silly imagery of Jim & Pam's colleagues doing their wedding dance, and the couple getting actually married beforehand in a secret boat ceremony.

As I mentioned earlier, the love story between Jim and Pam is television's greatest, and definitely one of the strongest aspects in the whole series. That absolutely culminates in Niagara, as the scenery of the two characters running off and staring lovingly at each other while getting married on the boat is some of the most heart-warming material you'll find on any TV series. Jim's facial expressions have always been the backbone of the show's humor, and while they often take place in awkward and cringy situations, my #1 favorite instance of Jim looking at the camera is when he does so while holding his new wife in his arms, smiling a magnificently genuine smile that really says it all.

1. Finale (Season 9, Episode 23)

They saved the best for last. While the second-last episode already felt like a finale in its own right, Finale is a grandiose epilogue that picks up a year later to tie the knot - both in the sense of Dwight and Angela getting married, and in every major character getting a follow-up on their situation and being written out in the perfect way. Seriously, from Kevin becoming the owner of the local bar and Erin (Ellie Kemper) reuniting with her biological parents, to Dwight settling in as Regional Manager and Jim&Pam moving to Austin so that Jim can continue his work with his company, every character gets the poetic and fitting ending they deserve. Even Ryan and Kelly (Mindy Kaling), who were absolutely chaotic together, running off together and leaving Ryan's baby behind feels strangely appropriate for the pair of self-centered and toxic characters that they always were.

And then there's Michael. The way he returns at the end of the finale's first half is pitch-perfect, between Jim's positive "best prank ever" and Michael's well-timed "that's what she said" joke. He doesn't have much dialogue, which is understandable as the episode was mainly about sending off the characters whose archs had been built throughout the final season, but just seeing him mingling with the employees once more is very satisfying.

The melancholic song that Creed plays for his colleagues is strangely appropriate - at that point, the viewer (at least this viewer) feels a strange of mix of warm happiness due to how good the series and its ending have been, and sadness for the series being very nearly over. The final set of character interviews on top of it (especially Pam's, which brilliantly sums the whole series up) are emotional in a specific way that feels perfect for the series - while I'm the sort of viewer who is moved to tears quite frequently, the last moments of the last episode didn't make me cry. They made me sigh contently and smile, feeling grateful for seeing this series and ready to move on. And that is the best thing that the series finale of a great sitcom can accomplish.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my ranking of Stanley Kubrick's movies.

Top 10 Martin Scorsese Films

As far back as I could remember, I always wanted to do a list about Scorsese movies.

Martin Scorsese's mafia epic Goodfellas (1990) turned 30 years old last week, so this is a good time to share some of my favorite movies from the director. Scorsese has been a constant icon of cinema for five decades, having made a name for himself with a signature style but also equipped with a major range whenever he feels like making something different from his usual body of work. Here are my favorite films directed by Martin Scorsese!

Honorable mentions: Casino (1995), Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story By Martin Scorsese (2019), The Aviator (2004), The King Of Comedy (1982).

10. Shutter Island (2010)

The creative mind of Martin Scorsese can truly go far whenever he ventures away from his usual style. A good example is the psychological thriller Shutter Island, which often feels more like a David Lynch project than traditional Scorsese, but is just as well-directed as the filmmaker's down-to-earth crime dramas. With this film, you get an unsettling setting, well-built tension and some playing with concepts of horror, as well as some fantastic performances from Leo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. And that ambiguous ending really stays with you.

9. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

You can see this as a cautionary tale, a true story on the actions of a despicable person and the dangers of human greed. You can also see this as the movie equivalent of the devil on one's shoulder - I see the way the films veers on glorifying the actions of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a powerful way of making the viewer think. There's something so fun and glorious in how his worldview and actions are presented, that a part of every viewer wants to be him and experience the same thrills, only for the film's latter half to be a huge "careful what you wish for" statement. Scorsese has always worked well with stories of anti-heroes and criminals, lengthy biopics, and with DiCaprio as his main star, so this entertaining film allows the director to play many of his strengths.

8. Mean Streets (1973)

This is not Scorsese's first or even second feature film, but it is largely considered to be his breakthrough, and the first movie to be a "Scorsese film" in the sense that 'Scorsese' is being used as an adjective. Mean Streets introduces a signature style that would go on to serve as the foundation for not only Scorsese's own masterpieces, but the modern mafia movie genre in general. It is clear how even the critically acclaimed TV series The Sopranos (1999-2007) has taken a lot of influence from this revolutionary work.

What makes Mean Streets so intriguing and addictive, especially when watched after seeing films like Goodfellas and Casino, is weirdly enough the small scale. It is fascinating to follow the dramatic dynamics and machinations of organized crime at a very low level - truly on the streets. The film is also one of the best examples for Scorsese's fascination with religion as a theme, as the story explores the strong Catholic faith that traditional mafiosos swear by, and its paradoxical relationship to the atrocities they commit. Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro are exquisite in their main roles, making for an all-in-all delicious crime flick.

7. Taxi Driver (1976)

Taxi Driver didn't quite resonate with me enough for me to see it as the cinematic masterpiece that many movie buffs consider it to be, but it definitely is a very fine and above-average crime drama all the same. Robert De Niro carries the film with his haunting and layered performance as Travis Bickle, and the societal criticism comes across as realistic and gripping. Jodie Foster also deserves praise for her breakthrough role in the film, skilfully acted at the mere age of fourteen years.

Taxi Driver is filled with memorable dialogue and impeccably directed action. Through the grim misadventures of Travis Bickle, the viewer grows concerned and even scared of what the protagonist might do, yet also becomes invested in this person who society has left behind and ultimately hopes the best for him.

6. Hugo (2011)

After making himself world-famous with violent and loud-mouthed crime dramas about horrible people, Martin Scorsese took the most unexpected turn: directing one of the most pure, sweet and innocent family movies I've ever seen. And he sure pulled it off.

Hugo is an absolutely magical film about a boy called Hugo (Asa Butterfield) in 1930's Paris. Scorsese uses his chops as one of the world's best movie directors to surgically create the absolutely perfect milieu for a children's movie: the soundtrack, the cinematography, the set design and the dialogue all create a perfect atmosphere of childlike enthusiasm and the feeling of adventure. Butterfield is excellent in the lead role, as is the strong supporting cast, including Chloe Grace Moretz as Hugo's adventuring companion, Ben Kingsley as a brooding take on real-life movie pioneer George Méliès, and Sacha Baron Cohen as a wonderfully cartoonish bad guy.

Not any childlike adventure wins 5 Academy Awards, but this masterful work of nostalgia sure deserved its prizes. Instead of exploring his usual themes of religion, crime and mental issues, Scorsese proved that he can do just as much with the theme of capturing his love for movies and the magic of the medium.

5. Raging Bull (1980)

Good sports movies are a curious thing - especially the ones about sports that I'm not interested in. I can't even begin to describe how little I care about boxing, yet there are some absolutely amazing films about it, and Raging Bull is one of them. One of the two major reasons behind my high regard for this film is just how creative and intense the directing is. As opposed to other boxing films where the matches are filmed from outside the ring, Scorsese took the cameras inside the ring for carefully crafted boxing sequences that really capture the sheer intensity of the sport. As little as I care about the sport, it is pretty fascinating to watch it with the amount of realistic brutality that Scorsese's directing techniques managed to capture.

The other reason, of course, is Robert De Niro's performance - my all-time favorite role from the actor. The way he channels the real-life anger issues of Jake La Motta is absolutely frightening, and a golden example of an actor really throwing themselves into a role. Sidenote: it's funny how nearly all of the films on this list star either De Niro or DiCaprio, but the two have never been in a Scorsese film together...there's something up with that.

4. The Irishman (2019)

The slightly lesser out of the two 2010's long-term passion projects on this list, The Irishman was one of my favorite films from the great movie year 2019. The film feels like Scorsese returning to the elements of his "golden age" that he had largely moved away from, for one last mob epic: Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are back in the main cast, the mafia is the main story element once more, the soundtrack is vintage Scorsese material and so on. Oh, and since the mob-genre star power of De Niro and Pesci (also Harvey Keitel) wasn't enough for this film's level of ambition, Scorsese broke new ground by working with Al Pacino for the first time. What a mix of people.

As can be expected, the acting performances are breathtaking. Pacino steals the show as the notorious gangster Jimmy Hoffa, while De Niro very much holds his own in the lead role. And, as I've mentioned before, this film differs from Scorsese's older mafia movies in one major way: while much of his work has been accused of glorifying crime, this film definitely doesn't do that. Instead, much of the runtime especially towards the end is dedicated to a cold and harsh statement of "crime doesn't pay", by showing what happened to the people involved after their 'glory days'. All in all, quite the ultimate Scorsese picture.

3. Silence (2016)

The slightly better out of the two 2010's long-term passion projects on this list, Silence is a vastly underrated piece of art. It is one of those films that should be watched only in a very specific frame of mind - between its nearly 3-hour runtime, the extremely slow pace, the 17th century setting and the deep religious themes that it ponders, this is not your average Friday night popcorn flick. But it is a movie that will make you think.

Silence takes a deep look at faith and its limits in this story of two Portuguese Jesuit priests, who travel to Japan on a mission of faith and loyalty. Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson contribute astonishing acting performances, and the film's Oscar-nominated cinematography makes for some truly artistic imagery. The film is a sobering and often excruciating look at some very serious moral dilemmas, and many of its scenes really stay with you. I recommend watching this film in a somewhat philosophical and very patient mood, as it ends up being an incredibly rewarding experience.

2. The Departed (2006)

The Irish mob has an inside man (Matt Damon) within the Boston Police Department, while the cops have an undercover man (Leonardo DiCaprio) within the mob. The two try to figure out each other's identities without getting busted themselves. Mark Wahlberg plays the police sergeant in charge of the operation, while Jack Nicholson plays the mob boss. So, yeah, there's no way in hell that this film could've been anything else than amazing, especially with Scorsese sitting in the director's chair.

The Departed is a thrilling crime drama, and one that rightfully won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Writing and Best Editing. I also want to specifically compliment the soundtrack department, as much of the film's awesome atmosphere comes from a majestic choice of songs: whether it's the Rolling Stones masterpiece Gimme Shelter rocking the opening scene, Badfinger's Baby Blue creating emotional tension in an interrogation sequence or The Dropkick Murphys's celtic punk anthem I'm Shipping Up To Boston as a recurring theme, the soundtrack is consistently phenomenal.

1. Goodfellas (1990)

"As far back as I could remember, I always wanted to be a gangster"

That iconic opening line, spoken by Ray Liotta as the protagonist Henry Hill, which is spoken just as Tony Bennett's Rags To Riches starts to play, convinced me that this was going to be a great movie. The fantastic opening scene is followed by two and a half hours of more greatness. Liotta, along with Scorsese's recurring partners-in-crime Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, form an amazing main cast, further complemented by Lorraine Bracco in a powerhouse performance as Hill's wife.

Goodfellas is a Shakespearean tragedy about a man's slow rise to the top, followed by a bittersweet fall from grace. Scorsese's directorial skills are at their absolute best as he creates a perfect and unique atmosphere*, with some help from the fantastic soundtrack department as well as Michael Ballhaus's amazing cinematography. The dialogue is pure gold, and the film is very entertaining despite its ambitious length and slow-ish pace. This is Scorsese at his best.

* I just have to mention that the style of this film (and some other mafia movies, but mostly this one) is recreated in a perfect fashion in the Community (2009-2015) episode Contemporary American Poultry (Season 1 episode 23). The episode's story revolves around chicken fingers at a community college cafeteria, but its style is a hilarious and well-done tribute to Scorsese and the mafia genre. Watching Goodfellas and then this episode as a cool-down would make for a great double feature.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my list of the greatest episodes of The Office (U.S.) (2005-2013).

Top 10 Drama TV Episodes Of All Time

Hello, dear reader!

Last week, I posted my ranking of the greatest comedy TV episodes of all time, so now I'll follow up with a similar list for drama series. These episodes are truly the best of the best.

SPOILER ALERT: I usually don't do spoilers in my blog, but the merits of these episodes would be near-impossible to discuss without giving away major plot points, so there will be spoilers. I advise always looking at the title first, and skipping it if the series in question is something you haven't seen yet but might watch at some point.

Here are my honorable mentions: Go (Prison Break, Season 1 Episode 21), Made In America (The Sopranos, Season 6 Episode 21), Ozymandias (Breaking Bad, Season 5 Episode 14), The City On The Edge Of Forever (Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1 Episode 28), What Comes After (The Walking Dead, Season 9 Episode 5)

10. Faith (Suits, Season 5 Episode 10)

What an emotional rollercoaster this midseason finale was. The most interesting narrative of Suits always was that of Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) not being a real lawyer, and him covering up when his past starts to catch up with him - and this is the episode where that really hit the fan. The turning point of said storyline happens abruptly, as a majority of Faith is spent on different storylines - Mike has a crisis of conscience, breaks down in tears, and decides to quit while he's ahead. He decides to leave the firm in what is a truly dramatic scene. And then, just as he's about to leave, the authorities show up claiming he's under arrest for fraud.

It's a Shakespearean instance of dramatic irony. The character came so painfully close to catching a clean break, getting away with it all and riding off into the sunset, only for it to fall apart at the last minute. His arrest would then lead to an incredible second half of season 5, as he is on trial and the whole law firm's future is at stake. All in all, this episode is the boldest and most dramatic hour of Suits, as the moment viewers had been dreading for five seasons finally came along in a shocking and poetic manner.

9. eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00 (Mr. Robot, Season 3 Episode 5)

Much like the films Birdman (2014) and 1917 (2019), this breathtaking episode of Mr. Robot is filmed as if it were one long camera take. And much like with those movies, the reason for its critical acclaim is twofold: the technical expertise in shooting a long-take-episode deserves a lot of praise, but the end product goes beyond that to deliver an otherwise phenomenal episode as well. It's not just a long take for the sake of a long take, but rather the device is used to give the episode a unique atmosphere of panic and chaos.

The long-term storyline of Mr. Robot is at an explosive and climactic point, as the long-built "Stage 2" attack by the vigilante group Fscociety starts to go down, and the protagonist Elliot (Rami Malek) tries frantically to stop it. The stunning cinematography adds to the episode's astronomical dramatic stakes, making for a masterpiece of chaos and intensity.

8. Day 8: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (24, Season 8 Episode 24)

An absolute masterclass on how to do a series finale. After eight long seasons, 24 came to an explosive end befitting the series and its main narratives in a perfect fashion. Up to the very last minutes, the tension built throughout the final season remains astonishingly high, as time starts to run out yet everything is up in the air and you can't guess what's going to happen. When the resolution is finally reached, there is just enough time for an ultra-emotional final scene where Kiefer Sutherland does some of his best acting while the score is a powerful combination of all the main musical motifs in the 24 soundtrack. That final scene writes the series out in the best and most powerful way possible, giving a sense of closure while also leaving the door open for a reboot season.

I can't wait to watch this episode again in January 2035! (As you may recall, I recently marathoned the first season of 24 with a friend of mine, and the eighth season takes place 14 and a half years after the first one. And yes, we are planning to marathon all of the seasons in the correct timeline.)

7. In The Pale Moonlight (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 6 Episode 19)

The entire premise of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a bit risky: in a fictional universe built around themes of a utopian future where humanity has overcome its struggles with violence and people get along with one another, this spin-off series explored themes of war and violence within said universe. But, as I mentioned in my ranking of Star Trek shows, it works out surprisingly well: the major ideals of the Star Trek world are very much intact, but they are challenged due to new outside threats that force the Federation to face its worst inner demons. And nowhere is this balance of idealistic morals and hard realities as impressive as in In The Pale Moonlight - quite possibly the darkest episode of any Star Trek series.

Moral dilemmas have been a major part of the franchise ever since the Original Series in the 60's, and this episode brought with it some truly mind-boggling ethical questions. The idea of a moral slippery slope is thoroughly and boldly explored: in order to potentially save millions of lives by ending the deadly Dominion War, the Federation must get the Romulan Empire on their side, yet the only way to do that would be through sacrificing their own ideals. As the major characters Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Garak (Andrew Robinson) dive further and further into a web of murder, corruption and deception, the hard-hitting question of whether the ends justify the means and where the line is drawn becomes increasingly difficult to answer. The final monologue by Sisko at the end of the episode is one of the most heart-stopping moments in television history.

6. The Long Night (Game Of Thrones, Season 8 Episode 3)

First of all, let's get this out of the way: yes, I very much enjoyed the much-hated final season of Game Of Thrones. You can find a simplified version of my defense for it here. Anyways, here is why this episode in particular is my favorite from the entire series, and one of my favorite television episodes of all time:

I'm a big fan of long story archs in television, and a long-built narrative coming to its culmination is often the best part of the series (nearly all of this list's episodes are climactic by nature). And in The Long Night, the fourth-last episode of the entire series, many of the best narratives in Game Of Thrones reach their point of climax while still leaving some of it for the final three episodes. The storyline of the White Walkers had been fantastically built throughout the series, as they slowly escalated from a mysterious and unexplored threat into a terrifying major antagonist of epic proportions - and it all leads to this episode. After seasons of build-up, the White Walkers clash against our main characters, fittingly in the emotionally important location of Winterfell.

As is fitting for such a climactic battle, the scale of it all is off the charts. Filming took 55 nights and an unknown number of days, with roughly 750 cast and crew members bringing it all to life. The directing by Miguel Sapochnik is impeccable, as the battle feels so large, so intense and so real all at the same time. Major characters like Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) reach the poetic ends of their character archs, through some very emotional death scenes. And the final resolution is brilliant: while viewers had thought that Jon Snow (Kit Harington) would be the one to finally defeat the Night King (Vladimir Furdik), Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) was the right choice. Her journey to defeat the villain had been sneakily built all along, without viewers ever seeing it coming beforehand. What a spectacle.

5. Through The Looking Glass (Lost, Season 3 Episode 22)

This sensational season finale of Lost has accomplished some serious superlatives in my book. It features the saddest TV death scene of all time, as Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) scrambles to save everyone with his final message while drowning in a truly heartbreaking sequence. It features the most glorious and uplifting moment of Lost's six-season run, as Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) finally manages to get into contact with the outside world.

Additionally, the final scene of the episode makes for one of the greatest plot twists and one of the greatest cliffhanger endings in television history, as the episode's Jack-centric subplot is revealed to be a flash-forward instead of a flashback, thus revealing that he will eventually find his way back from the island but that the story doesn't end there. All of these rolled into one makes for quite a strong case for Through The Looking Glass being considered one of the greatest TV episodes ever made.

4. Beyond Life And Death (Twin Peaks, Season 2 Episode 22)

Choosing only one episode to represent my all-time favorite drama as its best offering was quite excruciating, as Twin Peaks has so many masterfully crafted hours in its ranks. However, I just had to got with the season 2 finale - thought to be the series finale for over two decades, until Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) came into our lives to resolve the show's open ending (only to create a new one). As a finale, the episode meets conventional expectations well enough: multiple subplots are actually resolved, emotional moments ensue and the final scene is a cliffhanger for the ages. I can only imagine what it was like to see this episode when it came out, and wait a full 25 years for a resolution. However, it is the episode's unconventional side that makes it into a formidable piece of art.

I'm referring to all that goes down in the Black Lodge, of course. A majority of the episode is spent there, as the episode goes full Lynch in the most trippy way possible. It's quite a payoff, too, as the Black Lodge and Red Room had been teased throughout the series - much like the White Walkers in Game Of Thrones, this narrative started as a looming mystery in the background, but it slowly transformed into the main event that everyone is looking forward to. After many short and psychedelic scenes set in the Red Room throughout the series, this episode dove straight into its intricacies, and it was more surreal than anyone could've imagined. David Lynch's unlimited creativity and artistic direction made for an episode that nears 2001: A Space Odyssey in how much it breaks all boundaries and goes beyond expectations to provide a larger-than-life viewing experience.

3. The Reichenbach Fall (Sherlock, Season 2 Episode 3)

The Reichenbach Fall is, simply put, perfect. Everything great about BBC's modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation is at its best in this magnificent season finale. While there are many elements contributing to the episode's success, the key one is how incredibly dramatic it is. I love dramatic stories, especially in cases like this where the viewer is invested in the characters of a TV series and suddenly the dramatic stakes are raised to the maximum, making the viewer worry and care about said characters. This episode is a masterclass in dramatic tension, starting from the very first scene - in a flash-forward, Watson (Martin Freeman) tells his psychiatrist that Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) is dead. From that dead-serious opening, it is clear that this is no ordinary episode.

The stakes rise throughout the episode, as Moriarty slowly turns everyone around Sherlock against him, and the situation starts to look more and more hopeless. The scene where Sherlock finds Moriarty's pre-recorded video message about "the fall of Sir Boasts-A-Lot" is phenomenal, as is the climactic rooftop sequence. David Arnold & Michael Price's soundtrack helps make the episode even more emotional and drastic, making for an all-in-all draining experience - until that final scene.

Sure, cold logic would've dictated all along that Sherlock isn't really dead, but the episode is so well-made that a first-time viewer doesn't really have the time to process all of that upon arriving at the final scene. As Watson stands at Sherlock's grave, the series creates one of the most smile-worthy moments in any television series or movie, as the camera slowly pans to show Sherlock standing (very much alive) in the distance, while a more majestic arrangement of the show's main theme rocks the soundtrack. Astonishing.

2. Blink (Doctor Who, Season 3 Episode 10)

I've read a lot of books, seen a whole bunch of movies, and watched way too many TV shows - and this Doctor Who episode is, in my earnest opinion, the most genius piece of fiction ever made. Not the best (although it's not far from that honor, either), but the most genius. It is noteworthy that while nearly all of the episodes on this list are all about climactic payoffs to long-term storylines, Blink is the complete opposite of that: it is a one-off story, not even following the show's main characters but rather featuring a protagonist who only ever appears in this one episode. It's a concept episode separated from the show's larger narratives, and it's absolutely ingenious.

Blink follows Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan), as she encounters strange cryptic messages about a mysterious threat known as the Weeping Angels. The idea of the Angels is frightening and engaging all at once: they take the form of stone statues, they send their victims so far back in time that they'll be dead in present day (thus draining their life energy), and here's the real kicker - they only approach you when you don't see them. Thus the episode's infamous "Don't blink, don't look away" monologue by the one and only David Tennant.

There are a million reasons to love this episode - its one-off-adventure nature, the spooky horror elements, the premise of the Weeping Angels and many more. But the best element out of them all is the way that Steven Moffat writes time travel throughout the episode. The ending resolution is absolutely brilliant. It will mess with your brain, but in the best way possible. I'm a big fan of time travel as a story device, and never before has it been as engaging as it is in Blink. No wonder that this episode has the highest IMDB rating from Doctor Who's entire 57-year history.

1. Return 0 (Person Of Interest, Season 5 Episode 13)

If you haven't watched Person Of Interest, please don't read this. Find the series somewhere and see it for yourself. Reading this will only spoil something that you should experience for yourself if you have the chance. If you have seen the series, here is a reminder of why its finale is a work of art:

Jonathan Nolan's severely underrated sci-fi crime drama Person Of Interest got better and better with each season, leading up to the final one - my favorite season of any television series. And it culminates with this series finale, a masterpiece that ties together everything that makes the series great, while also being the ultimate combination of elements that I most appreciate in television (or fiction in general). It's highly emotional and climactic, with the main characters being written off in a poetic manner and a larger theme unveiling itself.

The episode opens with a flash-forward of Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) entering a rooftop, seemingly fatally wounded, as CUTS's Bunsen Burner in the soundtrack creates the perfect dramatic flare. From there, it's one hell of a ride - the main characters embark on their final mission together, desperately trying to save the Machine and defeat Samaritan before it's too late. The stakes are higher than ever before, all main plotlines and remaining subplots lead to various payoffs, and it all goes down with perfection.

In between the action sequences there are interspersed moments of the Machine philosophically discussing the deeper issues embedded in the show's themes while looking at various moments in recent history, giving the episode a very large-scale feel. Those flashes keep featuring a mysterious scene of a young boy at a funeral, and very close to the episode's end, we find out what it's all about: the boy is main character Reese (Jim Caviezel) at a young age, attending his father's funeral. We learn how his father died, which suddenly explains so much about Reese as a character, adding emotional context to the finale's main events in a breathtaking manner.

Towards the end, things get very emotional as Reese sacrifices himself to save Finch, which is the best possible ending for his character - Reese had gone through so much trauma that he was past the point of returning to a happy life, and doing this for his closest friend was the happiest ending he could've gotten. I cried my eyes out at the point where Reese actually smiles, knowing that he's doing the right thing for both him and Finch, while Philip Glass's Metamorphosis One gives the scene additional emotional gravitas. Afterwards, we see Finch reuniting with his long-lost love Grace (Carrie Preston), which was the most amazing thing the finale could've done - their love story is one of television's greatest, and them ever getting safely back together had seemed like a hopeless impossibility for a long time. I'm so glad that they did it.

The other main characters, Fusco (Kevin Chapman) and Shaw (Sarah Shahi), also get the perfect ending: the Machine comes back online, and with Reese dead and Finch happily off in Paris with the love of his life, it's up to these two to keep using the Machine to save people. The final scene is similar to the ending of the show's pilot episode, giving a poetic full-circle feeling. This episode is a masterpiece.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for a list of the top 10 Martin Scorsese films.

Top 10 Comedy TV Episodes Of All Time

Hello, dear reader!

I'm a big fan of sitcoms, and of great individual episodes in television shows. At first, I planned on making a list of the greatest TV episodes of all time, but comedy and drama episodes were simply too hard to compare to one another, so I split my list into two. Here are my all-time favorite episodes from comedy shows, next week I'll share a similar list of the greatest episodes in drama television!

Disclaimer for fans of The Office (2005-2013): I have finally started to watch the series, but I haven't finished it yet so I haven't decided what its best episodes are. Therefore the series is omitted from this list, but once I've finished the show and finalized my ranking of its best episodes, I'll make a separate post for the top 10 The Office episodes.

Here are my honorable mentions: Connection Lost (Modern Family, Season 6 Episode 16), Frank (Ramy, season 2 episode 8), The Final Episode (Episodes, season 5 Episode 7), The One Where Everybody Finds Out (Friends, Season 5 Episode 14), Winter (The Vicar Of Dibley, Season 3 Episode 2)

10. The Ricklantis Mixup (Rick And Morty, Season 3 Episode 7)

As I mentioned in my ranking of all Rick And Morty episodes, this episode has a fantastic premise and it does a lot with it. The Ricklantis Mixup subverts expectations in the most wonderful way by not spending virtually any time with the usual main characters, choosing instead to focus on the Citadel of Ricks where versions of Rick and Morty from various dimensions are living their lives.

Justin Roiland, one of the show's two creators, voices every single character in the episode, and the intrigue of the life within the Citadel is amazing. The episode's highlight, however, is undoubtedly the ingeniously build twist ending, that feels more dark and revolutionary than you'd expect any sitcom (let alone an animated sitcom) to feel.

9. The Chinese Restaurant (Seinfeld, Season 2 Episode 11)

Seinfeld is at its best when it's at its most relatable - nearly all of my favorite episodes in this series are ones that focus on extremely mundane issues that we've all been through, with the script filled with commentary on social norms and every possible typical scenario that goes with the setting. That aspect of the series is at its very best in The Chinese Restaurant, an episode that focuses on the feeling of waiting for ages to get one's food in a restaurant.

The dialogue between the main characters is hysterically relatable, and the low-stakes nature of it all makes it a lot funnier - there's really nothing to the episode except for the characters waiting at the restaurant. The scene where Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) runs into an acquaintance who starts a conversation with him, but he can't remember who she is, is pure gold, as is George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) iconic "You know WE'RE LIVING IN A SOCIETY!".

8. Luck Of The Fryish (Futurama, Season 3 Episode 10)

When most people hear Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds, their mind immediately goes to The Breakfast Club - unless you're a Futurama fan. That song has just as much of an emotional impact in this episode of Matt Groening's sci-fi sitcom as it does in the John Hughes movie. One of the reasons that I like Futurama is that while its humor is similar to The Simpsons, it also goes beyond its big-brother-series by having an emotional side to it.

While the show has quite a few tear-jerkers in its ranks, the most powerful episode for me is Luck Of The Fryish, where main character Philip J. Fry (Billy West) finds out that his brother "stole his life" and embarks on a search for a lucky seven-leaf clover from his childhood. While the episode has moments of great comedy, it's the emotional gut punch of an ending that puts it onto this list - I've seen the episode many times and cried a little every time.

7. Quinces (One Day At A Time, Season 1 Episode 13)

Speaking of emotionally powerful episodes, well, this one. Every episode of One Day At A Time is somewhat emotional, as the series deals with serious issues in a gripping yet heartfelt manner while still being an old-school style comedy at its core. In this season 1 finale, the main family's daughter Elena (Isabella Gomez) has her quinceanera party, which the whole season has been building up towards.

It's hard to discuss what makes the episode so great without giving away any spoilers, but let's just say that the episode is an emotional roller coaster that shifts between wonderfully uplifting moments and incredibly heartbreaking ones - don't worry, at the end of it all you'll have a smile on your face. The episode moved me to tears, even more so than Luck Of The Fryish.

6. Whenever You're Ready (The Good Place, Season 4 Episode 13)

The series finale of The Good Place is simply astonishing. It is so much more than one could've expected. So much happened in the episodes leading up to this one, that I was confused about what story the final episode had left to tell when going into it. Turns out that Whenever You're Ready was mostly about closure, and it gave the best closure possible.

While going deep into philosophical dilemmas as the series always tends to do, the episode manages to be very fun and full of excellent humor. But the main focus is on fulfilling character archs, and therein lies the finale's greatest achievement. Every single major character gets an absolutely perfect ending, as loose ends are tied up and emotional journeys are fulfilled. The ending to The Good Place is filled with fan service, positive surprises and an ultimate feeling of closure for the journey of the central four humans and two celestial beings.

5. How Your Mother Met Me (How I Met Your Mother, Season 9 Episode 16)

Choosing which episode to pick as How I Met Your Mother's finest was a tough job, as there are so many good ones. For years, I considered The Last Page to be the best episode of the series (still a close second), but only when writing this list I realized that I appreciate this season 9 gem even more. While the show's final season is its weakest, it has some truly great episodes in it, and the conceptual How Your Mother Met Me is the greatest of them all.

With just nine episodes to go as the series nears its end, this episode diverts the attention from the main gang and instead tells the story of The Mother (Cristin Milioti) - the love of Ted Mosby's (Josh Radnor) life who he wouldn't meet until the series finale. The episode follows the timeline from HIMYM's pilot episode all the way to the point in season 9 where the show was at, but from the Mother's perspective. It's incredibly fun, as we see her version of all the times when the two came close to meeting, but it's also incredibly heartfelt, as we follow the Mother's journey and become invested in her character arch. The ending scene is hauntingly beautiful.

4. Charlie Work (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Season 10 Episode 4)

First of all, it says something about It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's weirdness that before I watched the series, I heard of this episode and asked my friend about "The Birdman-episode in IASIP", and he had to clarify whether I meant the episode done in the style of the movie Birdman (2014) or the episode where the gang dresses up as birds. That question made me realize that I have to see this show.

Turns out that this iconic episode, which boasts a 9.8 rating on IMDB, was the former; an episode with a similar style as Birdman, one of my favorite movies. While the plot of the episode is hilarious enough - Charlie (Charlie Day) tries to give a rosy picture of the gang's bar to a health inspector, while the rest of the gang tries to hide the fact that they're in the middle of an illegal, chicken-related scheme that's never properly explained - it's the style that makes Charlie Work into a masterpiece. The episode's highlight is an uninterrupted, 13-minute long shot as the camera follows an increasingly panicked Charlie trying his best to hide the gang's questionable activities from the inspector as they go around the bar.

It's a work of technical excellence, as well as chaotic humor at its very best. The cherry on top of the cake is Charlie Day's acting, as he delivers his lines with hysterical perfection - I've always said that about 83% of It's Always Sunny's greatness comes from Day's comedic genius, and this episode is the best evidence for that argument.

3. Lemon Of Troy (The Simpsons, Season 6 Episode 24)

Most of the episodes on this list aren't quite what you might expect from a list of comedy episodes, as the best episode in most sitcoms is a rather emotional one and therefore this list is full of dramatic episodes. Lemon Of Troy, on the other hand, is here only because of its vast comedy value. It's probably the funniest 22 minutes of television I've ever seen. It's not even a high-concept episode like the It's Always Sunny episode above - it's a rather normal episode of The Simpsons, but just with an infinite supply of above-average jokes.

There are just so many hilarious gags in Lemon Of Troy - Bart (Nancy Cartwright) discovering the lemon-shaped rock, Marge's (Julie Kavner) "a part of us all" speech, Shelbyville turning out to be an alternate version of Springfield with its own versions of familiar places and characters, and so much more. My brother and I watched this episode countless times when growing up, and to this day, we rarely go through a full conversation without quoting this episode at least once. If you're looking for pure laughter, you can't go wrong with this Simpsons classic.

2. HalloVeen (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 5 Episode 4)

I can't really discuss the main reason for why I love this episode without giving away major spoilers. I can, however, discuss the various other elements that help make this episode great: for a large part, it's the escalation of the Halloween Heist tradition that pushes this episode to greatness even before something even more amazing happens. Every season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine so far had had an episode that continued the annual Halloween Heist tradition, and every season had gone more high-concept and over-the-top with it. HalloVeen is the culmination of that phenomenon, as the heist is absolutely blown out of proportion in the most wonderful way. That alone makes this into one of the best Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes.

But what makes it into my #1 favorite episode of the series, and my second favorite comedy TV episode of all time? Can't spoil it here. Go watch the episode for yourself (actually you should watch the whole series up until this episode first, in order to appreciate the payoff). You won't be disappointed.

1. Remedial Chaos Theory (Community, Season 3 Episode 4)

Cards on the table: as a ground rule, I chose only one episode per series for this list (the best episode of each show, obviously), because otherwise this would've been more or less a list of the top 10 Community episodes. This way other comedy shows got their chance to shine, but I also get to express my love for Community, as its best episode is by far my favorite episode from any sitcom I've seen.

The concept of Remedial Chaos Theory is amazing: the study group gathers for Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed's (Danny Pudi) housewarming party, and when they roll a dice to see who has to go down to get the pizzas they ordered, Abed simulates six different timelines in his mind, based on who goes down to get the pizza. The humor in the episode is top notch, as certain hilarious events take place in each timeline, but the differences are quite amusing. The escalation of the episode is wonderful, as each timeline is more chaotic than the previous, and they go very far with this. The writing is great, as the plot's resolution is very clever and the last scene gives birth to a long-term storyline.

I've watched Remedial Chaos Theory many times, and each time I appreciate it more, as there are so many details that make the episode even better. It's crazy to think how much thought went into the psychological layers of the episode: with each timeline, the way the events differ from the other timelines can be explained by who is missing. For example, when control-freak Annie (Alison Brie) is away, things get out of control, when the group's jerk Pierce (Chevy Chase) is gone, everyone gets along well, and when the lovable Abed - who usually glues the group's turbulent personalities together - is gone, everything goes to hell.

P.S. - As a follow-up to my blog from July where I ranked Christopher Nolan's movies, I shall now fulfil my promise. I finally saw Tenet (2020) last week...and I loved it! The way Nolan writes time travel is absolutely revolutionary and mind-bending, something that a sci-fi geek like myself can hugely appreciate. My preliminary opinion would put Tenet on 6th place in my Nolan ranking, between Memento (2000) and Dunkirk (2017). But that opinion can't be completely trusted, as the film absolutely begs to be seen a second time. I highly recommend Tenet to all viewers who don't get headaches from mega-complicated manipulation of time!

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my list of the greatest drama TV episodes of all time.

R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman: 5 Of His Greatest Performances

Wakanda forever!

We lost a giant last week. Chadwick Boseman was perhaps the world's best at playing inspiring characters - literally every role I've seen him in was exceptionally full of inspiration and empowerment. He was just as inspiring in real life, actively fighting for the things he believed in and struggling to keep acting even as his cancer got worse, before passing away at the tragically young age of 43 years. Boseman is gone but will definitely not be forgotten, as his legacy shall live on in Hollywood history. His role as Marvel superhero Black Panther was an enormous milestone for representation of African culture in mainstream cinema, and his multiple roles as famous historical figures in various biopics brought some amazing true stories to life on the big screen. Here are some of his best roles.

Rest in Power, Chadwick.

5. Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017)

In this real-life court drama, Boseman portrayed Thurgood Marshall, the lawyer who would one day become America's first African-American Supreme Court Justice. The film focuses on a career-defining case of his from the 1940's, and Boseman carries the role with class. His role pays tribute to the real Thurgood Marshall, as he is portrayed as a true hero of law who stood up for people wronged because of the color of their skin.

While Boseman's acting isn't as complex here as in many of his other roles, it doesn't need to be: it's still a strong performance, and all that the movie needs it to be. Stepping into the shoes of a historical icon is always a difficult task, and this was one of the many times that the actor proved himself worthy of the challenge.

4. Stormin' Norman in Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Even as his cancer got worse, the man stayed strong and kept on doing what he loved. In one of his very last roles, Boseman played soldier Stormin' Norman in Spike Lee's newest joint Da 5 Bloods. In the movie's present-day timeline, the character is dead and his friends miss him deeply (I'm guessing that watching the film after Boseman's passing will make the viewing experience a lot more gripping and real), but in the flashbacks to the Vietnam War, we get to see him in full force.

While he has much less screentime than the movie's main stars, he absolutely steals the show with his fantastically inspiring performance. Playing inspiring characters was definitely one of Boseman's strongest suits as an actor, and this role is a perfect example of that. Stormin' Norman is a source of empowerment to the main characters through his civil rights activism, motivational words and overall spirit of comradery and fighting for equality, and Boseman was the best possible actor for this role. The scene where the main characters find out about Martin Luther King's assassination and want to shed blood against white people as revenge, but Stormin' Norman talks them out of it with a speech about the peace that Dr. King stood for, is incredibly powerful.

3. James Brown in Get On Up (2014)

James Brown is right up there with Freddie Mercury and Elton John in the category of extremely unique and peculiar musicians that can only be portrayed on film by an immensely talented actor. Playing such a difficult and, let's face it, often quite unlikable personality was an untypical casting choice for Chadwick Boseman, but he really got to show his range with this layered performance. He plays the scenes focusing on Brown's less-than-perfect sides with a believable mix of egoism and ignorance, while still managing to be his inspiring self in the scenes focusing on Brown's genius and charisma. He also put a lot of work into learning some seriously awesome dance moves for the live performance scenes, and even sang some of the vocal parts himself!

Boseman's skill with accents and voices cannot be understated. In every role I've seen him in, he has sounded different, always matching the era and location of his character's story with perfection. This must have been one of the harder performances in his career to nail voice-wise, as James Brown had a notoriously one-of-a-kind way of speaking, yet Boseman got it completely right.

2. T'Challa / Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)

This was his best-known role, and the one that will make sure that the name Chadwick Boseman will never be forgotten in the world of cinema. The actual acting skill that went into the role is quite remarkable for a superhero movie: from the specific dialects in T'Challa's way of speaking to the gravitas in his facial expressions, the role is full of expertly done nuances. The original Marvel comic character T'Challa was a huge deal, and Boseman definitely understood the power that came with the role. He plays the character as an untypical Marvel hero: instead of constantly quipping zany one-liners like Iron Man and Captain America, Black Panther is a more serious and subdued character whose charisma and likability come from the intricacies of Boseman's dramatic and awe-inspiring acting.

But there is more to this role than just acting skill. The role of Black Panther was an absolute game-changer not just in the world of movies, but in culture on a larger scale. The film had a profound impact on people of color all over the world, and Chadwick Boseman carried the role and its impact with grace. Following his passing, the internet has been filled with powerful imagery of Black Panther fans showing what Boseman and his performance meant to them: from children holding memorials with their Marvel action figures and black athletes celebrating goals with the Wakanda pose, to black celebrities sharing what the film and role meant to them and how much it inspired them, it is clear that this role touched millions of people and created an amazing legacy for the actor.

1. Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013)

While this performance doesn't have the same cinematic royalty -status as Black Panther, it is my favorite from Chadwick Boseman in terms of pure acting skill. In 42, he took on the role of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player to play in the MLB. Just like he did with Thurgood Marshall and James Brown, the actor does a magnificent job stepping into the shoes of a huge historical figure, this time with the added challenge that the film really dives into his psyche instead of focusing on individual events. Robinson's inner conflict of wanting to fight the system yet knowing that fighting back might cost him his career comes to life in a gripping manner, as Boseman does a brilliant job portraying the burden that constant racist treatment in an unfair society has on people. The scene where he smashes his baseball bat on a wall and screams, after barely holding it together on the pitch, is phenomenally well-acted.

I watched this film last Saturday after learning of the actor's untimely death. There's a scene in which Robinson encounters little children who are fans of his at a train station, and the kids weep in joy as their hero throws a signed ball to them. That scene moved me to tears, as I realized that this is the exact same kind of impact that Chadwick Boseman had in his own life on incredibly many children of color around the world by becoming the Black Panther and living up to the role. It is astonishing how an actor who is so well-known for playing inspiring roles can equal that level of inspiration with his real-life persona, and it is heartbreaking that he left us at such a young age. But we will always have his incredible body of work with us, and his legacy will live on.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my top 10 comedy TV episodes of all time.