TYF’s Best 30 Episodes of Television 2015

Catastrophe – “Episode 4″

Compact at just six episodes, Hulu’s Catastrophe never had a wasted moment in their storytelling, but it was “Episode 4” that had one of its greatest, emotionally poignant moments, much of which is all due to the tremendous work done by Sharon Horgan. Rob Delaney is a delight on the show, but it’s Horgan’s character who is going through the most shocking changes, and it seems that every trip to the doctors in regards to her surprise pregnancy leads to more potential health risks. “Episode 4” continues this trend when she learns that there’s a very high chance her child with have Down Syndrome, and it leads to an episode of introspection and fear as she grapples with each and every possible scenario. The installment doesn’t forget the biting and frank humor, but much is gleaned from Sharon’s anxiety. It’s also ends with one of the most beautiful moments in television this year, as she sees a young mother and her daughter who has Down Syndrome, happy and healthy and content, and a wave of emotions wash over her face. She’s just learned that her child does not have Down Syndrome, and seeing this mother and daughter evokes a sense of grief, shame, and relief. Human to a fault, the characters of Catastrophe have rarely been as nuanced. – Allyson Johnson 

Daredevil – “Nelson V. Murdock”

In retrospect there is more of Daredevil that was worth nitpicking, but the highs were undeniable, and I had a tough time picking one episode that ranked as the best. However, the one that stands apart from the rest due to how it tells its story is “Nelson V. Murdock,” which focuses on the friendship between Matt and Foggy, and, consequently, the fallout of Foggy learning about Matt’s nighttime, vigilante activities after finding his friend an inch from death. It’s the most physically and emotionally crippled we’ve ever seen Matt, who essentially sits and allows his friend to angrily berate him for his lies, and this juxtaposed with flashbacks to their first meeting and developing friendship just about kicks you in the gut with emotion. What’s even more interesting about the episode is how their friendship is shot, playing out more like a breakup than a fight between friends, which showcases the significance of Foggy in Matt’s life. The flashbacks are adorable and playful, while the present day is painful. Charlie Cox and Elden Henson are both strong here, and the episode is the last GREAT episode of the season. – By Allyson Johnson 

Doctor Who – “Heaven Sent”

Beware: SPOILERS 

Directed by Rachel Talalay, “Heaven Sent” is one of Doctor Who’s finest episodes not just this year, but in its decades old history. Following the episode where Clara seemingly met her end finds the Doctor in his own personal hell, or, more specifically, his own person purgatory. The episode sees him running from a faceless horror, inching along ever changing corridors, under a night sky whose stars are no longer the stars he knows, placing him thousands of years into the future. Working as a reactionary piece to the episode before, as the Doctor achingly works through his grief for his friend over billions of years in solitary, it’s a heartbreaking episode of television, one beautifully shot by Talalay and performed brilliantly by Peter Capaldi, who spends 95% of the episode alone. The ending montage is one of the most inventive pieces of film-making the show has ever done, continuing on a string of great episodes from the season. We have never seen an episode like it from the show, with hints of melancholy, sorrowful instead of the Eleven styled whimsical, that deeply penetrates the series core of a lonely alien who travels space and time, always looking for an audience, always looking for his next companion who he destined to loose, one way or the other.  – By Allyson Johnson

Empire – “Pilot”

Thinking of how the series has progressed since its debut makes this pick a bit of a confusing one. However, it would be negligent to not acknowledge the cultural phenomenon that accompanied Empire this year. It’s the pilot where it all started, and viewers became entranced by the Shakespearean drama that engulfs the Lyons family’s daily lives. It threw everything at us in this first episode, and it was impossible to not be curious to find out what happens next. With lively and dynamite performances from Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, they took the soapy drama to a new level and made every crazy (and unbelievable) new twist so much fun. – By Gabrielle Bondi

The Flash – “Fast Enough”

The season one finale of The Flash was always going to have a tough time making sure all of the storylines played out in a way that was coherent and entertaining, and for a while it seemed like it was going to be a very talky hour of television, with more being said then done. However, once it kicks into high gear, it refuses to relent, and there’s a lot to digest. Eddie sacrifices himself in order to rid their world of Eobard Thawne’s Reverse Flash, a breach is unleashed in Central City, putting everyone at risk with the episode ending with Barry running straight into the wormhole, determined to do whatever he can to save those he loves and protects. However, while the action is strong as usual, it’s the moment where Barry travels back in time to try and save his mom that’s the real highlight of the hour. It’s what the entire season had been leading to and it earns its big, emotional payoff, when Barry makes this crucial and risky choice only to be signaled by his future self to allow his mother to die. It’s heartbreaking to watch, and Grant Gustin gave one of the best of performances so far on the show as he gets a chance to say goodbye to his mom. – By Allyson Johnson