TYF’s Best 30 Episodes of Television 2015

Game of Thrones – “Hardhome”

I don’t think that it’s a reach to say that Game of Thrones season five was a bit of a disappointment. From messy plotting, to more sexual violence towards women, to the show-runners completely disregarding certain plot developments from the books (important ones), it seemed that season five fell in line with the one prior in making book fans frustrated more often than not. However, the biggest surprise of the season came in the form of Jon Snow, who finally lived up to the basic intrigue the character generates in a season where he got tested to his limits, never being as apparent as in the epic battle episode “Hardhome.” Shot with an expansive and cinematic edge, with brutal fight choreography and even emotional poignancy, “Hardhome” was the climatic moment of the season, as well as the very best. – By Allyson Johnson

Gravity Falls – “Not What He Seems”

Spoilers Ahead!

Gravity Falls will end its two season lifespan early next year, but despite its showings from its ongoing Weirdmageddon finale arc most emblematizing the show in its element, maxing out on the oddity and supernatural strangeness that’s accompanied the show since episode one, “Not What He Seems” is the payoff to the forward momentum that drove the show to new heights in the first half of its second season as Grunkle Stan moved forward with his secret plan while Dipper got closer and closer to that and the other mysteries of the Oregon town.

The very first episode of Gravity Falls teased that “STAN IS NOT WHAT HE SEEMS” through the show’s cryptic, fun cipher clues, and Dipper and Mabel finally catch up. At the climactic moment, Mabel, her tears floating in the air next to her, sobs, “I don’t even know if you’re my Grunkle.” And it’s all up to Mabel. You legitimately don’t know if she presses the button to stop Stan’s plan or decides to trust him until the moment it happens. It’s the culmination of the show’s most fruitful storyline, and some of the most suspenseful television I’ve ever seen. – By Joey Daniewicz

Hannibal – “The Wrath of the Lamb”

As our critic put it, “nobody thought Hannibal would end with pretty rainbows and bright sunrises,” but few could have predicted the bloody, orchestrated and haunting mess that was the finale of the series. Hannibal has always danced on a tight rope between grotesque fairy tale and psychological love story, and the series end (while fans weep over it being truly the end) exemplifies these two halves with exercised delicacy and beauty. There is no subtly in the show, particularly in its last season, and Hannibal and Will falling to their (likely) deaths over the cliff side, embraced in one another’s arms after they’ve killed Richard Armitage’s Red Dragon is about as fitting as an ending as the show could do, leaving audiences feeling completely wiped after the rigorously emotional hour. – By Allyson Johnson

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “Charlie Work”

For years we have heard of what Charlie works means, from all things disgusting and dirty and a whole lot of rat hounding. It has never sounded pleasant and has always resulted in helping paint Charlie as a more sympathetic character the the rest of his deplorable group. However, in “Charlie Work,” the often put upon character get’s his rare moment to shine, as he prepares Paddy’s Pub for a health inspector visit, doing the work that the gang never notices, keeping them on their feet and employed without them being any the wiser. Amusingly shot in a Birdman type style, in one of the more stylishly ambitious episodes the show has ever done in its ten season tenure, the camera tracks Charlie as he solves one problem after the next, overcoming hurdles set forth by his seemingly useless coworkers. Shot with a refreshingly, stylish eye (especially in comedy), deftly performed by the always scene stealer Charlie Day, and an episode that brings in old characteristics to construct a fresh and new plot, “Charlie Work” isn’t just one of the best episodes of the year, but one of the best episodes in the entirety of the series run. – By Allyson Johnson

Jane the Virgin – “Chapter Twenty”

I have many favorite Jane the Virgin moments, and I love to praise its consistency as a series. However, if I had to pick one entire episode that captures the essence of the series and why it’s so, so good and underrated, it’s “Chapter Twenty.” After revisiting it lately, I found that I liked it quite a lot more than I had originally. The wrestling-themed episode pins Jane vs. Petra vs. Rafael vs. Luisa on and on… It’s one of the few episodes that is a full ensemble effort. It showcases the range of tones Jane balances weekly from fantasy wrestling match-ups that illustrate the show’s trademark magical realism to the emotionally powerful ending that drove home the complicated and difficult situation Jane finds herself in–once again we see just how talented Gina Rodriguez is. – By Gabrielle Bondi

Allyson Johnson

Allyson is a New England based writer, who has been a film critic since 2012. She is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, and the Online Film Critics Society, along with being a Tomatometer approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. Her writing can also be found at CambridgeDay.com, ThePlaylist.net, VagueVisages.com, RogerEbert.com, TheMarySue.com and elsewhere.