TYF’s Best 30 Episodes of Television 2015

Jessica Jones – “AKA Sin Bin”

This was another show where I was conflicted on just what episode to pick. Plenty other episodes had moments that were worthy of mention, from the hard to watch trauma of the character Hope as she’s bodily carried out of the horrors Kilgrave inflicted on her, kicking and screaming, to the first time Jessica and Luke test their strength on one another. AKA Sin Bin is all of those strong moments stitched together, with one horrific moment following the other. It’s the episode where we see more than ever some of the character’s truest selves, from Jessica’s determination but also desperation, Trish’s loyalty, Hogarth’s cold hearted assertion of others who could be of use of her and, most importantly, we learn that there is no gray areas with Kilgrave; he’s mean, embittered, narcissistic and violent with no sympathy whatsoever for any who stand in his way. Shot with a taut tension from beginning to end, with five final minutes that are stressful, violent and even at the end, exuberant, it brings all of the main players together only to rip them apart before any good comes from the crimes they’ve committed.  – By Allyson Johnson

Last Man on Earth – “Alive in Tuscan”

It was obvious from the start that The Last Man on Earth wasn’t going to be a show that only featured Will Forte talking to a soccer ball. However, its pilot provides good on that premise, and what a cast of one and a unique setting for a sitcom can do. The show takes place one year after a virus eradicates the entire human race, with seemingly one exception – a decidedly average man named Phil Miller (Forte) who is slowly driven nuts out of loneliness and reduced to talking to sports balls that he has drawn faces on. The pilot episode uses its setting of an empty America quite well, with some high budget special effects unusual for a comedy and fantastic cinematography. It’s a great example of Forte’s comic and dramatic chops that he can fill a half hour by himself so well. While the episode is fantastic, you wonder as it closes into the third act what direction the show will take.

Of course, we get our answer at the end of the episode when Kristen Schaal drops in as survivor number two, Carol Pilbasian, and immediately becomes the show’s secret weapon. The comic pairing of Forte and Schaal is fantastic in the two subsequent episodes where they’re the only cast members and arguably a show only starring the two of them as the reluctant last couple on Earth is a far more interesting premise than Forte alone or the show we eventually got as five other characters join the cast. While the show continues to be strong, these early episodes (and the first two of the second season, which also feature Schaal and Forte solo) are the show at its quirky, minimalist best. – By Ryan Gibbs

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – “Online Harassment”

As much as its host disagrees with the sentiment, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is one of the best journalism outlets on television. Perhaps that’s more of an indicator at the state of American television journalism today, he’s provided his own unique, informative spin on making the news funny since he debuted on HBO in April 2014, by eschewing interviews for longer in depth segments about subjects that usually aren’t covered anywhere else on television.

Perhaps no episode exemplified that better than the June 21 episode, in which Oliver tactfully covers the shooting in Charleston before transition into a frank, wonderful and often very funny segment on online harassment, victim blaming and rape culture. It was one of the strongest segments on the topics I’ve ever seen. That it pissed off some of the worst groups on the internet, including a big one that it barely touched upon, only served to prove the points that were contained in the piece. – By Ryan Gibbs 

The Leftovers – “Lens”

In many ways, season two of The Leftovers is partly Nora’s (Carrie Coon) season. While this episode doesn’t carry the show’s biggest twists, what I enjoyed was how many questions it answered and how well the narrative answered them. It’s rare for a show to satisfyingly demystify certain unknown details. What makes this particular episode a favorite is the poised yet unsettling scene between Nora and Erika (played perfectly by Regina King). It’s a match between blame and denial and a true representation of how divergent the feelings that accompany unexplained loss can feel. Nora is impulsive; she reacts immediately and dramatically. Erika is the opposite, making her the biggest mystery of all the show’s characters. – By Gabrielle Bondi

Louie – “Sleepover”

Louie is a television show that is built around our inner most crises throughout life, as seen through the eyes of a mid-aged comedian in New York, and season five showed the consistency of this show’s greatness. “Sleepover” was this season’s best episode as it contains a lot of thoughts about sex, marriage, relationships, and fatherhood into one compact apartment. It’s able to make light of uneasy subject matter and deliver some mild-volume laughs. It’s congruent as it is solemn and loud, due to the nature of this episode. Louie and Pamela’s relationship is also eloquently developed more through a phone call, which is brought to light by Louis C.K. direction and writing. – By Kevin Montes