Top 10 Exact Moments TV Shows Became Iconic

This dramedy series really turns up the heat in a flashback episode to a particularly tense and disastrous family dinner. The Berzatto family dinner features plenty of notable surprise guest stars and incredible acting throughout. It all builds up to a tumultuous and chaotic conclusion. The matriarch Donna has an epic outburst after being asked if she’s “okay.” Dishes are smashed, forks are thrown, and Donna winds up driving her car into the house. It’s the perfect storm of comedy, drama, and outrageous family developments that kicked the already quality series up a notch.

This is a game of life and death — for real. The debut episode of “Squid Game” is intriguing from the get-go, introducing the various people invited to play games by a mysterious organization. But when the players finally get to their first game, things really get kicked up a notch. The children’s room aesthetic and robotic girl calling out “red light, green light” seem innocent enough at first glance. But when the game turns deadly, mass panic ensues, followed by a desperate need for survival. For the rest of the game and the series, we’re on the edge of our seats, desperate to see what happens next.

The final episode of the first season of this modern reimagining of Sherlock Holmes takes the show to new heights. Sherlock arrives at a pool to confront Moriarty, the criminal mastermind he’s been chasing all episode. But when he gets there, he finds John Watson with a bomb strapped to his chest. Jim Moriarty reveals himself as an IT guy Sherlock met previously. His singsong, unhinged attitude makes a perfect contrast to Sherlock’s stoicism. The scene raises the stakes of the show and leads to a nail biting cliffhanger that drove fans crazy waiting for a resolution.

The pilot of this legendary science fiction series follows a pair of teachers, Ian and Barbara, who are concerned about one of their students, Susan Foreman. After hearing her voice from inside an old police telephone box, they force their way inside past her grandfather. Except — the box is bigger on the inside. The old man — revealed to be the Doctor — and his granddaughter are travelers in time and space, the phone box is a vessel called a TARDIS, and audiences are introduced for the first time to an iconic world. This moment of initial discovery is so effective at drawing viewers that it still works decades later.

There are a lot of great moments in the first few seasons of the American version of “The Office” that you could argue were turning points for the show. In our opinion, that honor goes to an injury suffered by Michael Scott. The boss calls in for help after burning his foot on his George Foreman Grill. Between the absurdity of the injury, Steve Carrell’s delivery of how it occurred, and Dwight getting injured himself when trying to rescue Michael, it’s a moment that epitomizes the oddball chaos that happens on an everyday basis on the show.

The first season of “Mad Men” has plenty of standout moments, yet it’s in the finale that everything truly comes together. Don Draper makes a pitch to Kodak to help them advertise their new wheel-style projector. Instead of trying to emphasize the innovation of the technology, Don instead focuses on the nostalgia it can offer customers. The wheel — or carousel, as he brands it — can take people backwards and forwards, returning them to simpler times. In one scene, we not only get more insight into Don’s mindset, the show also delivers a potent analysis of what makes the period drama itself great, elevating it to prestige TV. Plus, needless to say, Don absolutely nails the pitch.

There have been a lot of “will-they/won’t-they” relationships on TV, both before and after “Friends.” Yet few have achieved the level of hype Ross and Rachel did. Ross finds out about Rachel’s feelings too late — he’s in a relationship. He confronts Rachel at the coffee shop late at night. Recriminations and Italian guys come up, before Ross storms off. But he can’t just walk away. After a now-classic fumble with the locks on the door, he comes back in and that long-awaited kiss happens. “Friends” was already a quality show in its first season. But this sophomore event got everyone talking and catapulted the sitcom into permanent cultural icon status.

With its mysterious island setting and large cast of compelling characters, “Lost” made a big splash upon its debut. Yet it isn’t until we learn more about John Locke that the show becomes something truly special. Flashbacks throughout the episode reveal that, contrary to his self-assured Island persona, before the plane crash Locke was a sad, lonely man hoping to give his life meaning by going on a walkabout in Australia. After the tour guide tells him he can’t go, we learn that Locke used to use a wheelchair. But Locke has been walking around the Island for several episodes — what could have happened? It was one of the first of many major plot twists that would deepen the central mysteries of the show.

Walter White has already “broken bad.” But it isn’t until this scene that audiences know that he, and the show, can be incredible at it. After his partner in crime Jesse Pinkman is beaten by Tuco Salamanca, Walt decides to don a new look, a new name, and negotiate for the money they’re owed. Heisenberg’s debut is both literally and figuratively explosive, as the supposed meth he brings with him is actually fulminated mercury. Tossing it to the ground causes a powerful explosion that blows out the windows, several eardrums, and all our expectations for where we thought the show was going. Walt’s reaction in the car later is pretty much all of us after watching this scene.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

President Bartlet’s Church Rant, “The West Wing” (1999-2006)
A Great Political Show Turns Divine With This Powerful Monologue

Patrick’s Introduction, “Schitt's Creek” (2015-20)
He’s the Perfect Match for David & Fit for the Show

Eve & Villanelle Have Dinner, “Killing Eve” (2018-22)
Sparks Fly in More Ways than One When These Two Finally Meet

Locker Room Hug, “Ted Lasso” (2020-23)
Why Is This Funny Football Show Giving Us the Feels?

First Dream, “Twin Peaks” (1990-91; 2017)
The David Lynch Show Goes Full David Lynch

This epic fantasy show sparked buzz throughout its first season, but it’s the penultimate episode’s conclusion that sent shockwaves through popular culture. Ned Stark is forced to make a false confession of treason to protect his children. But it’ll be okay — he’s set to join the Night’s Watch, he’ll still be part of the show. Well, that was the plan, anyway. We weren’t counting on the villainous Joffrey to disregard everything and order Ned’s execution. “Game of Thrones” had already killed off a few major characters, but Ned was one of the main characters in the ensemble show. This deviation from traditional storytelling got everyone talking and turned “Game of Thrones” into must-watch television,

Which iconic TV moment would’ve kicked our list up a notch? Reminisce about your favorites in the comments!