Top 10 Highest Rated TV Episodes of The Decade So Far

“Severance” (2022-)
It sucks that shows are taking so long between seasons, because we had to wait nearly three years between this and the season two premiere. It was agonizing. Of course, the wait was so hard because of the finale’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger, which sees Helly exposing the truth about severance and Mark telling Devon that his dead wife Gemma is actually alive at Lumon. The unbelievable ending was widely acclaimed, but that certainly wasn’t the only aspect of the episode to be praised. Its emotional weight is immense, each character’s arc reaches a crucial turning point, and the episode is a masterclass in pacing and tension-building. This is filmmaking - and storytelling - at its absolute best.

“Arcane” (2021-24)
Who knew that one of the best shows of the 2020s would be based on “League of Legends”? “Arcane” hit the ground running, and by its third episode it was being hailed as one of the greatest animated shows of its generation. “The Base Violence Necessary for Change” received widespread acclaim and currently sits at 9.7 on IMDb, with users unanimously praising its action and emotional impact. The battles are as visually stunning as always, and with the episode concluding the first act, it masterfully escalates the stakes and culminates in a beautifully tragic ending. You certainly don’t need to be a “League of Legends” fan to enjoy the epic scope, beauty, and storytelling prowess of “Arcane.”

“The Bear” (2022-)
This FX drama has been a surprise success, with its second season earning particular acclaim. While “Fishes” got a lot of praise for its all-star cast and rich exploration of family trauma, it’s “Forks” that actually has a higher rating on IMDb with 9.7. Whichever one you prefer, we can all agree that it’s one of the greatest one-two punches in TV history. “Forks” does an unbelievable job in developing Richie, turning him from a sad sack loser type into an ambitious and charismatic leader. Ebon Moss-Bachrach[a] is out of this world good, as is the episode’s pacing, editing, and uplifting tone. “Forks” inspired us all to do better. What more can you ask for in an episode of television?

“Stranger Things” (2016-)
A lot of jokes have been made at this show’s expense, especially regarding its aging cast. But then it delivers a knockout episode like “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab,” and all those petty criticisms melt away. This episode served as the midseason finale, so naturally, a lot of amazing stuff goes down. It’s wall-to-wall entertainment, with face-melting action sequences and a relentless pace that never lets up. There’s also a ton of satisfying narrative payoff, like the reunion of Joyce and Hopper, the titular lab massacre, and the backstory of Vecna. And with amazing production values and a 100 minute runtime, this is more like a blockbuster movie than an episode of TV. Season four definitely delivered the goods.

“Attack on Titan” (2013-23)
Widely regarded as one of the best anime shows ever, “Attack on Titan” has many peaks. And one of the highest peaks of all has to be season four’s masterpiece “The War Hammer Titan.” This episode delivers some of the most intense and fluid battle sequences in the entire series, with top tier animation that blends hand-drawn and CG elements. It also introduces the unique and formidable War Hammer Titan, which quickly became a fan favorite. And who can forget Eren[b]’s transformation, in which he embraces more ruthless and calculated strategies? With spectacular action, a great new Titan, and some fantastic character development, it’s no surprise that “The War Hammer Titan” is so widely acclaimed.

“The Mandalorian” (2019-23)
This show is easily one of the brighter spots of the Disney “Star Wars” era, reminding us all why we loved the franchise in the first place. “The Rescue” is the highest-rated episode of the show on IMDb - and the 2020 Christmas gift we all desperately needed. The incredible cinematic qualities continued, with eye-popping visual effects, Ludwig Göransson[c]’s amazing score, and brilliant action scenes, like the thrilling assault on Moff Gideon’s cruiser. It also has a ton of emotional and narrative payoff, with Din Djarin fulfilling his mission of reuniting Grogu with the Jedi and removing his mask to say goodbye. And no, we did not forget the return of young Luke Skywalker. Never before has a mere 45 minutes been packed with so much great material.

“BoJack Horseman” (2014-20)
2020 was bookended by some amazing episodes of TV, ending with “The Rescue” and beginning with “The View from Halfway Down.” This is the penultimate episode of “BoJack Horseman,” and it serves as a startling reminder of how far the show had come. There is no hint of the adult comedy it once was. This is a surreal and existential narrative that blurs the lines between reality and the subconscious, creating a poetic meditation on life, death, and regret. It’s a psychological plunge in BoJack’s broken psyche, with dead characters, an eerie setting, and profound symbolic visuals representing his impending demise. It also has one of the best endings in TV history, with BoJack taking comfort in Diane as he’s enveloped by the black tar.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-13; 2014; 2020)
Between “The Mandalorian” and a new season of “The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars” fans were eating good in 2020. “Victory and Death” serves as the official series finale and currently has a 9.9/10 on IMDb, so it’s pretty darned obvious that the show stuck the landing. Indeed, you couldn’t ask for a better ending, with satisfying payoffs to character arcs, the tragic execution of Order 66, and the seamless connections to the “Star Wars” saga, like Darth Vader finding Ahsoka’s lightsaber in the snow. Add to that the incredible action sequences and breathtaking visuals, and it’s clear that a ton of effort went into making the ending as perfect as possible.

“Better Call Saul” (2015-22)
Some people thought that a Saul Goodman spinoff was a bad idea. However, the consistent quality of “Better Call Saul” put those fears to rest, and by the time “Plan and Execution” rolled around, some were even calling it better than “Breaking Bad.” For many fans and critics, this episode is the critical peak of the “Breaking Bad” universe, expertly mixing humane drama with thrilling action and wrapping it all in a perfectly-filmed package. This is the episode where Saul and Kim’s scheming finally comes back to bite them, flawlessly intertwining both the legal and cartel storylines and having them meet with a literal bang. This is top notch storytelling right here.

“Succession” (2018-23)
There is so much right with “Connor’s Wedding” we don’t even know where to start. Firstly, killing Logan off-screen was a very gutsy move, but it paid off beautifully. Not only did it come as a narrative shock, but it allowed the viewer to live the experience alongside his stunned and panicked children. And speaking of those children, what an impeccable job the cast did here, with everyone giving the viewers at home a masterclass in acting. Of course, they were aided by some literally flawless writing and directing, with both Jesse Armstrong and Mark Mylod [d]receiving Emmys for their work on the episode. The entire show was building to this episode, and the payoff was nothing short of extraordinary.

Did we forget any other brilliant episodes? Let us know in the comments below!

[b]erin/aaron https://youtu.be/egrIe2HKuu0?si=8YCVeMCdns6pFcey&t=7
[c]LOOD-vig https://youtu.be/Sa6Uja5rgig
[d]MY-lawd https://youtu.be/2XAxyeKDXsg?si=hVk65Zwk4fvyvk6N&t=16