Top 10 TV Episodes That Did Not Have to Go That HARD

“True Detective” (2014-)

If people weren’t paying attention to “True Detective” before, they certainly were after this. “Who Goes There” is the fourth episode of the first season, following Rust as he infiltrates the Iron Crusaders to get the location of Reggie Ledoux. The entire episode is a masterclass in pacing and tension-building, and it flies by thanks to some terrific writing. But it’s best known for the climactic raid sequence, which was shot in a single take and choreographed to absolute perfection. It’s a brilliant piece of filmmaking unlike anything seen in TV at the time, and it rightfully earned Cary Joji Fukunaga the Emmy for Outstanding Directing.

“The Walking Dead” (2010-22)

Sometimes going hard can be a good thing. And sometimes filmmakers go a little too hard. That might have been the case with “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” the infamous episode that saw the bloody deaths of Glenn and Abraham. While “The Walking Dead” had long been regarded for its violence, this scene was simply too much for many viewers. Fans and critics alike argued that it crossed a line, with the deaths painfully prolonged and extraordinarily graphic. The show may have veered too far into the realm of sensationalism, betraying good storytelling for sickening displays.

“Lost” (2004-10)

Widely regarded as one of the best episodes in TV history, “The Constant” is universally acclaimed for its unique narrative structure, emotional depth, and the seamless blending of science fiction and romance. An adventure unlike any other, viewers are whisked from one set piece to the next as they follow Desmond Hume as he attempts to find his “constant,” an anchor for his mental stability which is affected by time traveling. The episode masterfully interweaves different timelines, creating a poignant and thrilling story that culminates in a deeply moving phone call between Desmond and his constant Penny. It’s an ambitious episode of television, edited and written with expert precision and leaving us in puddles of tears every single time.

“Six Feet Under” (2001-05)

Oh, and speaking of puddles of tears - how about “Everyone’s Waiting?” The title alone is enough to make us well up. “Six Feet Under” was a show entirely about death - dealing with it, accepting it, fighting it. And it absolutely stuck the landing, as “Everyone’s Waiting” is considered one of the best finales in television history. It’s a profound and emotional resolution of the show’s themes, but it also provides satisfying closure to the numerous narrative arcs that had been building across five seasons. The final montage is a work of art, showing how every member of the family died and offering a thoughtful meditation on mortality in four simple minutes.

“The Bear” (2022-)

While ostensibly about a Chicago restaurant, “The Bear” is really about grief, generational trauma, and family dysfunction. You know, fun things like that. All those themes are encapsulated perfectly in season two’s “Fishes,” which recounts a particularly painful Christmas in the Berzatto household. While it contains some much-needed moments of levity, “Fishes” is an hour-long exercise in simmering tension. The show’s traumatic themes are deeply explored, and its unique style of kinetic filmmaking is on full display. Much of the acclaim has, deservedly, gone to Jamie Lee Curtis, whose performance as Donna is uncomfortably breathtaking. For many, this episode hit a little too close to home, and Donna reminded them of people they’d rather forget.

“Band of Brothers” (2001)

One could certainly argue that all ten episodes of “Band of Brothers” went hard, offering us cinematic production values that are rarely seen on TV. But the episode that went the hardest is undoubtedly “Why We Fight,” AKA the holocaust episode. Easy Company enters Nazi Germany and stumbles across the Kaufering concentration camp. What they see inside stuns them into a brief moment of disbelief before reminding them of the values of fighting. It’s an extraordinary, if haunting, episode of television, displaying nightmarish horrors and bringing one of the darkest moments in human history to startling life. It’s not easy viewing, but it is necessary.

“Succession” (2018-23)

Despite the title, “Connor’s Wedding” is not a happy affair. In fact, it’s pretty darned depressing. Logan collapses off-screen, which in itself was a shocking and unexpected creative decision that was widely acclaimed. But that event is only used to get to the meat of the episode, and that’s the reactions of his children. We follow the four kids as they process the news and slowly come to the realization that their father has died. The entire episode is a masterclass in acting, with everyone bringing their A-games and turning these otherwise unsympathetic characters into human beings processing the death of a father. “Connor’s Wedding” is a remarkable achievement, not just in terms of filmmaking, but also in thematic explorations and narrative curveballs.

“The Sopranos” (1999-2007)

One of the most influential shows in history did a ton of things that were considered revolutionary - like moving away from the main narrative to watch Chris and Paulie eat ketchup packets. Coming in the tail end of season three, “Pine Barrens” detours from the building story and gives viewers a bottle episode with Chris and Paulie getting lost in the New Jersey woods. It was a daring creative risk, but one that paid off beautifully with a unique atmosphere, a fun storyline, and plenty of dark humor. Additionally, the ambiguity surrounding the fate of the Russian leaves viewers with a lasting sense of intrigue that never really goes away. Only “The Sopranos” could do an episode like this and get away with it.

“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)

How about that red wedding? “Battle of the Bastards” set the record in terms of cinematic production values, but it was “The Rains of Castamere” that left viewers crying on the floor like a hungry toddler. We know, we saw the reaction videos. The entire episode is wonderful, but it’s famous for the ending, in which the Starks are ruthlessly slaughtered at the Twins. It’s not so much the graphic violence that pushed boundaries, but the brave narrative rug-pull. Killing off major characters in such a fashion is virtually unheard of, let alone the series protagonists. And here we thought Robb was going to triumph. Well “Game of Thrones,” you got us good.

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

One of the Most Terrifying & Experimental Episodes of Television Ever Produced

An Endlessly Enjoyable Masterclass In Writing & Acting

A Bloody, Brilliant & Visually Stunning Explosion of Simmering Tension

An Exceptionally-Written Episode That Went Places TV Never Went Before

An Emotionally Rewarding Mini-Movie about Love, Death, & Undying Commitment

“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)

The show didn’t end here, but it was certainly the climax, wrapping up most of the major storylines and leaving viewers thoroughly satisfied - if not thoroughly depressed. As the title implies, “Ozymandias” is where all of Walt’s chickens come to roost and his empire collapses into dust. Hank dies, Jesse is taken captive, his money is stolen, and he is forced to abandon his family and go on the run with a new identity. These were the moments that everyone was waiting for, the moments that had been slowly building throughout five seasons and dozens of hours. It went hard, and unlike Ozymandias, it only solidified the television empire that was “Breaking Bad.”