There’s a special kind of pain in starting a new show. You’ve got eight seasons ahead of you, everyone online swears it’s “life-changing,” and you’re just sitting there wondering which episode is actually worth your time. Because let’s be real, not every show hits gold every time.
So I did what any responsible TV addict would do: I went to IMDb, the holy grail of ratings, and found the single highest-rated episode from every major show. Think of this as your shortcut to the good stuff, no filler, no “it gets better after Season 3,” just the episodes that made people collectively lose their minds.
3.
Succession — “Connor’s Wedding” (2023)
6.
Chernobyl — “Vichnaya Pamyat” (2019)
7.
Dexter — “The Getaway” (2009)
8.
Doctor Who — “Blink” (2007)
9.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — “Charlie Work” (2015)
10.
Attack on Titan — “Hero” (2019)
11.
Community — “Modern Warfare” (2010)
12.
Gravity Falls — “Not What He Seems” (2015)
13.
Avatar: The Last Airbender — “Sozin’s Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno” (2008)
14.
Better Call Saul — “Bagman” (2020)
15.
The Office — “Stress Relief” (2009)