Top 100 Episodes of the Century

I think it all comes down to the make-up of the staff. They have a lot of reality TV people, but I don't think they have a lot of animation fans outside of your typical ones specifically for adults. I think Spongebob was the only "kids" show that made the list. Also to be noted that I don't think a single episode of anime made the list.

I think any list like this is going to be called "terrible" by the vast majority so I try to celebrate what's there instead of dwell on what's not. As someone who makes top 10 lists every year I would be annoyed if people got mad at me for not including a show I never got the chance to see.

I actually do want to give The Ringer's list credit for exactly one thing - putting the season finale of the original Survivor at number seven was a stroke of genius, and it almost justifies having the Jersey Shore pilot in the top twenty. (Okay, literally nothing could justify that.)

But yes, they're very upfront that they picked these episodes on account of their contributions to meme culture. (Which makes it kinda weird that "I'm Rick James, BITCH" is number five?) I also think the individual episode choices for a lot of these shows are bizarre - most gratuitously for me, I think listing "The Colonel" as the best episode of The Americans is just plain contrarian. (And I think the best episode of the show is "Dyatkovo." "Dyatkovo" ! )

"Dyatkovo" is a very fair choice. I sometimes think that great episodes in mediocre seasons often seem better or make better experiences than great episodes in great seasons, partially because of the unexpected nature and partially because it validates the time you've spent watching something less than excellent.

I think I would narrow down my favourite episode to either "Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep" (which is just basically "Dyatkovo" with a better guest starring role but less importance to the overall narrative arc - though with the advantage of coming first so there is no hint of retreadiness to it) or "The Summit" because to me Season 6 is pretty far and away the best season of the show and that's where it all comes to a head.

On the True Detective thing - I'll allow it because the directing in the first season of True Detective is downright incredible. And it's not just the tracking shot, or even mostly the tracking shot, everything in that season is just top tier directing all around. 

Pretty much. The final stretch of "Dyatkovo" is pretty strong on its own, but it's elevated due to the relatively mediocre season it's a part of. "Mail Robots" would probably get my pick for best episode, though.

Incidentally, I take a small amount of amusement in the fact that one of the most tirelessly popular and overhyped shows of the current decade is just barely clinging on with the #100 spot.

Oh, I definitely think it was a good episode. I would have had my top Walking Dead episode (whatever it turned out being between "Days Gone Bye", "Pretty Much Dead Already", "After", "The Grove", "Beside the Dying Fire") considerably higher than 100. The show was a constant disappointment, but that was partially because the best episodes showed the capability to be so much better than its baseline was.

But anyways I've said enough words about The Walking Dead and would like to move onto a new phase of my life.