25 for 25: A Birthday Told Through Television
I love giving myself tasks that I literally do not have to do, so in honor of my 25th birthday, I decided to challenge myself. I thought it might be fun to choose one episode that I like from 25 different television shows, watch them, and then document the process. I cannot necessarily say these are my favorite episodes from these shows because I struggle with making definitive choices. I also cannot say that all of my favorite shows are on this list. If I’m being honest, the challenge wasn’t even watching the episodes. The real challenge was creating the list. I spent (what felt like) hours lying on the floor, looking up at my ceiling trying to think of specific episodes that stuck out in my memory. I also added the constraint of only being able to choose one episode per show, which made things more difficult because there are definitely shows that deserved multiple episodes. Another issue that arose throughout this process was learning that certain shows (Lost Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and Faking It) were no longer available for streaming which meant I had to make some edits to my final list during the watch. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my journey through these shows via my story, I have also created a highlight for future viewing. For this post, I will be going through each episode that I watched in the order that I watched them along with some brief notes and why I love the episode. Full disclosure I am not saying that these are the “best” episodes of these shows, but I am saying that I unapologetically love them. Allow me to take you through my birthday tv viewing journey.
1. Parks and Recreations Season 4, Episode 11: The Comeback Kid
Notes: Watching this in quarantine definitely hit a little different because Ben was bored in the house and he was in the house bored.
Why I love it: Leslie’s breakdance, Ben’s stop motion movie, and of course the ice rink fiasco
2. Life In Pieces Season 3 Episode 18: Renter Portrait Plagiarism Scam
Notes: Sophia is a gem. Wow, they really didn’t do a quick google search to make sure that story didn’t already exist??
Why I love it: Sophia dragged that kid and still stole his story that he ultimately ended up stealing. John falling for the IRS scam call and trying to shove his valuables up his dummy’s butt.
3. Wynonna Earp Season 2, Episode 7: Everybody Knows
Notes: I miss Dolls.
Why I love it: Jeremey accidentally tethering himself to Doc and Dolls. Drunk Nicole not being able to lie to Waverly and pulling a gun out of her sock.
4. Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 5: I Have a Thing About Bathrooms
Notes: Literally what is the plot of this show? Is the plot just Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer??
Why I love it: The pure chaotic energy that exists in that bathroom scene between Eve and Villanelle. I WANT TO HAVE DINNER WITH YOU!! Villanelle asking Eve about her ugly sweater shirt combo thing.
5. Runaways Season 1, Episode 9: Doomsday
Notes: It’s the dance episode, I love a good dance episode. So much stuff happens at high school dances on tv. Gertchase is a terrible ship name.
Why I love it: Gert calling that mean girl a hateful bitch. Nico telling Alex that she doesn’t care what he thinks about her anymore. Ocean Eyes and all the hips (Gertchase and Deanoru) sailing.
6. Degrassi: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 16: Take on Me
Notes: It’s the Saturday detention aka the Breakfast Club one. Are all episodes of Degrassi named after songs? Aw, look at baby Drake. Why is Sean giving me slight Jughead vibes... Snake is not here to control/discipline children, I love that for him. What happened with that Ellie and Sean romance? OH MY GAIA! ALL DEGRASSI EPISODES ARE SONG TITLES
Why I love it: Ellie. I also just really love people bonding, especially unlikely people. The outsiders unite mini romance.
7. Atypical Season 3, Episode 10: Searching for Brown Sugar Man
Notes: Sam is a great homie and boyfriend, because of ethics. Julia is probably going to hire Paige as her nanny or something. How Casey is going to give her all to UCLA (and also try to make it work with Izzie)??
Why I love it: The re-homie-ing wedding ceremony, the Cazzie makeup, the parents making up (even though I kinda still hate Elsa)
8. Veronica Mars Season 2, Episode 22: Not Pictured
Notes: It’s literally so rude that they arrested Weevil at his graduation before they called his name. They could have let him walk first. I wanted to stab Aaron Echolls. Oh right! I forgot that somebody took care of my Aaron problem.
Why I love it: THE REVEAL. The roof showdown!!! A gun and taser?!? What more do you need? And then this man essentially said “Aight imma head out”
9. New Girl Season 2, Episode 21: First Date
Notes: I remember cracking my face mask from laughing while watching this episode
Why I love it: I could be your father figure. There’s a homeless man shaving my leg.
10. The Office Season 4, Episode 9: Dinner Party
Notes: SNIP SNAP SNIP SNAP. Angela really should have smashed the ice cream on the windshield as well.
Why I love it: The discomfort. The vasectomy talk. The candle sniffing. Dwight and that old lady bringing their own wine glasses and beets. Pam thinking Jan might poison her.
11. One Tree Hill Season 4, Episode 16: You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love
Notes: Ridiculous. Peyton kidnapped by Derek. Was this her fake brother? Did he escape jail? Wait, he faked getting arrested. It’s wild that these CHILDREN were MARRIED. Married, separated, and back together all before graduation. I almost forgot about my hatred for thick neck! Wasn’t he like being stalked by that girl with asthma or something? What happened to Peyton’s Dad? I love Brooke. They actually went to prom all bloody.
Why I love it: Ridiculous. Peyton stabs Derek and he says “That was so disappointing!” Brooke yelling “Peyton eighth grade cheer camp!” Brooke and Peyton making up.
12. One Day at a Time Season 1, Episode 13: Quinces
Notes: Netflix is still trifling for canceling this show. Shoutout to Pop for the save though!
Why I love it: The moment towards the end when everyone stepped in to take the place of Elena’s father. Just so beautiful. Lydia not giving up until she made the perfect dress which ended up being a suit thing. Schneider flying Carmen out!
13. Insecure Season 3, Episode 5: High-Like
Notes: I love that this show has a different themed set of episode titles for each season (hella, like, lowkey). Molly is STUCK on this jacket. I forgot about this moment in the car with Tiffany.
Why I love it: BEYchella. Kelly starting a whole brawl at Coachella. Kelly getting tased. Molly furiously typing that brief that could not have made any sense.
14. Sweet/Vicious Season 1, Episode 7: Heartbreaker
Notes: Oh this is actually kind of a dark episode. I forgot that we learn the truth of what happened between Jules and the scum of the Earth. I might cry, but I still love it. Justice for Sweet/Vicious!! I truly wanted to fight not Lane Kim. I forgot how much rage this episode filled me with.
Why I Love it: Opharris day!! Jules dancing and singing and drinking along to I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers gets me every time. Plus the cut-ins of past her just wanting to be better. She wants to get better but she doesn’t know how because nothing is working and her life is falling apart. (I don’t love that her life is falling apart, I just love the way it’s depicted)
15. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1, Episode 4: I’m Going on a Date with Josh’s Friend
Notes: Paula really threw out a perfectly good bagel just to eat a donut. Girl, you could’ve had both. “Please don’t be a murderer” “I’m sorry bonker balls isn’t in the DSM V yet? Okay. Because that’s what she is”. Heather shows that she’s human.
Why I love it: Settle for Me (one of my favorite songs from the show). Settle for Me: Rachel’s Reprise. The Settle for Me music is so woven in the fabric of this show. I love it. Also. A taco festival?? I love tacos
16. Living Single Season 4, Episode 6: Multiple Choice
Notes: Max just trying to prove a point is a mood. Religious Archie Comics.
Why I love it: Max’s guitar playing and singing are really what took me out. Max singing All by Myself badly and then turning the guy down, icons only.
17. Grey’s Anatomy Season 7, Episode 18: Song Beneath the Song
Notes: I might be one of the only people that like this episode, but I love a musical episode. AND Sara Ramirez has a beautiful voice. I had these covers of the songs saved on my phone. Season 7 was one of my favorite seasons. I remember bawling my eyes out while watching this in high school. Mark and Arizona shared some spicy words.
Why I love it: It’s a musical episode. All of the songs were so important to the show. They called in Addison. I love Addison. THE STORY (the song Callie sings right before waking up). The engagement. The baby. I love it so much even if nobody else does.
18. Schitt’s Creek Season 5, Episode 14: Life Is a Cabaret
Notes: Stevie and David’s friendship is just so beautiful. Patrick asked her for her blessing???
Why I love it: David messing up his own engagement announcement plan. Stevie’s performance! The monogrammed towels with a cute backstory.
19. Riverdale Season 3, Episode 16: Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun
Notes: The Heathers: The Musical episode. Again, I love a musical episode. They’re so fun and there’s so much tension and drama. Cheryl and Toni, Archie and Josie in secret, Veronica and Reggie are end game?? It still feels like it was a poor choice that Veronica wasn’t Veronica. Evelyn gave Kevin those drugged brownies and sent him spiraling. It was painful to watch Reggie say out loud that he thought he and Veronica were end game. They really almost had a threesome on the stage in the auditorium that anybody could walk into?? And the only thing that stopped it from happening was Toni having a Cheryl vision?!? Sweet Pea and Peaches and Cream were stripped down to their skivvies. Kevin and Fangs got cult married...
Why I love it: Utterly ridiculous. Serpent detectives. Betty and Jughead burning down a trailer. Seventeen. Cheryl and Toni reunion.
20. Glee Season 3, Episode 6: Mash Off
Notes: The Trouble Tones. Hot take. The glee clubs should have stayed separate because the Trouble Tones were everything. Dodgeball! Very inclusive. They had Artie in there with his wheelchair. Okay, Santana is kind of awful (I still love her though), but Finn (RIP) did not have to yell down the hallway that she needed to come out of the closet!! He deserved to be slapped. Kurt earnestly stood up there and said dodgeball was modern-day stoning... Quinn was wild for trying to set that lady up to get her baby back.
Why I love it: One of my favorite Glee covers. That mash-up of Adele’s Rumor Has It and Someone Like You?? Santana slapping Finn. What’s not to love.
21. Superstore Season 3, Episode 2: Brett’s Dead
Notes: This show is honestly wild for having a whole plot dedicated to someone being dead that turned out to be alive
Why I love it: Sandra only knows one song on the ukulele. And it’s Creep by Radiohead. Jonah trying to figure out why Garrett is in a wheelchair and Garrett trolling him.
22. Letterkenny Season 2, Episode 1: A Fuss at the AG Hall
Notes: How do they make money? Like how do they live?
Why I love it: That intro. Those insults. “Starlight star bright, why the f*ck you got earrings on?”
23. Brooklyn 99 Season 5, Episode 10: Game Night
Notes: Rosa’s mom really sat there and guessed everything, BUT "wedding" because it was two women. Her parents were fine with her being a MISTRESS but bi was a no go, the homophobia jumped out.
Why I love it: Rosa coming out. Jake being her person. The squad having a game night. Holt comforting Rosa.
24. The Good Place Season 4, Episode 8: The Funeral to End All Funerals
Notes: You can’t spell funeral without “fun”
Why I love it: The judge singing crossroads. The eulogies. The super-specific funerals. Chidi being Weekend at Bernie’s-ed. Bad Janet being influenced and rallying all the Janets to play keep away with the remote
25. The Bold Type Season 1, Episode 9: Before Tequila Sunrise
Notes: Wild to think that I didn’t hate pinstripe this episode. Potentially unpopular opinion: I kinda liked the idea of Sutton and Alex. I just like Alex. I love episodes where people get stuck in a place together and then hijinks ensue. I’m still trying to figure out what led Jane to believe that she had outgrown Scarlett. SHE WAS A WRITER FOR ALL OF LIKE 20 MINUTES and her articles didn’t even slap like that. Okay, really how was the airport THAT empty??
Why I love it: All the digs at 45. The fun fashion show. Sutton falling off of the walking desk. Adena. The Kadena pillow fort. Sutton and Alex. (I do kinda cry every time though)
