Here Are The TV Episodes That Are So Good We Are Low-Key Sad That We Will Never Get To Watch Them For The First Time Again

To mark the occasion, the writers and editors on BuzzFeed's pop culture and celebrity team decided to look back at our own TV favorites and share what we believe are the best single episodes in TV history.

From Breaking Bad to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it’s safe to say that we have all bases covered. 

So, without further ado, here are the best TV episodes ever made, according to...well, us. 

(That being said, since this is a roundup of our staff's favorites, there will naturally be some all-time classics that are missing. So please share your own in the comments!)

There’s a reason that this episode of Breaking Bad is widely hailed as one of the greatest installments of television of all time. 

From Rian Johnson’s incredible directing to Anna Gunn’s Emmy Award-winning performance, everything about it is perfect. I’ll keep it spoiler-free for those who haven’t seen it, but just know that it’s gripping, painful, and easily the best 47 minutes of TV I’ve ever sat through. —Leyla Mohammed, Celebrity & Pop Culture Reporter

In this episode, Issa and Lawrence reunite for a friendly evening out that doubles as a space for healing after their big breakup in Season 1. 

For me, it was satisfying and inspiring to see how far they’ve come, matured, and taken ownership of their shortcomings in the relationship — Issa for her past infidelity, Lawrence for his lack of communication and complacency when they were together. As Kelly once put it, “You know what that is? Growth.” —Chelsea Stewart, Weekend Editor

The Season 3 finale of Sons of Anarchy remains the only time I have watched an episode of TV so good that once it ended, I was sad that I would never get to enjoy it for the first time again. 

“NS” is a well-earned reward for viewers following an arguably lackluster season, with Sons really pulling it out of the bag thanks to a whole load of completely unpredictable twists and turns you never would have seen coming. 

I won’t spoil anything, but after a mid-episode punch to the gut, the final 15 minutes or so are perhaps the most gratifying 15 minutes of TV you will ever watch. In fact, it all plays out so well and is tied up so smoothly that there isn’t a single thing I would fault about the episode. 

Honestly, my jaw dropped to the floor as soon as the first twist came into action, and didn’t come back up again until long after the credits had rolled.  —Stephanie Soteriou, Senior Celebrity & Pop Culture Reporter

I’ve long championed Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Hush” as one of the best episodes of television. By stripping away almost all of the show’s dialogue, the Emmy-nominated episode highlighted the horror of spine-chilling silence. 

Also, who could ever forget the episode’s iconic villains: the Gentlemen, a group of fairy tale demons who prey on victims by silencing their screams before cutting their hearts out. Truly the stuff of nightmares. —Terry Carter Jr., Celebrity & Pop Culture Director 

I’m not the first person to wax lyrical about Succession, and I certainly won’t be the last. But the Season 3 finale is pretty much as good as TV gets. 

With a looming business deal that could see Waystar RoyCo taken over by tech company GoJo, Kendall, Shiv, and Roman come together in a rare moment of unity to prevent their dad, Logan, from striking a deal that would jeopardize their stake in the company. After an emotional manslaughter confession in the middle of the episode, we see the siblings’ plan come together before it implodes with the ultimate betrayal. 

The final twist is revealed during a spine-chilling confrontation between Logan and his kids, which unfolds in such a way that you’re left feeling torn up on behalf of the typically unlikable Roy siblings. With Jesse Armstrong’s superb writing and stellar acting performances from everyone involved, “All the Bells Say” is a complete masterclass in the art of storytelling. There’s a reason why this show absolutely destroyed the competition at the Emmys. —Ellen Durney, Celebrity & Pop Culture Reporter

“Two Cathedrals” is The West Wing at its finest. With everyone dealing with various issues, like what President Bartlet’s health says about his chances to seek reelection, the episode hinges on a funeral, and what transpires is arguably the best monologue in TV history. 

Whenever I rewatch this episode, I’m baffled over how we let this show come and go without Martin Sheen winning an Emmy for his work as President Bartlet, particularly for this episode. Bartlet monologues in Latin and English as he reasons with God as to why he would take away one of the most important people in his life. I can’t even do it justice in writing, you just need to watch it. —Nora Dominick, Senior Editor

Avatar: The Last Airbender is arguably one of the best animated series in television history. By the final season, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko are formidable warriors and a testament to the hero's journey and epic storytelling. In a four-part Season finale, "Sozin's Comet," we witness the heroes conclude their journeys individually, leaving no room for plot holes and unanswered conflicts that plague other popular series in their final seasons. 

In "Part 3: Into the Inferno," one of the most likable characters, General Iroh, who we followed from the beginning, reunites with "The Order of the White Lotus" to rescue the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se and its a masterclass of plant and payoff. 

Every mentor the heroes encountered in their journey was not just a plot device but a master of bending and combat, listening and waiting for the right moment to strike. Zuko faces off against his greatest adversary, his sister Azula. And finally, Aang begins his much-anticipated battle against Fire Lord Ozai. In the world of this Avatar, every moment mattered, and this episode is the proof. Hands down. —Myke Thompson, Celebrity & Pop Culture Reporter

I had a really hard time narrowing down my pick because there are so many iconic shows and episodes, but one that I’ll always keep coming back to is the Severance Season 1 finale. 

It feels bold to pick a show still on the air, but I’ve never audibly screamed at my TV like that before as I relished in jaw dropping twist after twist (I won’t spoil here, but OH MY GOD that one reveal specifically. IYKYK…). The finale perfectly set up Season 2, and while our nearly three-year wait for some payoff is finally over with the series returning in January, I have faith that it’ll be worth it. 

And if you haven’t watched it, now is the perfect time and you’ll avoid the aggravating long wait between seasons. Lucky you! —Jennifer Abidor, Deputy Editorial Director

This show does not get the attention it deserves, but Season 3 has already attracted the eyes of new viewers — I'm not surprised by that because every episode has been equally chaotic and explosive, and episode 3 stands out to me the most. 

You might think that a show about young investment bankers would be a snooze-fest, but instead, it's a fast-paced drama filled with sex, drugs, and bad business deals. 

Episode 3 was a changing point for a lot of the characters, especially the series lead Harper (played by Myha'la). It left me on a high and I still can't get, "Eric, look at me," out of my head. If you watch it, you'll know why. — Morgan Murrell, Black Culture Editor