Buzz
With the overwhelming amount of content television often demands, it’s all too easy for a series to lose its edge before it truly finds its stride. That’s why, to keep things fresh and engaging, writers often experiment with different formats, creating standout episodes that separate themselves from the rest. As we’ll see, this experimentation can take many forms—whether through narrative structure, thematic exploration, visual techniques, or other creative approaches.
With that in mind, here are ten of the most remarkable instances when your favorite TV shows took bold risks. And a quick heads-up—there are spoilers ahead!
10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – 'The Body'
Joss Whedon’s masterpiece could easily dominate this entire list, with episodes like the haunting 'Hush' or the musical 'Once More With Feeling.' However, one of the most striking examples of the show experimenting with form comes in season five’s 'The Body,' where Whedon masterfully portrays the profound grief following the death of a loved one.
During this spectacular hour of television, we would get to see each character deal with Joyce Summer’s passing, with reactions ranging from Willow’s deflection of the issue in favor of her choice of clothing to Anya’s inability to understand the full extent of human mortality. And when Buffy’s calls her mother the body for the first time, and it all finally hits home for her, it’s hard not to feel the heartbreak she’s going through at that moment, especially as the starkness of the entire episode is highlighted by the distinct lack of music or any real antagonist other than death itself.
9. Seinfeld – “The Betrayal”
Seinfeld really was a game-changer for sitcoms in the ‘90s. By this point, the genre had been very much rooted in maintaining the same status quo of middle-of-the-road comedy for decades. However, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld seemed intent on forging new paths, creating groundbreaking episodes of TV, like season two’s “The Chinese Restaurant” or season four’s “The Contest.” But it wouldn’t be until season nine’s “The Betrayal” that they dared to try something as bold as to do an episode in reverse.
Yes, here we would get to see things begin with the final scene of Jerry setting up George with an old flame named Nina, then watch things fall apart from there as we travel back in time toward the beginning. And despite the whole thing, which was inspired by a Harold Pinter play of the same name, ending up working out great, it was actually considered a little too out there by some fans at the time. Many of them even complained about its unconventional structure and went as far as creating forward version edits that would later be posted online.
8. BoJack Horseman – “Fish Out of Water”
BoJack Horseman initially began as a typical adult animated comedy, not unlike shows such as Bob's Burgers or Archer. However, as season one drew to a close, it evolved into something much deeper—a poignant exploration of depression, with each character confronting their personal struggles as the series unfolded.
Naturally, BoJack, the lead character, was not exempt from this. His struggles came to a head in the remarkable season three episode 'Fish Out of Water,' where he attends an underwater film festival to promote his biopic about Secretariat. The episode unfolds like a silent film, with BoJack attempting but failing to apologize to the movie's former director, whom he had caused to be fired. The entire sequence plays out in the style of a Chaplin movie, ending with a memorable gag.
7. The Sopranos – 'The Test Dream'
You could easily argue that David Chase’s The Sopranos stands as one of the most revolutionary TV shows of all time, credited with shaping the modern era of prestige television. Throughout its six-season run, it regularly pushed boundaries with its audacious storylines and richly developed characters.
When it comes to experimenting with form, however, nothing compares to the season five episode 'The Test Dream,' which is largely structured as an extended dream sequence. Though the show had incorporated dreams before, this episode took it to an unprecedented level. For twenty minutes, viewers were taken on a Freudian journey deep into the mind of Tony Soprano, exploring his complex psyche. This sequence not only brought back numerous deceased characters but also forced Tony to confront the brutal reality that he would soon have to kill a member of his own family.
6. The Simpsons – 'Behind the Laughter'
Widely considered one of the greatest TV shows ever, The Simpsons has traditionally followed the sitcom formula, with a main plot and a secondary plot running parallel to each other for comedic effect. However, the show has never shied away from stepping outside that mold. A prime example of this is season 22's 'Behind the Laughter.'
This episode serves as a parody of VH1's Behind the Music series, giving fans an inside look at the struggles the show's characters faced during production and how these challenges affected their relationships. It was so brilliantly executed that when asked in a future interview what would make a fitting series finale, showrunner Al Jean pointed to this episode as one of the top contenders.
5. Community – 'Remedial Chaos Theory'
Community is another series known for pushing the boundaries, to the point where it could almost fill this entire list. There are numerous experimental episodes to choose from, like season one’s 'Modern Warfare' and season two’s 'Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas,' but it's season three’s 'Remedial Chaos Theory' that stands as the most creative and groundbreaking example of the show’s experimentation.
In a Yahtzee game shared by six friends, every dice roll creates a new set of possibilities. In one of the darker scenarios, Annie unintentionally shoots Piece in the leg, causing Britta to drop her joint, which ignites a fire in the apartment. This timeline, though grim, gained such popularity that it reappears in the main storyline in the season four finale, 'Advanced Introduction to Finality.'
4. The Haunting of Hill House – 'Two Storms'
Netflix has had its share of hits and misses with original programming. While Stranger Things and Daredevil were successes, there were duds like Space Force and the Cowboy Bebop remake. However, when Netflix strikes gold, it does so spectacularly. Few recent projects have resonated as much as their 2018 adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 'The Haunting of Hill House.'
The mini-series employed a more continuous storytelling format, unlike the episodic structure of many other series on this list. But the sixth episode, 'Two Storms,' stood out for its use of extended single takes. The episode switched between two timelines while maintaining one long, uninterrupted take, a technique reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s 'Rope.' This decision highlighted the strength of both the storytelling and the performances in a way that wouldn't have been as impactful otherwise.
3. Twin Peaks: The Return – 'Part Eight'
At last, we come to the pinnacle of experimental television, a show created by one of the most influential avant-garde filmmakers of all time, David Lynch.
Twin Peaks had always been a series unafraid to push the envelope during its initial 1990s run, with its iconic settings like the Red Room and unforgettable characters such as Killer Bob, which left audiences in awe. However, it was the 2017 return of the series, Twin Peaks: The Return, that truly allowed David Lynch to unleash his full creative vision. In 'Part Eight,' he delivered one of the most thought-provoking and visually stunning hours of television ever to grace the small screen.
In this episode, there’s less of a conventional narrative and more of a surreal dreamlike experience. Through abstract visuals and a non-linear timeline, the show explores its deep mythology, perhaps revealing the origin of the central antagonist, Judy, and even offering a glimpse of the elusive White Lodge. As with much of Lynch’s abstract work, though, the interpretation remains open-ended. So, if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend revisiting it now—you won’t regret it.
2. ER – 'Ambush'
Filming a TV episode comes with its fair share of potential pitfalls, as takes can go wrong and reshoots are often necessary. But filming an episode live is even riskier. While ER wasn’t the first series to attempt this feat, it arguably executed it best during their season four episode, 'Ambush.'
In this episode, we follow a documentary crew as they shadow the staff of a fictional Chicago hospital. This unique setup gave the episode a fresh filming style. But more notably, the episode was aired live, adding a layer of suspense as viewers watched to see if the entire production could go off without a hitch. And in the end, they succeeded.
1. Breaking Bad – 'Fly'
Vince Gilligan’s critically acclaimed series, Breaking Bad, has cemented its place as one of the finest TV shows of its time. The tale of a once-upstanding man’s descent into darkness, and the fallout he causes, gripped audiences from the very first moment. While most episodes of the series are widely adored, one remains polarizing to this day: the season three episode 'Fly.'
The episode stands out because it departs from the usual high-energy moral quandaries that dominate the series. Instead, it focuses on Walt and Jesse’s attempts to kill a persistent fly buzzing around their underground meth lab. While some viewers found this slow-paced plot jarring at the time, others appreciated its deeper significance. The episode played out like a two-man stage play, offering a chance to explore Walt’s internal conflict as he grapples with guilt over his role in the death of Jesse's girlfriend, Jane, while desperately trying to keep the incident a secret.
