TV shows have produced unforgettable moments for years, but only a handful of episodes have achieved such high acclaim from audiences. Whether it’s due to devastating deaths, shocking twists, or emotionally charged moments, the storytelling in within the highest rated TV episodes of all time is what changes the game. Audience reception is part of what makes a great show turn into an enduring one, and user ratings have become a currency for TV in the internet age. Ranking TV isn’t an exact science, but viewers getting the chance to share their thoughts is great for others seeking them out.
While ranking TV episodes is always a subjective game, there are some that always fair better than others when weighing the best of the best. Despite there being niche genres that don’t reach all audiences, there are some TV episodes that find themselves crossing over from a specific audience to the mainstream, making them all the more elite. Viewers may not be interested in consuming an entire series based on a single episode, but watching something that resonates with the show’s viewership could be a great gateway in, or resonate regardless. The universal language of TV is exciting to learn.
From legendary finales of long-running franchises to game-changing turning points in unexpected series, these are the 20 highest-rated TV episodes in history according to the viewers who’ve shaped their fandoms.
20
Burnt-out Life
Tomorrow’s Joe Season 1, Episode 51
A classic anime series that’s since seen a remake on Crunchyroll, Tomorrow’s Joe (or Ashita no Joe) tells the story of Joe Yabuki, a troubled drifter who rises through Japan’s boxing ranks after being discovered by a former trainer, Danpei Tange. In the final episode of the series, after Joe’s been through some harrowing fights and an intense stretch of matches, Joe faces a world champion. The conclusion of the match brings the long-running narrative to a close in an emotional, impactful way, driving home tragic undertones when Joe’s original rival, Rikishi, collapses after intense weight-cutting, delivering a heartbreaking end.
19
Victory and Death
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 12
The series finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated series that takes place between Episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars film saga, is easily one of the best TV episodes of all-time. The episode follows as Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex attempt to survive aboard a Republic cruiser that’s full of clone troopers who are now compelled to hunt them, specifically. Their struggle is all the more pertinent as the Republic transforms into the Galactic Empire, setting the stage for Episode 3. The episode serves as a phenomenal bridge between the films and features cinematic visuals.
18
407 Proxy Authentication Required
Mr. Robot Season 4, Episode 7
A pre-cursor to the end of the series, Mr. Robot’s season 4 episode “407 Proxy Authentication Required” is one of the show’s best as well as one of the best of all time. A bottle episode that sees Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) and his therapist Krista Gordon (Gloria Reuben) trapped in a tense confrontation with Vera (Elliot Villar), the truths that emerge about Elliot throughout the hour fundamentally change the audience’s understanding of the story. With massive acclaim, Mr. Robot’s game-changing work is an emotional, intense, character-focused episode that helped make the show one of the most celebrated of all-time.
- Release Date
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2015 – 2019
- Network
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USA Network
- Showrunner
-
Sam Esmail
-
-
Christian Slater
Mr. Robot
17
A Regular Epic Final Battle
Regular Show Season 8, Episode 27
As the season finale of Regular Show, which follows the surreal adventures of Mordecai and Rigby, season 8’s “A Regular Epic Final Battle” is one of the most interesting, well-crafted episodes of the series as a whole. While the episode serves as a culmination of a season-long story, bringing the characters together to fight back against Anti-Pops, it also represents what Regular Show is at its core. Balancing absurdist humor and emotional stakes, the episode provided a heartfelt conclusion to eight seasons of storytelling that allowed audiences to feel like they took something tangible away from the show’s run.
- Release Date
-
2010 – 2017-00-00
- Network
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Cartoon Network
- Directors
-
John Infantino, J.G. Quintel, Calvin Wong, Sean Szeles
-
J. G. Quintel
Rigby (voice)
-
William Salyers
Mordecai / Hi Five Ghost (voice)
16
Dream: To See It to the End
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 4, Episode 24
As a space opera, viewers expected nothing less than an iconic finish for a show like Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and found it with season 4’s finale, which also served as the epic conclusion of the show itself. As the final stages of the conflict that has defined the entire series unfold, viewers get to see the political and military consequences that come from decades of war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. Providing a thoughtful end that felt mature in nature, the episode explores from a wider scope than expected, focusing on far more than action.
- Release Date
-
1988 – 1997
- Directors
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Noboru Ishiguro, Masatoshi Tahara, Keizo Shimizu
- Writers
-
Shimao Kawanaka
-
-
Ryo Horikawa
Reinhard von Lohengramm
-
Kazuhiko Inoue
Dusty Attenborough
-
Yoshiko Sakakibara
Frederica Greenhill
15
The Winds of Winter
Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 10
Although there are several Game of Thrones entries on this list, the epic’s season 6 episode, “The Winds of Winter” is one of the best. Serving as the finale of the sixth season, the episode resolves several major storylines, including Cersei Lannister’s (Lena Headey) political struggles, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harrington) status in the North, and the imminent invasion of Westeros from Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). With an ambitious scope and major character developments, the episode is praised for just how much it’s able to accomplish with storylines that had been running slowly for the past several years on screen.
- Release Date
-
2011 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
-
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
-
David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
14
Battle of the Bastards
Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 9
Another Game of Thrones hit, the episode prior to “The Winds of Winter” saw the setup for the iconic finale. Game of Thrones season 6 episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards”, saw a battle between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) for control of Winterfell, and it delivered in a massive way. Unlike the finale that came after, “Battle of the Bastards” was a technical dream, with large-scale combat sequences that viewers were enamored with. The intense medieval warfare was impressive, and the emotional investment in the Snow vs. Bolton rivalry made for an iconic battle throughout the episode.
13
Who Are You?
Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World Season 4, Episode 8
Continuing Subaru Natsuki’s ongoing struggles, Re:Zero’s season 4 episode “Who Are You?” is one of the show’s finest. As tensions rise and confrontations unfold, Subaru faces questions surrounding his identity and the consequences of his actions. Advancing major storylines toward their ultimate conclusion later in the season, the episode does some massive character work and is often praised for the strong performances from the voice actors, who create a major sense of impact. Combining suspense and psychological drama, the episode is able to meaningfully progress the overall storyline and the character’s narrative forward without doing all of the heavy lifting.
- Release Date
-
April 4, 2016
- Directors
-
Masaharu Watanabe
- Writers
-
Tappei Nagatsuki
- Franchise(s)
-
Re:Zero
Cast
12
Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World
Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World Season 4, Episode 11
Although the finale of Re:Zero, which is self-titled, helped to bring together the loose ends of the season, the reason it resonated with viewers had more to do with the over-arching themes it finally brings to a satisfying conclusion. Subaru’s determination is tested throughout the episode as he confronts major challenges, but he takes the lessons he’s learned throughout the series and makes it clear that he’s transformed into someone capable of handling the challenges that come his way. With visuals that help create an intense emotional payoff, Re:Zero’s finale is gorgeous on a variety of levels.
11
Don’t Do Anything Rash
Invincible Season 4, Episode 7
Invincible, which began in 2021 on Prime Video, has been escalating since its debut, and the show’s fourth season was a masterclass in upping the ante. The seventh episode of the fourth season, “Don’t Do Anything Rash”, saw Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) dealing with the culmination of several of the show’s ongoing stories, both with his responsibilities as a hero being tested and his personal relationships getting more intense. With a ton of praise from viewers for the pacing, Invincible’s climactic episode combined superhero spectacle with morally complicated storytelling in the best way possible.
- Release Date
-
March 26, 2021
- Network
-
Amazon Prime Video
