Best of 2014, TV Episodes

It's the end of the year, so it's time to look back at the best of 2014. In these posts I will share my top ten lists from the movies and TV shows I've seen. Here's the 10 best episodes I saw in 2014 in ascending order.

Best Episodes of the Year:
10. Two Boats and a Helicopter, "The Leftovers," HBO
"The Leftovers" was a heralded new HBO show that didn't totally work. I didn't love the show, but I remained intrigued because of episodes like this, which was the third of the show's first season. It centered on Rev. Matt (Christopher Eccleston) and his doomed effort to save his church. It was a fascinating musing on grief, loss, and faith.

9. How Your Mother Me Me, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS
The sitcom wrapped up in the Spring with a much derided finale. But along the way in its final season the show had some great moments. This episode — told mostly from the Mother's point-of-view — was a reminder of why I liked the show in the first place. If only it had been the finale.

8. Danny and Mindy, "The Mindy Project," FOX
The finale of the second season plays out beautifully. The final eight episodes built to a crescendo, and this episode hit the right notes.

7. Fight, "Masters of Sex," Showtime
The second season of "Masters of Sex" wasn't as good as the first. It was uneven and sometimes the meandering of the plot didn't make a lot of sense. But it was still grounded in some great performances. No episode better encapsulated that then "Fight," which featured Masters (Michael Sheen) and Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) in a hotel room together, talking about boxing but really sharing about themselves. It was an opening up of the characters, particularly Masters, that hadn't been seen before in the series. It was a moving hour.

6. The Watchers on the Wall, "Game of Thrones," HBO
This episode featured a battle between the Wildling Army and the Night's Watch. It was epic in scope and feel, and it was a reminder that some of these efforts on the small screen can be as great as any epic film.

5. The Sign of Three, "Sherlock," BBC America
This episode was ostensibly about John Watson's wedding. But it was really about so much more, and it was played and executed perfectly by its exceptional cast.

4. The Secret Fate of All Life, "True Detective," HBO
There were a lot of memorable moments on this show, but it was the fifth episode where the series really hit its stride. There was a shoot out, and suddenly it became clear why these detectives were being asked about the case years later.

3. The Grove, "The Walking Dead," AMC
This was a haunting episode that was beautifully told. This episode gave Melissa McBride, an unheralded part of the cast, a real chance to shine. It's references to "Of Mice and Men" made it all the more chilling.

2. There's Something Else Going On, "Homeland," Showtime
"Homeland's" fourth season was up-and-down, but it was this episode — the show's ninth of the season — that really ramped up the tension and action. The entire episode was beautifully crafted, including some great performances. But when that RPG hits the car, it's game on.

1. The Mountain and the Viper, "Game of Thrones," HBO
There were a lot of unbelievable moments on "Game of Thrones" this year, but nothing beat Tyrion's trial by combat. This was an epic episode with an unbelievable ending. No episode was as engrossing or shocking in 2014.