#On the Particular Devastation of the ‘Chernobyl’ Premiere

#On the Particular Devastation of the ‘Chernobyl’ Premiere

“#On the Particular Devastation of the ‘Chernobyl’ Premiere” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry revisits the first episode (“1:23:45”) of HBO’s limited series Chernobyl. History is, more often than not, a horrorshow. Some…

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#Revisiting the Games of Thrones Pilot 10 Years Later

#Revisiting the Games of Thrones Pilot 10 Years Later

“#Revisiting the Games of Thrones Pilot 10 Years Later” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry looks back on the Game of Thrones pilot, “Winds of Winter,” for its tenth anniversary. You could call…

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#How ‘Orphan Black’ Hits the Ground Running with “Natural Selection”

#How ‘Orphan Black’ Hits the Ground Running with “Natural Selection”

“#How ‘Orphan Black’ Hits the Ground Running with “Natural Selection”” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry revisits the pilot episode (“Natural Selection”) of BBC America’s award-winning sci-fi series Orphan Black. You’re at a…

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#’Justified’ and the Battle of “Bloody Harlan”

#’Justified’ and the Battle of “Bloody Harlan”

“#’Justified’ and the Battle of “Bloody Harlan”” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry revisits the epic second season finale of Justified: “Bloody Harlan.” TV shows don’t get much cooler than Justified, and TV…

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#“Bad Blood” is ‘The X-Files’ Operating at Peak Silliness

#“Bad Blood” is ‘The X-Files’ Operating at Peak Silliness

“#“Bad Blood” is ‘The X-Files’ Operating at Peak Silliness” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a bi-weekly column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry revisits “Bad Blood,” a wonderfully ridiculous episode of The X-Files penned by Vince Gilligan. Throughout eleven seasons…

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#“Mud Bowl” is One of the Sweetest ‘Friday Night Lights’ Victories

#“Mud Bowl” is One of the Sweetest ‘Friday Night Lights’ Victories

“#“Mud Bowl” is One of the Sweetest ‘Friday Night Lights’ Victories” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a bi-weekly column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry looks at a highlight of Friday Night Lights’ near-perfect first season: “Mud Bowl.” When one…

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#Reliving the Toughest Episode of ‘The Sopranos’

#Reliving the Toughest Episode of ‘The Sopranos’

“#Reliving the Toughest Episode of ‘The Sopranos’” This essay is part of our series Episodes, a bi-weekly column in which senior contributor Valerie Ettenhofer digs into the singular chapters of television that make the medium great. This entry looks at one of The Sopranos’ darkest chapters, “Employee of the Month.” For six seasons, David Chase’s The Sopranos…

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