The Countdown Continues

Last week, we took a look at the first episodes to make the summer-long countdown of The Best Episodes of the Season. Before we get to this week's entries, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this is a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in every Thursday to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 27-25.

27: "Postgame Mortem" - Veronica Mars
Most episodes of this series are classics, so it's always difficult to choose which ones will make the list each year. This one made it for its classic "Veronica-ness," but what really set it apart was the Logan story line. Depressed after losing Veronica, Logan begins a downward spiral on the fast lane to Depressionville. He refuses to leave his hotel room, so Dick seizes the opportunity and leaves his new girlfriend's little sister in his depressed friend's care while he and the girl run off to Vegas. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it turns out to be exactly what Logan needs. Both he and the little girl have loved and lost, but this little girl has endured losing her father, so Logan realizes he will survive losing Veronica as well. This episode also gets props for a hilarious awkward elevator scene involving Logan, the little girl and Veronica. Written by Joe Voci and directed by John T. Kretchmer. (Photo courtesy vm-caps.com)

26: "Fireflies" - Cold Case
I'm always a little biased when it comes to the racial issues episodes of this fantastic crime drama. They just do them so well. But, bias aside, this one was an exceptional look at the racial tensions that spread much further north than the Mason-Dixon line. Two little girls who were more interested in fireflies, being BFFs, and getting together after school than the difference in their skin color find themselves caught up in a firestorm of anger and hate over the infamous "white flight" - the belief that black families brought down property values, so white families should sell and move further out while they still could. What happens when you mix racial tensions, anger, and hate? In this case - murder, and it took the form of the young white girl caught in the middle of the storm. But, this episode came with a twist. Turns out, she wasn't dead after all, but had no memory of her ordeal all those years ago (thanks to a gunshot wound to the head, which induced amnesia). A surprising development that only enhanced this socially aware outing. Written by Erica Shelton and directed by Marcos Siega.

25: "Mother's Little Helper" - Medium
There are times when I wish that an entire episode of this thriller was simply one of Allison's prophetic dreams. This happens when the writers transcend the television screen by making the guest characters real and extremely likable. Such was the case for Patty and Claire Chase - a mother/daughter team who owned a local dress shop. We know from the beginning that they both end up murdered, so the only question is, who is the killer? Both Allison and Ariel dream about the violent deaths, but the dreams seem to contradict each other. That's because Ariel is getting hers from Claire while Allison gets hers from Patty. In the end, it doesn't matter who killed them. The tragedy is their death, and no killer reveal can compensate for the loss of these two lives. Sometimes a crime drama transcends its formula and brings us guest characters we truly care about, causing the episode to leave a mark. This one stuck with me for a while. Written by Moira Kirland and directed by Vincent Misiano. (Photo courtesy nbc.com)

So, there's a look at episodes 27-25 on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. PTR will be on vacation next week (although, PTR staff writer LillyKat will be writing about The Closer as usual), so look for the Best Episodes countdown to return in 2 weeks with #24-22 on the list.

DON'T FORGET!!! Vote for your favorite Scrubs quote of the season in PTR's Best of the Scrubies Poll! Results will be revealed a week from Wednesday!!