The Countdown Nears the Finish Line

The finish line is in sight this week as we wind down our 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. LillyKat and I ended up with 36 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. The shows and their episodes are from both NETWORK and CABLE television. All episodes aired between June 2007 and June 2008. Each episode that made the final list moved us in some way; either by making us laugh out loud, cry our eyes out or just left us 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, we 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 closer look at numbers 6-4.

6: "The Santa in the Slush" - Bones
Traditionally, holiday-themed episodes are more jeer than cheer, but this hilarious Christmas outing was so good it's one of my all-time favorite episodes of Bones. Everything from the escalating Santa similarities to Bones and Booth's bantering to the rent-a-Santa who needed a hearing aid and the always hilarious counseling sessions with Sweets had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. Of course, the biggest moment lands squarely on the shoulders of THAT kiss. It was part mistletoe, part black mail and a whole lotta chewing gum, but it was still quite spectacular! LOVED the awkwardness between them and the way the prosecutor rubbed in the idea that they both went a little above and beyond those "steamboats." But, the most romantic and touching moment came at the very end when Booth gave Bones and her family their own Christmas tree. It's the little things that set this show apart and this episode was chock full of them and holiday cheer. Written by Elizabeth Benjamin and Scott Williams and directed by Jeff Woolnough.

5: "The Road" - Cold Case
This stellar hour of a PTR fave was so good, it made both of our lists. So, we decided to each write a few words about what made it so great and one of this season's Top 5.

LillyKat Says: Three seasons removed from Lilly Rush's epic confrontation with her serial killer nemesis, George Marks, Cold Case delivered a fifth season episode in "The Road" that I count as a worthy successor. But more than that, writer/co-executive producer Jennifer Johnson went back to what this show was originally always supposed to be about – Lilly’s life as seen through the eyes of the long forgotten victims for which she seeks justice. Remember the whole people shouldn’t be forgotten thing? Remember the front row seat to people’s lives thing? Remember the dealing with her own stuff in the face of bringing closure to everyone else? For me, this ep held all three of those key elements. I've lamented the fact here (and elsewhere) that the character of Lilly Rush has become that dreaded shell of herself in these last few seasons - a zombie, a mess, way too depressed. Call it a shift in priorities, one too many extra storylines, one too many extra characters, but it had been far too long since we had seen Lilly like this. And it was just so entertaining to see her "back." Her voice was back. Her aura was back. Her strength was back. Her chutzpah was back. She was strong and unsettled. Determined and unsure. At the point of cracking but held it together. She even seemed more mature. But nowhere in the process was she some sort of ridiculous mess. She was still herself, and there was plenty of original Lilly Rush on display - and that always makes for a fantastic episode in my book.

TVFan Says: When a formulaic procedural like Cold Case takes a step outside of the usual routine, it almost always leads to an excellent outing. So, this post-strike episode had everything going for it and easily became my favorite of the season. What happens when a football team begins to lose what made them champions? They go back to the basics, and that's exactly what CC did with this emotional story. The episode put Lilly back in the driver's seat (literally), gave us one hell of a psychological whodunit (what this series does best), had us on the edge of our seats, and threw in a bit of personal growth and revelation just to spice things up. It also managed to do something that most shows cannot -- it had me on the verge of tears more than once. I still can't get the image of the little girl watching a home video of her murdered mother out of my head. It was heart-wrenching, moving, and real just like any good episode of Cold Case. Written by Jennifer Johnson and directed by Holly Dale.

4: "Pilot" - Damages
Extraordinary. Thrilling. Captivating. Engaging. Addicting. Clever. Unpredictable. Amazing. First rate. Before Damages even premiered, early reviews poured in with any one of aforementioned descriptors. Once I saw the pilot, I preferred to use just one: brilliant. With Glenn Close starring as Patty Hewes, known as the “nation’s most revered and reviled high stakes litigator" and of whom is currently in the middle of a class action lawsuit targeting one of the country’s most wealthy and allegedly corrupt CEO’s, it didn't take long to be gripped by both performer and show. And nothing about this show was been there, done that. Patty Hewes was made for Glenn Close. And vice versa. Beautifully subtle, unwaveringly powerful, wickedly smart and unbelievably manipulative: Patty Hewes gets what she wants, when she wants it, no matter what the cost. And yet, she’s also a wife and a mother – more confident in the former than the latter as she struggles to figure out her rebellious teenage son. She is cleverly balanced between the obsessive nature of her work, and the responsibilities of her home. Close was flawless in bringing this sophisticatedly layered character to life. The supporting cast - the likes of Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan and Zeljko Ivanek - were equally as compelling. And the show’s flashback storytelling kept you guessing almost by the minute. It was impossible not to be gripped by what appears to be Rose Byrne's Ellen – bloodied, beaten, sitting in a police precinct exam room, being asked why she killed her fiancé while viewing flashes of her ransacked apartment, then cutting to six months prior, when she was the new up and comer alongside Patty, delving deep into the Arthur Frobisher case, trying to find the links between sister-in-law and smarmy CEO. From the get-go, it was an addicting slow burn. Written by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman. Directed by Allen Coulter. - LillyKat / PTR Senior Staff Writer


So, there's a look at the next set of episodes on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave us a comment with your thoughts. And be sure to tune in next Thursday when we finally reveal our #1 Best Episode of the Season!!