Contains spoilers for all the shows mentioned.Sci-fihas given us some of the best TV shows of all time. Frombingeworthy sci-fi seriesthat proceed at an electric place tolong-running showsthat maintain their quality from start to finish, the storied genre has something for every brand of fan out there, whether the show takes the form of a timeless classic or an exciting new kid on the block.
The genre has always influenced wider popular culture in a way that cannot be taken for granted, andthe best single sci-fi television episodes that have ever airedare part of the reason. With remarkable levels of quality, memorability, and lasting impact, many of these episodes are also widely regarded as some of the most impressive pieces of television ever brought to life onscreen regardless of their parent genre.
10The Rescue
The Mandalorian
WhileThe Mandalorianmay have started to run out of steam with its third and most recent season, the show is still loaded with stellar entries that prompted many fans to label the Pedro Pascal-led space Western as one of the bestStar Warstelevision shows.The Mandalorian’s best episodeis unequivocally the second season finale, “The Rescue,“depicting Mando’s attempts to free Grogufrom the clutches of Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon.
From the episode’s stunning action sequences to the triumphant arrival of a digitally de-aged Luke Skywalker to save the day at the last minute, The Rescue channels all the tried and tested elements that have historically produced the bestStar Warsfilms and television shows with knockout results. The most emotionally loaded episode of the show to date, the tear-jerking scene depictingPascal’s charge removing his helmet to bid Grogu farewell serves as the cherry on the cakefor one of sci-fi’s finest episodes.
9The Inner Light
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Universally regarded as one of thegreatest episodes in the entireStar Trekfranchise,Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Inner Light"has been receiving glowing reviews from fans and critics alike since debuting in 1992.
The penultimate episode of the show’s fifth season,The Inner Lightfollows Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard after he is knocked unconscious by a mysterious alien probe, causing him to inexplicably experience a lifetime worth of another man’s memories in just under half an hour.
Clocking in with an exemplary score of 9.4,The Inner Lightis the highest-rated episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generationon IMDb.
The personal favorite episode ofStar Trekicon Stewart, “The Inner Light” weighty themes and hauntingly poignant endinghave been inviting deep philosophical and existential introspection for more than three decades.A timeless classic that sees the iconic franchise at its very best, the episode has aged like a fine wine to stake its claim as one of the greatest segments of sci-fi television ever conceived.
8One Way Out
Andor
Arguably thebestStar Warstelevision showof all time, critics' darlingAndorserves as an origin story for the titular character, Diego Luna’s Cassion Andor. Contentiously the darkest and most mature take on the franchise’s traditionally lighthearted subject matter to date, the first season received rave reviews from critics, withthe show’s tenth episode, “One Way Out,” singled out for particularly effusive praise.
Touted as one of the best episodes of the year irrespective of genre, “One Way Out” chronicles a daring escape from the Narkina 5 Prison Complex. Leveraging an Emmy-worthy performance from Andy Serkis that seesThe Lord of the Rings’standout deliver one of the most epic sci-fi speeches in the history of popular culture, the episode’sthrilling rebellion scenes and emotional heftmake for invariably magnificent television.
Boastinga perfect 100% approval ratingonRotten Tomatoes, “One Way Out” is perhaps the single greatest factor in legitimizingAndoras a standoutStar Warsoffering.
7The We We Are
Severance
Drawing the absolute best out of an inspired premise and the considerable talents of an ensemble cast,Severancehas proved to be one of the most engrossing and ambitious shows that current television has to offer. Depicting a dystopian reality where employees undergo"severance"to have two entirely separate personalities, one for work and one for their social life, the show’s first two seasons have received effusive praise.
97%
Season 2 (2025)
98%
Many highlighted the first season finale, “The We We Are,” as the current gold standard. Featuring a riveting narrative to complement the show’s usual wicked humor and first-rate performances,“The We We Are” chronicles one of the series' most important developmentsasDylan activates the overtime contingency protocol.
RubberstampingSeverance’scredentials as one of television’s best new shows,the explosive crossover between the"Innies"and the"Outies"that ensues makes for blockbuster viewing of the highest order, a state of affairs that is aided by one of the genre’s more memorable cliffhangers.
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Battlestar Galactica
Introducing one of sci-fi’s most beloved television shows with a bang,Battlestar Galactica’spilot episode, “33,” set the bar for what would go on to become one of the genre’s most acclaimed outings. Touted as a reimagining of the cheesy 1978 original show of the same name, the sci-fi drama picked up where its introductory 2003 miniseries had left off, wasting no time in establishing a considerably more grounded air to proceedings that would persist for the remainder of the show’s run.
Thrusting theGalacticaand a host of refugee spaceships into a visceral fight for survival straight off the bat, the show’s lauded first entry sees the convoy ruthlessly attacked by Cyclons without fail every 33 minutes, with the unrelenting attacks leaving the sleep-deprived defenders in a delirious state of exhaustion. A white-knuckle, subversive thrill ride of the highest order, “33” remains one of the mostimpressive pilot episodes of all time.
5The Bicameral Mind
Westworld
While the dystopian dramaWestworldmay have ultimately proved to be one of sci-fi’s most frustrating"what if?“stories, the show’s debut still stands as one of the most impressive single seasons of television in recent memory. The show’s crowning achievement took the form ofWestworld’sfirst season finale, “The Bicameral Mind,“a magnificent hour-and-a-half segment of televisionthat stands as the series' best episode by a considerable distance.
Loaded withjaw-dropping reveals and mind-bending twists,The Bicameral Mindtied up the first season’s array of complex narrative threads in a seamless fashion. Featuring knockout performances from Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, and Ed Harris, “The Bicameral Mind” delivers answers to an array ofWestworld’smost pressing questions in such a satisfying manner that there’s a notably cathartic air to proceedings, despite the episode ending with an electrifying cliffhanger for the ages.
4San Junipero
Black Mirror
An indispensable entry in the annals of sci-fi history, the lauded anthology seriesBlack Mirrorhas produced a selection of seminal television episodes since debuting in 2011. USS Callister, Hang the DJ, and The Entire History of You are just a few of the hit show’s most revered offerings, butBlack Mirror’ssingle best episodeto date has undoubtedly proved to be Season 3’s evocative fourth entry, “San Junipero.”
Chroniclinga stirring romance set against the backdrop of the titular simulated reality, a space designed for the elderly and the deceased, “San Junipero”’s uplifting conclusion is a heartwarming testament to the fact that the notoriously nihilisticBlack Mirror’sbest episodes aren’t always the ones that end in doom and gloom. Inviting deep personal introspection through its evocative subject matter and committed performances,Black Mirror’sfirst same-sex love story rarely fails to tug on the heartstrings.
3Long, Long Time
The Last Of Us
It’s a supremely ironic state of affairs that the finest episode of HBO’s triumphant take on Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Usdoesn’t actually feature the main characters as its central focus. Expanding on the origin story of a minor character from the video games instead, the third episode of the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama isa stirring tale of finding one’s soulmate in the unlikeliest of places,chronicling the tender relationship that unfolds between Nick Offerman’s Bill and Murray Bartlett’s Frank.
While the video game relegated the pair to the minor roles of a nutty doomsday prepper and a dangling corpse respectively, HBO’s decision to turn this minor story thread into one of the most evocative tales of love and connection in modern television history proved to be nothing short of inspired. Universally acclaimed by critics asThe Last of Usseason 1’s best episode, “Long, Long Time” saw its leading duo receive Emmy nominations and has been touted as one of the best television episodes in recent memory.
2The Massacre At Hawkins Lab
Stranger Things
Turning in the most impressive installment of Netflix’s flagship title to date, the fourth season of the sci-fi horror smash hitStranger Thingswas notable for featuring several of the acclaimed show’s greatest episodes. However, while installments likeDear Billywere lauded by many asnear-perfect segments of television,Stranger Things’finest example came withthe revelations-loaded midseason finale, “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab.”
“The Massacre at Hawkins Lab” is the highest-rated episode ofStranger Thingson IMDb, boasting a rating of 9.6.
Producing an explosive cliffhanger to endVolume 1, the episode saw Joyce and Hopper reunited for the first time following his apparent death in the previous season. However, this development would prove to only be the entrée;the mind-blowing reveals of Vecna’s true identityand Eleven’s experiences at the lab provided answers to questions that many fans had been waiting on for years.
Serving as an enthralling hook of the highest order, this episode is arguably the Duffer Brothers' finest entry to date, expertly stoking the fires of fan base anticipation for the premiere ofVolume 2.
1The Constant
Lost
Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest television shows of all time, it stands to reason thatLost’sbest episodewould stand as one of the best single sci-fi television episodes that has ever aired.A mind-bending, time-traveling love story for the ages, Season 4’s “The Constant” was universally lauded by fans and critics alike, with many going as far as to label it as one of the most flawless pieces of television ever conceived.
10 Mind-Bending Sci-Fi TV Shows That Are Uniquely Complex
These mind-bending sci-fi shows took audiences on a journey into the complexities of consciousness, existentialism, and the dark impact of technology.
Following Desmond’s desperate attempts to anchor himself to the present by finding his"constant,“the episode’saward-worthy performances, masterful cinematography, and rousing conclusioncomplement a meticulously designed central narrative thread to produce a faultless viewing experience.
Throw in one of the iconic series' most heartwarming moments in the form of Desmond and Penny’s spine-tingling reunion over the phone, and few contenders can rival this seminalsci-fitelevision episode.
