Best TV Episodes of 2013
The 50 greatest individual television episodes of 2013, in order.
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- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt goes on the run. Jesse is taken hostage. Marie forces Skyler to tell Walter, Jr. the truth.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsEmilia ClarkeKit HaringtonRichard MaddenRobb and Catelyn arrive at the Twins for the wedding. Jon is put to the test to see where his loyalties truly lie. Bran's group decides to split up. Daenerys plans an invasion of Yunkai.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalter White returns to Albuquerque one last time to secure his family's future and settle old scores.
- DirectorJ.H. WymanStarsAnna TorvJoshua JacksonJasika NicoleAs the Observers close in, Walter and September desperately work to complete the plan, but one obstacle after another hinders their progress.
- DirectorKen WhittinghamStarsTina FeyTracy MorganJane KrakowskiJack launches a plot to take over as Kabletown CEO with the help of Devon Banks, Liz gets more bad news from the adoption agency, and the lead actress in Tracy's Harriet Tubman biopic turns out to be the female version of Tracy himself.
- DirectorAlex GravesStarsPeter DinklageNikolaj Coster-WaldauLena HeadeyJaime mopes over his lost hand. Cersei is growing uncomfortable with the Tyrells. The Night's Watch is growing impatient with Craster. Daenerys buys the Unsullied.
- DirectorMatthew WeinerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserWith his personal and professional life crumbling around him, Don positions himself for a change of scenery. Meanwhile, Pete's life is falling apart as well, thanks to the meddling of Bob Benson.
- DirectorAnthony HemingwayStarsJeff DanielsEmily MortimerJohn Gallagher Jr.In the aftermath of ACN's Operation Genoa report, the staff who put it together face some serious blowback, not just when the government responds but also when the sources' credibility comes into question.
- DirectorMitchell HurwitzTroy MillerStarsJason BatemanPortia de RossiWill ArnettGob accepts a job from his brother, but is distracted by a scheme of his own.
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsHugh DancyMads MikkelsenCaroline DhavernasFollowing his strange trip to Minnesota, Graham is taken into custody by Crawford for the probable murder of Abigail Hobbs. They find her severed ear in his kitchen sink and her blood under his fingernails. Alana is left devastated by the arrest and is determined to find the cause of Graham's dementia, despite Crawford's insistence that there is no underlying cause. She has him draw a clock when he tells her that Dr. Lecter had him perform a similar test, and the results solidify her belief that there is a physical explanation for Graham's instability.
- DirectorMichael SlovisStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt makes his next move against Hank, putting Hank in a tough position. Hank confronts Jesse and attempts to turn him against Walt, and Jesse decides it's time to move on. Meanwhile, Todd has taken over the business.
- DirectorPaul HolahanStarsAnna TorvJoshua JacksonJasika NicoleYoung Observer's origin is revealed. And his existence and an additional time travel are necessary to change the history of Observers' invasion.
- DirectorJeremy WebbStarsHugh BonnevilleJessica Brown FindlayLaura CarmichaelThe Crawleys excitedly await as the new addition to the family is soon to come. Meanwhile, Anna attempts to uncover evidence for Bates's innocence. But then, when tragedy strikes, will things ever be the same again?
- DirectorJ. Miller TobinStarsMadeleine StoweEmily VanCampGabriel MannA heartbreaking death forces Emily to evaluate her quest for revenge.
- DirectorDaniel SackheimStarsKeri RussellMatthew RhysMaximiliano HernándezA mole hunt within the KGB causes suspicion amongst allies and shatters trust within the Jennings' marriage. Meanwhile, Stan's plan to keep his mole safe puts her at even greater risk of discovery.
- DirectorJohn SlatteryStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserCutler and Chaough prepare to make radical changes to the firm while Sterling and Draper are visiting a client in Los Angeles. Joan's decision to go after a new account on her own leaves Pete furious and frustrated.
- DirectorBeth McCarthy-MillerStarsTina FeyTracy MorganJane KrakowskiLiz is dealing with being a stay-at-home mom while Jack tries to find true happiness. Kenneth and Tracy are both adjusting to Kenneth's new position as President of NBC.
- DirectorTucker GatesStarsVera FarmigaFreddie HighmoreMax ThieriotSix months after the death of her husband, Norma Bates and her youngest son Norman relocate to White Pine Bay, Oregon where she has bought a small motel in a foreclosure sale. The place is run down but she hopes to make a go of it despite threats from the former owner Keith Summers and news that the town may build a bypass around the town. Norman makes a good impression on some of the girls at school. His mother isn't keen on him being out much but when he sneaks out at night to be with them, Summers attacks his mother. There are things going on in the town that they're not yet aware of however.
- DirectorBryan CranstonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt is out of the meth business and trying to move on with his life. Jesse tries to get rid of his money. Hank now knows that Walt is the famous Heisenberg.
- DirectorMitchell HurwitzTroy MillerStarsJason BatemanPortia de RossiWill ArnettGob finds a new group of friends after his relationship falls apart and his family abandons him.
- DirectorLodge KerriganStarsMireille EnosJoel KinnamanElias KoteasWith his secrets unveiled, Pastor Mike takes Linden prisoner and they drive around the city. Linden manages to keep her radio on and the police are able to locate them. Linden believes him when he says he's not the serial killer and forensic analysis of his car seems to suggest he is innocent. Bullet is frantic over the missing Lyric, convinced that Pastor Mike has taken her. She tells Holder Mike has taken her to the woods where they found the killing field. The police diverted resources to look for her and it's apparent Bullet lied when they find Lyric out hustling on the street. For Bullet, Lyric's reaction to what she's done for her isn't quite what she was expecting. She talks to Angie Gower. At the prison, Seward pleads with his lawyer to do something, anything, based on Linden's belief that he is not guilty of killing his wife. The lawyer says nothing can be done.
- DirectorDaniel MinahanStarsClaire DanesDamian LewisRupert FriendBrody's loyalty to the mission wavers when he meets a ghost from his past. As Lockhart's confirmation looms, Saul stares into the precipice between success and failure.
- DirectorDavid EvansStarsHugh BonnevilleLaura CarmichaelJim CarterChange arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots are hatched.
- DirectorJennifer GetzingerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserAs the firm prepares to go public, Don and Pete's actions cause them to lose two huge clients. However, Roger uses a new connection to put them in position to gain their biggest client ever.
- DirectorMichael MorrisStarsDebra MessingJack DavenportKatharine McPheeEileen has to decide if she will sell Nick down the river at the deposition into the illegal funding of "Bombshell". The fact that Nick has gone into hiding may make her decision easier. While the cast and crew wait in limbo as to Bombshell's fate, many, including Derek as director, Tom as musical director, and Karen and ultimately Ivy as chorus work on Veronica Moore's concert, which will be performed in 24 hours to a sold out house. Veronica wants this event to be her big break away from her sweet, ingénue image, or so she says. Despite the fact that a deal has been struck to air this concert on cable television, no one seems very happy due to competing priorities, namely those of Derek, Tom, Veronica, and Veronica's stage-mother mother, Cynthia Moore. Part of those problems may be solved by a new song for Veronica to perform that satisfies all the parties involved. Nothing in Tom and Julia's catalog fits the bill, so Karen thinks that Jimmy could write that song if there isn't one already in his and Kyle's collection. Jimmy and Kyle's pride could get in the way of this their big break. Meanwhile, Julia feels tricked once again by Peter, and she tries to find a way to get back at him, that is unless she sees that he may be right in his thinking.
- DirectorAlec BergStarsZooey DeschanelJake JohnsonMax GreenfieldEach of the friends tell their story about how they lost their virginity.
- DirectorCarl FranklinStarsKevin SpaceyRobin WrightKate MaraFollowing the collapse of Russo's campaign, Francis launches a risky ploy to join the Walker administration.
- 2013–201959mTV-MA8.4 (2.9K)TV EpisodeDirectorConstantine MakrisStarsTaylor SchillingLaura PreponMichael HarneyGrief looms over the prison as the inmates mourn a recent death. Dayanara, Nicky, and Red plot to end Mendez's career by tricking him into revealing his indiscretions. Larry gives a radio interview about Piper's experience in prison and his comments cause conflict with some of Piper's closest allies.
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsHugh DancyMads MikkelsenCaroline DhavernasThe head of the FBI Behavioral Science unit, Jack Crawford, calls on profiler Will Graham to assist them catch a serial killer. The killer has now kidnapped eight women, all similar in appearance and always on a Friday. His most recent victim is Elise Nichols. Graham has been teaching at the FBI academy and isn't too keen on going out into the field. He is particularly empathetic and has a tendency to get far too involved in these types of cases. Crawford arranges for a well-known psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter, to work with him and ease the stress. It seems Lecter has his own plans for Will.
- 2005– 21mTV-MA9.2 (4.3K)TV EpisodeDirectorRichie KeenStarsCharlie DayGlenn HowertonRob McElhenneyThe gang attempts to win the award for Philidelphia's Best Bar.
- DirectorStefan SchwartzStarsMadeleine StoweEmily VanCampGabriel MannThe Graysons put on a bold showing at their annual Labor Day party; the seas prove to be deadly as Amanda and Jack sail off to their honeymoon.
- DirectorAlfonso Gomez-RejonStarsZachary QuintoJoseph FiennesSarah PaulsonJohnny sets out to complete his father's work. Lana leads the charge to finally shut down Briarcliff.
- DirectorLena DunhamStarsLena DunhamAllison WilliamsJemima KirkeHannah gets unsolicited musical attention from heartbroken Adam and displeasing opinions on her writing from Sandy. Elijah questions his sexuality; Marnie makes a career compromise when her curatorial dreams are crushed; Jessa revels in married life; Shoshanna and Ray make magic; and Elijah and Marnie harbor a secret.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsMireille EnosJoel KinnamanElias KoteasKallie's mother Danette Lutz is still looking for her and returns home to find Joe Mills waiting for her. He beats her and is long gone by the time the police arrive. The police do get a break in the case when they learn Mills had a storage locker. Holder and Linden check it out and find that Mills has been living there. They practically wrap up the case when they find trophies belonging to several of the dead girls. They're not prepared for what they find in the trunk of his taxicab. Ray Seward's execution is fast approaching. Linden finally gets permission to interview Seward's son Adrian and he identifies the killer. It doesn't add up however. Twitch and Lyric find a new place to live.
- DirectorPhilip SgricciaStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsSam and Dean capture Crowley to finish the trials and close the gates of Hell. Castiel and Metatron continue the trials to close the gates of Heaven. Sam is left with a huge decision.
- DirectorDaniel MinahanStarsPeter DinklageNikolaj Coster-WaldauLena HeadeyBran and company meet Jojen and Meera Reed. Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie meet the Brotherhood. Jaime travels through the wilderness with Brienne. Sansa confesses her true feelings about Joffery to Margaery.
- DirectorDavid RogersStarsRainn WilsonJohn KrasinskiJenna FischerDwight prepares for a marriage proposal and hires an assistant for his assistant, Andy auditions for a singing program, Darryl tries to leave his job without a fuss, and Pam has second thoughts about Jim staying in Scranton.
- DirectorNick CopusStarsStephen AmellKatie CassidyColin DonnellAfter a major fire, Oliver decides it's time to eliminate real estate developer and slumlord John Nicol, another person on his father's list. He's beaten to the punch when another vigilante, The Savior, who kidnaps Nicol and ultimately executes him - broadcasting the whole thing over the Internet. The new vigilante is identified as a man whose wife was killed in a bodega robbery in the Glades district. When he kidnaps Thea's new boyfriend, Roy Harper, Oliver decides to stop him. Meanwhile, Laurel is upset to find that her father has come around to her mother's belief that her sister may still be alive. In a flashback to his days on the island, Oliver learns why Yao Fei refused to leave.
- DirectorMichael UppendahlStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserDon works in secret on a Heinz ketchup campaign while Megan gets a love scene on the set of her soap opera. Meanwhile, Harry makes his power play while Joan has more trouble with the secretaries.
- DirectorDavid EvansStarsHugh BonnevilleLaura CarmichaelJim CarterA vindictive Ms. O'Brien hatches a damaging plot. Edith makes a major decision. Matthew devises a major plan for changing things, and Tom's brother pays a visit.
- DirectorMitchell HurwitzTroy MillerStarsJason BatemanPortia de RossiWill ArnettGeorge-Michael, while trying to reconnect with his father, finds himself overwhelmed by the responsibility of running his business, Fakeblock.
- DirectorJane CampionStarsElisabeth MossDavid WenhamMirrah FoulkesRobin, who is becoming obsessed with missing-Tui's case, is forced to unearth her painful past. Meanwhile, there is an outburst of violence in Paradise and an incident of suppressed aggression that will bear unforeseen results.
- DirectorNicole KassellStarsMireille EnosJoel KinnamanElias KoteasIt's now 12 hours to Ray Seward's execution and Linden is still trying to get a stay of execution for him. Seward identifies his wife's ring from among the trophies found in Joe Mills' storage locker but it is insufficient to convince the Attorney General. Adrian is also at the prison having been promised the opportunity to see his father. He has information for Linden as well but Seward can't shed any light on who might have killed his wife.
- DirectorAdam ArkinStarsKeri RussellMatthew RhysMaximiliano HernándezWhen Philip and Elizabeth are given an urgent task to plant a bug in Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's office, they risk exposure when an unwilling maid of the Weinberger home refuses to cooperate.
- DirectorMichael TrimStarsTaylor SchillingLaura PreponMichael HarneyThe inmates must campaign amongst their races for a coveted spot as a prisoners' representative. Piper steers clear of the bizarre political process but might not have a choice but to get involved. Larry's editor wants him to write an article about Piper's incarceration.
- DirectorJohn DahlStarsHugh DancyMads MikkelsenCaroline DhavernasBeth LeBeau is found murdered, having drowned in her own blood as a result of her face being cut into a Glasgow smile. Graham's mental state continues to sharply decline; he loses hours at a time and when a vivid hallucination causes Graham to contaminate the crime scene, Lecter refers him to a neurologist, an old residency colleague, Dr. Sutcliffe.
- DirectorKen OlinStarsTom MisonNicole BeharieOrlando JonesAfter a rare day out, allowing Crane and Abbie to relax and bond more personally while contemplating democratization trough baseball, he is abducted while returning home. The sisters make out that a vision warning from Katrina about a 'sin eater' in order to stop the apocalyptic rider of death refers to a living person, Henry Parrish, but he retired as the work drains him completely. Crane meanwhile discusses his moral dilemma when ordered to execute an escaped slave and pamphleteer with his Free Mason abductors, who appeal to his courage again to stop Death by suicide.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsJon BernthalMilo VentimigliaNeal McDonoughHecky Nash bribes LAPD officer Joe Teague to protect him in a blackmail exchange with the LA mob.
- DirectorDavid BarrettStarsStephen AmellKatie CassidyColin DonnellOliver awakens to find himself Malcolm Merlyn's prisoner. He manages to escape and away with help from Digg. Malcolm accelerates his timetable as a result. Felicity is questioned by Det. Lance about her hacking activities but is interrupted by Oliver who tells him about Malcolm's plan to destroy the Glades. Tommy confronts Oliver about Laurel but refuses to believe that his father is up to no good. Malcolm comes clean about his plans and Tommy realizes that his father is insane. Moira goes public with what she knows, urging the residents of the Glades to evacuate. Roy and Thea get caught up in the mayhem. While Oliver and Digg go after Malcolm, Felicity tries to neutralize the device via Lance. Malcolm has planned it all very well, however. In a flashback to his time on the island, Fyers attempts to bring down an airliner.