What are your best television two parters?

Submitted by FEAR_LORD_DUCK t3_zy98qw in television

Two parters in television to make an hour long episode are usually meant as a special occurrence. When a regular 22 mins becomes 44 or if 44 minutes becomes 88, usually it means something more to chew on. Or, a big turning point in the story.

(SPOILERS FOR AVATAR (TV SHOW) AND GRAVITY FALLS) My personal two in no correct order are:

"Day of the black sun" from Avatar the last Airbender. Our heroes struggle to break through to the fire lord in a tense, engaging and devastating battle. When I first watched this, it honestly felt like it was going on forever (in a great way!) with all the payoffs that kept happening. You truly got to feel the loss on display.

"Not What He Seems"/"A Tale of Two Stans" from Gravity Falls. Not exactly an official two parter but these episodes go together hand in hand. Introduces the author as a main character's long lost sibling and changes the shows trajectory in a big way, while letting us in on backstory, plot/character development, mystery while setting up the sibling rift which would make itself apparent in "DaMvTF".

Might as well do the obligatory thing now, and turn the mic over to you reader. What are some of your favorite television two parter episodes?

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jnemesh t1_j24qe0x wrote

Best of Both Worlds - Star Trek: TNG

I don't think you can have a conversation like this without this included. When it aired, it left fans with their jaws on the floor for an entire season break before we got to find out what happened. Absolutely one of the best TV cliffhangers ever!

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Vironic t1_j28k4uf wrote

I get excited when I hear “last time on Star Trek The Next Generation” and “and now, the conclusion”

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Col_Irving_Lambert t1_j28sw21 wrote

I was instantly upon reading this going to post BoBw, but here it is already. And it's the top post. Excellent.

"Mr. Worf......Fire. du du dum duh duh dum Duuuh duuu dummmmmmmm.

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imalumberjackok t1_j24qkhn wrote

The "who shot Mr. Burns" episodes of "The Simpsons''

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leaves72 t1_j24r01u wrote

The correct answer is either Mac and Charlie die, pt 1&2, or the high school reunion episodes of Its Always Sunny.

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theblackfool t1_j24xmwk wrote

I was going to come here to say Mac and Charlie Die! So many good moments. Mac in the wedding dress never gets old.

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leaves72 t1_j24yj5s wrote

"Give me the popper, dude. I need that popper, bro!"

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mcbillings t1_j24mpuo wrote

In the Shadow of Two Gunmen - West Wing

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astrocanyounaut t1_j251shf wrote

I have rewatched that two parter like a thousand times. I love it so much.

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bakershalfdozen t1_j291hay wrote

Followed closely by 20 Hours in America.

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mcbillings t1_j29dx3m wrote

I had both in mind and had to pause to think about it lol

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bakershalfdozen t1_j2bkj4d wrote

I think you picked the right one because it’s such an impactful moment in the show and leads into one of the best seasons ever put on television but 20 hours is just damn good storytelling.

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Medoxor t1_j24l831 wrote

Surprise & Innocence from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. >!Angel becomes Angelus again.!< I remember this television event. The WB used this two parter as a way to transition its move from Monday to Tuesday when it aired. Part 1 aired Monday and part 2 aired the next night on Tuesday.

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theevilgiraffe t1_j24utqm wrote

Buffy has some great two partners, but this one will always be the best.

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kingcolbe t1_j24w7fm wrote

That last shot in Surprise is still one of the best twists in tv history….”I’m just fine.”

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McCabbe t1_j258v0z wrote

Lost, Through The Looking Glass I & II

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Varekai79 t1_j24ial4 wrote

"Favor the Bold" and "Sacrifice of Angels" from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

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DragonTonguePunch t1_j253m22 wrote

The Family Ties episode "A, My Name is Alex". The second half is almost a one-man show with Michael J. Fox acting his ass off.

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gumby1004 t1_j27ztnx wrote

Love that show, but those two alone are studies in acting. Watching them now on PlutoTV...thanks for inspiring me!

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Dida_D t1_j24yj1c wrote

I know it's a mess now but "It's the End of the World / As We Know It" from Grey's Anatomy is iconic television

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grumpkin17 t1_j27d34t wrote

I would agree. Still remember both episodes!

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KodakMoments t1_j286bgk wrote

Yes this was my first thought too. I haven’t watched in years but I still love that two part episode.

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KJM31422 t1_j25e8qb wrote

The Boiling Rock - ATLA

My Finale and My Heart In Fire - Scrubs

Heart of Archness - Archer

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shroudedpenii t1_j29vkyh wrote

Came to say Archer. They have some great combo episodes. Heart of Archness is definitely my favorite though. I wish Rip Riley would make a return cameo.

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KJM31422 t1_j29vv2w wrote

Yes Absolutely, one of my favorite characters

The 2-parter where Archer gets diagnosed with cancer is up there as well

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letterthatnevercame t1_j256wb5 wrote

House MD, Euphoria parts 1&2. Super tense, it always stresses me out no matter how many times I watch it.

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skuttphone t1_j25e8z4 wrote

I always get slapped by House's head/Wilson's heart at the end of s4

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xE1NSTE1Nx2049 t1_j27qgn9 wrote

That's what sprung to my mind too. It's well acted, very tense, interesting plot, couple twists and turns.

The scene where he does a biopsy on the mattress is like, "Uh oh..."

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JacPhlash t1_j2548ga wrote

Going old school here.

WKRP in Cincinnati. There was a two parter called An Explosive Affair where they think there's a bomb in the station and move broadcasting to the actual broadcast tower. Guess where the bomb was....

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tjreess t1_j2668hx wrote

The best of both worlds, parts 1 & 2 from TNG. Children today have no idea what it was like to have to wait en entire summer to see what happens when Captain River tells Worf to fire.

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Twigling t1_j286bri wrote

> when Captain River

From now on I will forever think of Will Riker as Will River. :)

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freddyknuckle5 t1_j24pd9y wrote

Documentary Now-Batshit Valley has to be the funniest two parter

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kingcolbe t1_j24w224 wrote

Welcome to Earth-2 and Escape from Earth-2 from season 2 of the Flash. It had everything culminating with Jay’s “death” it really showed how ruthless and evil Zoom was.

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abx99 t1_j25kf62 wrote

Pretty much every 2-parter in Farscape. They always feel like major motion pictures, and I'm not sure I've seen anything that compares since (IMO)

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Pastymoonburn t1_j25rkgs wrote

Half Measures/ Full Measure: Breaking Bad

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DonutHoles5 t1_j27okn2 wrote

Is that really a good example tho? It’s 2 separate episodes.

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kevnmartin t1_j256s1z wrote

Law & Order, Criminal Intent. The Wee Small Hours. Total scumbag judge gets epic take down by Goren, Eames and Co.

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freyedlol t1_j25jebt wrote

Holy shit. I thought I was gonna be the only one to suggest this. High five!

Also a good one because all four detectives are in the whole thing. Goren, Eames, Logan, and Barek. 🥳

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kevnmartin t1_j25nnh1 wrote

It was such a good collaboration.

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freyedlol t1_j25nurn wrote

Still one of my favorite shows ever. I miss it. Vincent D’onofrio as Robert Goren was aces.

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anasui1 t1_j26gvnw wrote

way too many but Imma gonna post Grave Danger, the Tarantino written and directed CSI one.

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MalpracticeMatt t1_j26wq77 wrote

The gang gets whacked.

It’s all about the hips n nips. Gotta keep it sexy!

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eggzachtly t1_j28mh6j wrote

Fringe Season 2 finale: 'Over There, Parts 1 & 2'.

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chogram t1_j28pi2c wrote

"Who Done It", the second part of the Who Shot JR episodes from Dallas, is still the second most-watched television episode of all time. Behind only the finale of MASH. 76% of all televisions were tuned to that episode. It's literally credited for popularizing the cliffhanger, and helping CNN get off of the ground.

Hard to beat that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_shot_J.R.%3F

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TheLastRob t1_j298ysy wrote

Doctor Who has so many: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End Human Nature/Family of Blood The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit

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leftysrule200 t1_j24j8sy wrote

Buck Rogers and "Planet Of The Slave Girls". It is full of that early 80s goodness. And Jack Palance.

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yooohooo8 t1_j25xjez wrote

Yeah, their three parters are all crazy good too. I could not believe some of the production values on that show…especially for basic cable in 90s/early 00s. The sets and costumes/animatronics were incredible.

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ch_limited t1_j26r0rt wrote

South Park “Do the handicapped go to hell?” “Probably.”

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bonesaw24 t1_j26w0qa wrote

“Robin’s Reckoning” from the 90s Batman animated series. Really loved the voice acting from the main players, but I also felt like the story went above and beyond the show’s already pretty-high standards to tell a story that wasn’t even centered around Batman.

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pedddster t1_j26zrwy wrote

30 Rock. Hogcock/Last Lunch. Perfect send off.

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gapipkin t1_j27ipv5 wrote

The Jeffersons in Hawaii

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32mafiaman t1_j27tn5c wrote

Sozins comet from ATLA was phenomenal

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Nacknack26 t1_j28jsf6 wrote

Buffy Becoming part 1 and 2

and

Lost through the looking glass part 1 and 2

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n8spear t1_j28xjjw wrote

Saved by the bell - Palm Springs

Jesses dads wedding where Zack and Kelly get back together

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jwas1256 t1_j2962tq wrote

Troy and Abed

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monkeyversusrobot t1_j2av3to wrote

Battlestar Galactica has two examples of great two-parters:

Season 3: Exodus Pt. 1 & 2

Season 4: The Oath / Blood on the Scales

They’re both major incidents in the overall storyline that change the dynamics at play.

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james_carr9876 t1_j2d8jsa wrote

Doctor Who - Silence in the library/Forest of the dead

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