An eclectic TV guide

Instead of an all-out binge, try a flight of episodes

I love TV, but rarely make it through a full season of any show. The only series I’ve watched in their entirety this century have been “Lost” and “Ted Lasso,” and I wavered on both of those.

So when it comes to videos like the one below, I usually give up. I know that shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Game of Thrones” have classic episodes, but without knowing the context of the series, they’re pretty useless.

Or so I thought.

This article says the No. 1 episode was my favorite from “Lost,” but added an aha moment: “It also functions shockingly well as an isolated act,” Mallory Rubin writes, “capable of serving as a treatise on the power of love, even if you don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of the show’s ever-expanding mythology. ‘The Constant’ proved that the best episodes of television can simultaneously fortify the series’s mythology and be appreciated independently, unshackled from end-game speculation.”

If you’re a finicky eater like me, Rubin may have found the right recipe. If you look for a TV snack instead of a binge, you might find something more tempting. Here are four suggestions:

Don’t go on autopilot

The logical way to watch a series is to look at the pilot. That’s fine for a few shows like “The O.C.,” whose premiere was one of its strongest episodes, but usually you’re better off ignoring logic. Lots of shows, including “Seinfeld,” struggle at first while the writers and actors find their voices.

Better to hit a show in its prime. This article gives you lots of standalone options; this adds a few more. If you want great TV and don’t mind being in the dark a bit, check here and here. You can also look shows up on IMDb, which gives a (usually reliable) score for each episode.

“Ted Lasso” had kind of a meh pilot, but this episode is stellar all by itself. I mentioned recently that I’ve never really liked “The Bear,” but I love this.

Might I interest you in our Classic Comedy Sampler? Here are great standalones from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “MASH” and “Cheers.”

Warning: Older comedies can be a mixed blessing. Lots of jokes feel stale, and some behaviors (cough, womanizing) are at least a century out of date.

Be adventurous. You might find a gem you hadn’t discovered, like “Sports Night,” made by Aaron Sorkin before he headed to “The West Wing” and before any of us had ever heard of a social network. It lasted only two seasons, but I’d put its first six episodes up against anyone (this is my favorite).

Speaking of “The West Wing,” it certainly had a good pilot, but I enjoyed this much more. You won’t go wrong either way.

Look for the vibe

It’s easy to find standalones in genres like sitcoms and procedurals, but lots of times they feel like empty calories because you don’t connect emotionally. Even in a single episode, the best shows will show you sparks of genius and charm, not leave you feeling emotionally ghosted.

Some sci-fi and fantasy shows like “The Twilight Zone” and “Black Mirror” are anthologies, so just Google something like “best black mirror episodes” and you’ll find plenty of options. And because they’re designed as standalones, they’ll probably work more on giving characters a spark than, say, episode 27 of a police procedural.

I already shared an all-time favorite scene from my top “Doctor Who” episode — a puddle of tears special — but those who like more traditional sci-fi might prefer this one or this one. All three are great standalones.

Two of the highest-rated episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” work well on their own: One has a ton of music, one mostly silence. Even this clip gives you a feel for the vibe of the show, which might help you decide if you want a long-term relationship.

Before you do a bunch of sampling, take it from this picky eater: Check the episode’s IMDb rating. There might be something you should pooh-pooh from your pupu platter.

Take a chance

The best fiction can teach us a lot about life — and ourselves. And sometimes that makes us uncomfortable.

Take “The Good Doctor,” which does have a good pilot. The title character is a savant who’s on the autism spectrum. You might cringe at some scenes, either because of what he says or because of how others react to him. Maybe you’ll discover some empathy among the cringes.

Or maybe you’ll eavesdrop on this episode of “Black-ish,” as the family runs through a gamut of emotions while awaiting the possible indictment of a White police officer for shooting a Black teen.

Once in a great while, taking a chance means going against the IMDb numbers. This episode from “The Last of Us” ranked as one of the show’s worst, but I’m sure that was because of comfort zones, not quality.

It’s mostly a flashback about two people meeting and falling in love during the zombie apocalypse. Both people happen to be men. Some viewers are uncomfortable with that, so it got lower scores.

That’s the one big caveat about IMDb: Anything that’s crowdsourced depends on who’s in the crowd, and I’m guessing its top shows skew toward young men. So make sure your appetizer sampler leaves room for a grain of salt.

Before you binge …

If you find a series and are thinking about a long-term commitment, you might want to check this list of worst finales to make sure it’s not on there. That doesn’t mean an automatic rejection — just a yellow light that merits more research.

Internet critics have ripped into the finales of shows like “The Sopranos” and “Lost,” but IMDb says otherwise. Both series’ finales had higher scores than the series in their entirety. So did the finale of “House.”

On the other hand, “Game of Thrones” got a 9.2 for the series and a 4.0 for the finale. For “Dexter,” it was 8.6 and 4.8. For “How I Met Your Mother,” 8.3 and 5.5. And “House of Cards,” 8.6 and 2.6.

It’s enough to make you lose your appetite.

Murphy Slaw 

Something old: I know James Cameron will never make a movie about it, but take a moment now and then to remember the Carpathia. As this story tells it, the captain and crew helped rescue 700 passengers from the Titanic, but lots of us have never heard of it. In the words of ancient philosopher Fred Rogers, “Look for the helpers.”

Something new: Here’s Steve Martin weighing in on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

Something borrowed: OK, maybe you’ll find something useful from this Thread at least. Among the podcasts mentioned most often were Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Fly on the Wall, Behind the Bastards and two that I’ve mentioned before: SmartLess and The Rewatchables.

Something blue: Yes it is that kind of a week. Thank you for asking.