Note: The moments 1-3 had the same number of votes and their order is alphabetical. Also true for moments 4-5 and 6-10.
10. THE LEFTOVERS - Kevin dies and sings to return home
Bradley Adams: "Despite The Leftovers being (in my opinion) the best show of 2015, there weren't that many stand-out moments; rather, episodes themselves just stood out - International Assassin being the most notable. That being said, the season finale contained arguably the most powerful moment of the year as Kevin, having been 'killed' for the second time in the season, was once again transported to the afterlife of sorts (displayed here in the form of a hotel) and was told that he needed to sing to the small lobby audience in order to return home. The choice of song was perfect. Kevin trying to hold himself back from crying was magnificently shown by Justin Theroux, and the use of flashbacks to the happier moments of Kevin's life (that we've seen in the past two seasons) all made this an incredibly moving scene."
9. GAME OF THRONES - Cersei's walk of atonement
Bradley Adams: "Game of Thrones rarely gives us a reason to feel for Cersei, but this was certainly one of those moments. Imprisoned by the High Sparrow for her adulterous relationship with Lancel, Cersei confesses and is forced to walk back to the Red Keep naked as a punishment. What followed was five minutes of the thousands of crowd members throwing food, insulting her and even presenting themselves naked. It was a difficult scene to watch as you could feel how horrifying it would be to be in her position, and Lena Headey was simply terrific in showing Cersei's emotions."
Samy: "I was at the same time shocked and amazed... Beautiful acting and directing. I felt like I was in the crowd."
8. FARGO - The motel shootout
Milo MJ: "The action sequence set-piece that played a large role in the penultimate episode of Fargo, "The Castle," has to be one of my favourite moments of 2015 on television. I loved how the incompetent but well intentioned police was hopelessly out of its depth against the attackers who had all but walked into a trap, and with the added tension of even more arrivals just around the corner made it for an incredibly exciting sequence. The various shoot-outs really worked, and the random WTF-ery of the UFO showing up at the end just really was the icing on the cake. Of course, this would have been good enough on its own, but Peggy's dismissive reaction, "It’s just a flying saucer, hon" was timed perfectly and made for a superb episode highlight."
7. BETTER CALL SAUL - Mike's confession to his daughter-in-law
Bradley Adams: "Jonathan Banks rarely got to show his full range of acting talents on Breaking Bad (season three's Half Measures being the most notable of the few examples), but Better Call Saul's 'Five-O' allowed him to show a new side of Mike, and it made for great television. Seeing Mike break down as he explains why his son Matt was killed was incredible. Banks was fantastic in displaying his sorrow, and it was impossible not to feel for Mike. This was a superb piece of character development in a scene that was well-written and sublimely acted."
Sandi: "Jonathan Bank's performance blew me away in this, he's always been a character of note in Breaking Bad but this took him to another level."
6. BANSHEE - The Camp Genoa Heist
Bradley Adams: "Banshee did some insane things in season three, including a brutal one-shot fight sequence and a bottle episode, but none were as crazy (or more risky) than the heist sequence in episode seven. The season built up to our characters infiltrating Camp Genoa to steal the money that was there, and it did not let us down. This was 20 minutes of pure tension. Excellently shot in a handheld style, this sequence put you in the tunnels and Camp Genoa alongside the characters, leaving you on the edge of your seat (something Banshee doesn't often do in a traditional way, yet did so twice this season). Well-edited, well-acted and combined with some great musical score, this was one sequence not to be forgotten."
The SpoilerGirl: "The single person shooter style heist scene. Never seen anything quite like it on TV before."
5. THE 100 - Clarke and Bellamy irradiate level 5
Justyna K: "Until the very last minute I was hoping for a way out. If only Cage actually wanted to talk... If only so many other things went differently. But they didn't. In the end we were left in a complete shock when Clarke and Bellamy pull down the lever and cause the death of all the Mountain Men, including the children and people who have helped them. It's impossible, it's breathtaking and tragic. And it changes everything. Definitely a scene to remember this year."
Daniel van der Veer: "This is such an amazing yet tragic scene. Clarke worked so hard for a different solution, but at the end this is the only thing she can do to save her people. She has to make an awful decision for them. Eliza Taylor was amazing in this scene and it was obviously a game-changer for Clarke. Bellamy's last-minute decision to bear the guilt together makes it even better."
Jamie Coudeville: "On any other show, the writers would have come up with a last minute save-the-day scenario. But that's what I love about this show. It doesn't use last-minute-saves. Which is how we got to this scene, which, for sure, will change every single character on the show and bring new storylines in season 3."
4. GAME OF THRONES - The Battle at Hardhome
Justyna K: "There were at least a few scenes on the show this year which I could easily choose as the most memorable ones. The battle was just such a spectacular view. Jon's fight with a Valyrian steel, the Night King turning the dead into new Wights and so many other little things that made it groundbreaking, terrifying and not to be missed."
Sandi: "What a visual delight as thousand of Wights start attacking the Wildlings that Jon has just persuaded to come to the safety of the Wall. I loved how so much lore was ingeniously mixed into the battled - a White Walker damps down fire with as the blizzard surrounding him approaches, Valyrian steel will destroy him, The Night King turning all the newly dead Wildlings into new Wights. It was a terrifying scene to witness and makes you realise where the real threat in the story is coming from."
Kollin Lore: "The White Walkers attack in 'Hardhome.' It's not often you watch something on the small screen that makes your jaw drop due to sheer spectacle. This was one of the more brutal and gripping and exciting moments in the entire series. A true cinematic experience."
3. PERSON OF INTEREST - The Machine runs simulations to save the team
Justyna K: "The moment when Finch dies and it's revealed that the entire plan was just a simulation, one of many the Machine was running in the attempt to get everyone alive, has to be one of the best scenes this year. The entire sequence, all the parts where we can see the Machine calculating the odds and options (knowing exactly what the team would say and do in each scenario) made this episode a truly one-of-the-kind, spectacular hour of TV."
Prpleight: "The first time we realize the team did NOT die and the machine was processing various scenarios. How cool was that! It was not the story I expected and yes, it blew my mind a little bit."
Milo MJ: "It was one of my favourite episodes of 2015 and a favourite from this show was watching the Machine run simulations of the characters' bids to escape capture from Decima. Each scenario looked at how each character might meet their end in the attempt, and as hard as it was to watch the characters meet their various fates even if we may have known they were only simulations, nothing could have prepared us emotionally for Shaw's arrival and sacrifice at the end."
2. HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER - Annalise gets shot
Laura Markus: "The entire montage of Annalise asking the Keating 5 to shoot her in What Did We Do?. This show continues to amaze me. The first nine episodes of season 2 have already shown us that this show is continuing to be incredible. After going through the first murder night last year, this year stepped up the game. After learning that Asher killed Sinclair, and watching everything blow up in everyone's faces, Annalise makes a drastic call to 9-1-1 saying that Catherine shot her. The problem? Catherine wasn't there, so someone else would have to do it. A panicked Annalise, begging to be shot, Connor almost willing to do it, relenting, Michaela running after him, Laurel pleading that maybe they should go to jail, and finally, Wes pulling the trigger after finding out from Annalise that Rebecca's been dead this whole time. This scene was truly one of the best acted ensemble scenes out there."
Daniel van der Veer: "Brilliant scene! Annalise has this crazy plan in her head and is determined to get one of her students to shoot her. She tries to convince everyone to do it, but no one bites which forces her to reveal the truth about Rebecca's death. Excellent acting by Viola Davis and the Keating 4."
1. DAREDEVIL - The hallway fight scene
Justyna K: "It would be impossible not to choose this scene. It was incredibly shot with the actors and stuntmen doing such an excellent work. The fight alone is intense and memorable, but I've always seen it as a great character moment for Matt too. The scene that truly introduces the hero, who went through so much in that episode and kept going to save that little boy. Absolutely great for so many reasons. One of the best scenes this year."
Laura Markus: "Okay, as much as I loved the entirety of Nelson v. Murdock, it has to be this scene that shined as the best moment from the show. After seeing bits of what Matt Murdock can do in a fight in the pilot, this scene showed us exactly why this show is so great. An epic fight scene that felt like it lasted for 15 minutes, all done in seemingly one take, that's what good TV is all about. After every hit Matt dealt, you could really feel how tired he was getting, how vulnerable he was feeling, how he just wanted it to be over. Thankfully, it didn't end too soon or it could've felt cheap. And the scene ends with Matt grabbing the kidnapped boy, stepping over the men he fought, and bringing him to safety. A happy ending for a perfectly filmed set of fighting stunts."
Popcultureguy: "This brutal but beautifully staged brawl exemplifies the grittier, street-level tone of Marvel’s first series for Netflix. In a single shot tracking through a claustrophobic hallway, our hero bests the odds by emerging victorious against an entire gang of thugs, but is left broken and exhausted."
Bradley Adams: "One of the things essential to a good superhero show is a high standard of fight scenes. Daredevil's much lauded hallway fight is one of the best fights of the year. Cut to look like one continuous shot, this fight is simple: Matt Murdoch (Daredevil) taking on a seemingly endless supply of thugs in a hallway. The fight feels intense, it is extremely well-choreographed and, unlike most fight scenes, Matt looks exhausted by the end of it, adding a sense of realism to the encounters. Also, I'll never tire of watching that one guy get knocked out by a microwave."
Runner up:
Doctor Who - Billions of years in Confession Dial sequence
Other shows with honorable mentions:
Limitless, Longmire, Justified, Suits, Bates Motel, The Mentalist, Hawaii Five-0, Manhattan, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, Orphan Black, Penny Dreadful, The Americans, The Originals, The Muppets, Wayward Pines, Hannibal, Battle Creek, Revenge, Mike and Molly, Gotham, Agents of SHIELD, Once Upon a Time, The Blacklist, Grimm, Agent Carter, Quantico, Supernatural, True Detective, NCIS
These are our picks. Come back tomorrow to read SpoilerTV Readers' choices for Best TV Moments of 2015! And share your thoughts in the comments below.
10. THE LEFTOVERS - Kevin dies and sings to return home
Bradley Adams: "Despite The Leftovers being (in my opinion) the best show of 2015, there weren't that many stand-out moments; rather, episodes themselves just stood out - International Assassin being the most notable. That being said, the season finale contained arguably the most powerful moment of the year as Kevin, having been 'killed' for the second time in the season, was once again transported to the afterlife of sorts (displayed here in the form of a hotel) and was told that he needed to sing to the small lobby audience in order to return home. The choice of song was perfect. Kevin trying to hold himself back from crying was magnificently shown by Justin Theroux, and the use of flashbacks to the happier moments of Kevin's life (that we've seen in the past two seasons) all made this an incredibly moving scene."
9. GAME OF THRONES - Cersei's walk of atonement
Bradley Adams: "Game of Thrones rarely gives us a reason to feel for Cersei, but this was certainly one of those moments. Imprisoned by the High Sparrow for her adulterous relationship with Lancel, Cersei confesses and is forced to walk back to the Red Keep naked as a punishment. What followed was five minutes of the thousands of crowd members throwing food, insulting her and even presenting themselves naked. It was a difficult scene to watch as you could feel how horrifying it would be to be in her position, and Lena Headey was simply terrific in showing Cersei's emotions."
Samy: "I was at the same time shocked and amazed... Beautiful acting and directing. I felt like I was in the crowd."
8. FARGO - The motel shootout
Milo MJ: "The action sequence set-piece that played a large role in the penultimate episode of Fargo, "The Castle," has to be one of my favourite moments of 2015 on television. I loved how the incompetent but well intentioned police was hopelessly out of its depth against the attackers who had all but walked into a trap, and with the added tension of even more arrivals just around the corner made it for an incredibly exciting sequence. The various shoot-outs really worked, and the random WTF-ery of the UFO showing up at the end just really was the icing on the cake. Of course, this would have been good enough on its own, but Peggy's dismissive reaction, "It’s just a flying saucer, hon" was timed perfectly and made for a superb episode highlight."
7. BETTER CALL SAUL - Mike's confession to his daughter-in-law
Bradley Adams: "Jonathan Banks rarely got to show his full range of acting talents on Breaking Bad (season three's Half Measures being the most notable of the few examples), but Better Call Saul's 'Five-O' allowed him to show a new side of Mike, and it made for great television. Seeing Mike break down as he explains why his son Matt was killed was incredible. Banks was fantastic in displaying his sorrow, and it was impossible not to feel for Mike. This was a superb piece of character development in a scene that was well-written and sublimely acted."
Sandi: "Jonathan Bank's performance blew me away in this, he's always been a character of note in Breaking Bad but this took him to another level."
6. BANSHEE - The Camp Genoa Heist
Bradley Adams: "Banshee did some insane things in season three, including a brutal one-shot fight sequence and a bottle episode, but none were as crazy (or more risky) than the heist sequence in episode seven. The season built up to our characters infiltrating Camp Genoa to steal the money that was there, and it did not let us down. This was 20 minutes of pure tension. Excellently shot in a handheld style, this sequence put you in the tunnels and Camp Genoa alongside the characters, leaving you on the edge of your seat (something Banshee doesn't often do in a traditional way, yet did so twice this season). Well-edited, well-acted and combined with some great musical score, this was one sequence not to be forgotten."
The SpoilerGirl: "The single person shooter style heist scene. Never seen anything quite like it on TV before."
5. THE 100 - Clarke and Bellamy irradiate level 5
Justyna K: "Until the very last minute I was hoping for a way out. If only Cage actually wanted to talk... If only so many other things went differently. But they didn't. In the end we were left in a complete shock when Clarke and Bellamy pull down the lever and cause the death of all the Mountain Men, including the children and people who have helped them. It's impossible, it's breathtaking and tragic. And it changes everything. Definitely a scene to remember this year."
Daniel van der Veer: "This is such an amazing yet tragic scene. Clarke worked so hard for a different solution, but at the end this is the only thing she can do to save her people. She has to make an awful decision for them. Eliza Taylor was amazing in this scene and it was obviously a game-changer for Clarke. Bellamy's last-minute decision to bear the guilt together makes it even better."
Jamie Coudeville: "On any other show, the writers would have come up with a last minute save-the-day scenario. But that's what I love about this show. It doesn't use last-minute-saves. Which is how we got to this scene, which, for sure, will change every single character on the show and bring new storylines in season 3."
4. GAME OF THRONES - The Battle at Hardhome
Justyna K: "There were at least a few scenes on the show this year which I could easily choose as the most memorable ones. The battle was just such a spectacular view. Jon's fight with a Valyrian steel, the Night King turning the dead into new Wights and so many other little things that made it groundbreaking, terrifying and not to be missed."
Sandi: "What a visual delight as thousand of Wights start attacking the Wildlings that Jon has just persuaded to come to the safety of the Wall. I loved how so much lore was ingeniously mixed into the battled - a White Walker damps down fire with as the blizzard surrounding him approaches, Valyrian steel will destroy him, The Night King turning all the newly dead Wildlings into new Wights. It was a terrifying scene to witness and makes you realise where the real threat in the story is coming from."
Kollin Lore: "The White Walkers attack in 'Hardhome.' It's not often you watch something on the small screen that makes your jaw drop due to sheer spectacle. This was one of the more brutal and gripping and exciting moments in the entire series. A true cinematic experience."
3. PERSON OF INTEREST - The Machine runs simulations to save the team
Justyna K: "The moment when Finch dies and it's revealed that the entire plan was just a simulation, one of many the Machine was running in the attempt to get everyone alive, has to be one of the best scenes this year. The entire sequence, all the parts where we can see the Machine calculating the odds and options (knowing exactly what the team would say and do in each scenario) made this episode a truly one-of-the-kind, spectacular hour of TV."
Prpleight: "The first time we realize the team did NOT die and the machine was processing various scenarios. How cool was that! It was not the story I expected and yes, it blew my mind a little bit."
Milo MJ: "It was one of my favourite episodes of 2015 and a favourite from this show was watching the Machine run simulations of the characters' bids to escape capture from Decima. Each scenario looked at how each character might meet their end in the attempt, and as hard as it was to watch the characters meet their various fates even if we may have known they were only simulations, nothing could have prepared us emotionally for Shaw's arrival and sacrifice at the end."
2. HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER - Annalise gets shot
Laura Markus: "The entire montage of Annalise asking the Keating 5 to shoot her in What Did We Do?. This show continues to amaze me. The first nine episodes of season 2 have already shown us that this show is continuing to be incredible. After going through the first murder night last year, this year stepped up the game. After learning that Asher killed Sinclair, and watching everything blow up in everyone's faces, Annalise makes a drastic call to 9-1-1 saying that Catherine shot her. The problem? Catherine wasn't there, so someone else would have to do it. A panicked Annalise, begging to be shot, Connor almost willing to do it, relenting, Michaela running after him, Laurel pleading that maybe they should go to jail, and finally, Wes pulling the trigger after finding out from Annalise that Rebecca's been dead this whole time. This scene was truly one of the best acted ensemble scenes out there."
Daniel van der Veer: "Brilliant scene! Annalise has this crazy plan in her head and is determined to get one of her students to shoot her. She tries to convince everyone to do it, but no one bites which forces her to reveal the truth about Rebecca's death. Excellent acting by Viola Davis and the Keating 4."
1. DAREDEVIL - The hallway fight scene
Justyna K: "It would be impossible not to choose this scene. It was incredibly shot with the actors and stuntmen doing such an excellent work. The fight alone is intense and memorable, but I've always seen it as a great character moment for Matt too. The scene that truly introduces the hero, who went through so much in that episode and kept going to save that little boy. Absolutely great for so many reasons. One of the best scenes this year."
Laura Markus: "Okay, as much as I loved the entirety of Nelson v. Murdock, it has to be this scene that shined as the best moment from the show. After seeing bits of what Matt Murdock can do in a fight in the pilot, this scene showed us exactly why this show is so great. An epic fight scene that felt like it lasted for 15 minutes, all done in seemingly one take, that's what good TV is all about. After every hit Matt dealt, you could really feel how tired he was getting, how vulnerable he was feeling, how he just wanted it to be over. Thankfully, it didn't end too soon or it could've felt cheap. And the scene ends with Matt grabbing the kidnapped boy, stepping over the men he fought, and bringing him to safety. A happy ending for a perfectly filmed set of fighting stunts."
Popcultureguy: "This brutal but beautifully staged brawl exemplifies the grittier, street-level tone of Marvel’s first series for Netflix. In a single shot tracking through a claustrophobic hallway, our hero bests the odds by emerging victorious against an entire gang of thugs, but is left broken and exhausted."
Bradley Adams: "One of the things essential to a good superhero show is a high standard of fight scenes. Daredevil's much lauded hallway fight is one of the best fights of the year. Cut to look like one continuous shot, this fight is simple: Matt Murdoch (Daredevil) taking on a seemingly endless supply of thugs in a hallway. The fight feels intense, it is extremely well-choreographed and, unlike most fight scenes, Matt looks exhausted by the end of it, adding a sense of realism to the encounters. Also, I'll never tire of watching that one guy get knocked out by a microwave."
Runner up:
Doctor Who - Billions of years in Confession Dial sequence
Other shows with honorable mentions:
Limitless, Longmire, Justified, Suits, Bates Motel, The Mentalist, Hawaii Five-0, Manhattan, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, Orphan Black, Penny Dreadful, The Americans, The Originals, The Muppets, Wayward Pines, Hannibal, Battle Creek, Revenge, Mike and Molly, Gotham, Agents of SHIELD, Once Upon a Time, The Blacklist, Grimm, Agent Carter, Quantico, Supernatural, True Detective, NCIS
These are our picks. Come back tomorrow to read SpoilerTV Readers' choices for Best TV Moments of 2015! And share your thoughts in the comments below.
