A weekly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in past seven days on TV.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: CULT, "Neighbors from Hell", September 19, 2017, Actors: Cooper Dodson, Sarah Paulson and more, The Scene: Oz shows the footage of Ally to Ivy
DarkUFO: Oz shows the footage of Ally being seduced by Winter to Ivy and the fight that follows.
BETTER THINGS, "Rising", September 21, 2017, Actors: Pamela Adlon and more
The Scene: Sam gives her date a reality check
Saloni: Sam gives her date a reality check about what a bummer he's been. Pamela Adlon's frustrated outburst was such fun to watch. Excellent writing and dialogue delivery.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, "La Serpiente", September 17, 2017, Actors: Colman Domingo, Kim Dickens
The Scene: Victor tells Madison everything is gonna be okay (picked by Marko)
GOTHAM, "Pax Penguina", September 21, 2017, Actors: Ben McKenzie, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova and more, The Scenes: Jim arrests a would-be criminal at the bar & Bruce and Selina on the rooftop
Milo: Jim arrests a would-be criminal at the bar despite Penguin's new laws. This was a good, fun scene in Gotham for me that stood out because this is exactly what the comics version of Gordon would do, keep doing what's right even when Penguin's laws are in effect.
Marko: Bruce and Selina on the rooftop scene.
MIDNIGHT, TEXAS, "The Virgin Sacrifice", September 18, 2017, Actors: François Arnaud, Arielle Kebbel, Peter Mensah and more, The Scenes: The final confrontation with Colconnar & The wedding
Justyna K: This show was such an entertaining summer addition. I would love to see season two, but I'm glad the writers made sure that the story doesn't feel interrupted if there won't be one. There were many memorable moments, great character developments and even a few happy endings during the hour. I'd love to highlight them all but I wanted to give a shout-out to the big fight scene when Manfred lets the spirits of multiple demons in and confronts Colconnar to save his newfound home and friends from the evil. Out of all the character developments we've seen on the show, Manfred's the one that stood out to me the most. He was a lost psychic always trying to outrun trouble and never staying in one place and ended up leading the fight against the creatures from hell just to protect the people of Midnight. He truly embraced the heroic role in the last episodes and took a great risk to battle the evil. Everybody had their part to play in the final confrontation and I'm glad to see how it all turned out. Kudos to cast and crew for their work on the season!
Kinsley: The wedding and reception scenes. I honestly wasn't expecting things to end with everyone in one piece. I totally didn't see Olivia and Lem's wedding coming, but I thought it was perfect nonetheless. I'm glad that they left all the couples in a good place and didn't throw in any life or death cliffhangers in case the show doesn't get renewed.
OUTLANDER, "Surrender", September 17, 2017, Actors: Sam Heughan, Laura Donnelly, Romann Berrux and more, The Scenes: Jamie and Fergus talk after he's been hurt & Jamie hides with the baby & Jamie breaks down in Jenny’s arms
Darth Locke: Jenny and Mary lie to the British Officers about the nature of Jenny's newborn baby, while Jamie hides with the baby in the other room. There were so many scenes I could have chosen for this episode, but this scene was so intense and I wasn't sure if they could pull off the lie, if not for Mary interfering by taking the blame for the pistol going off.
Luana: Jamie and Fergus talk after he's been hurt. This was a very sweet moment, Fergus is amazing and the fact that he can look past his injury is astounding. But it was also important what it meant for Jamie, the reminder that he has something to fight for was absolutely necessary.
Jennise: Jamie breaks down in Jenny’s arms. It wasn’t just that Jamie had sacrificed so much since Culloden or that he’d had to watch Fergus’ behanding. It was Sam Heughan’s performance.
RAY DONOVAN, "Shelley Duvall", September 17, 2017, Actors: Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcomson, The Scene: Ray and Abby stumble upon an ice-skating rink
Darth Locke: (Flashback) After their car breaks down in the middle of the desert, Ray and Abby stumble upon an ice-skating rink. This season has truly been depressing, but despite that, the writing and acting performances have been top notch, especially the scenes between Schrieber and Malcomson. I don't really know where the season is going, but I am sure this might be a crossroads of sorts for Ray.
RICK AND MORTY, "Morty's Mind Blowers", September 17, 2017, Voiced by: Justin Roiland, The Scene: The squirrels attack
Laura: A hilarious sequence in a hilarious episode. Truly, there were so many small beats from this episode I wanted to highlight here, most of them being very short and in that memory montage towards the end of the episode, but this specific bit was the best thing I saw all week. It starts with Morty being able to to understand animal language and can translate it to English with that weird looking helmet. And somehow it ended with an uprising of squirrels surrounding the garage, to which Rick tells Morty they have to leave this dimension for good. Which dimension are we in now? This raises so many more questions than it answers. And I think that’s the beauty of it. That’s what we get for watching Morty f*ck with squirrels, I guess.
SALVATION, "The Plot Against America", September 20, 2017, Actors: Santiago Cabrera, Jennifer Finnigan, The Scene: Darius and Grace's final moment together
DJRiter: Darius tells Grace he can't be in Ark because of a genetic disease and that no one would want him there. Grace finally admits to him and the audience that she wants him there, she wants him and they share a tender goodbye kiss. There has been amazing chemistry between Finnigan and Santiago Cabrera throughout the series. In this beautifully acted scene, Finnigan again proves to me that she is the series MVP by showing that Grace is the strongest when she is the most vulnerable.
TEEN WOLF, "Genotype", September 17, 2017, Actors: Holland Roden, Shelley Hennig, Casey Deidrick, The Scene: Lydia and Malia revive and kill Halwyn
Justyna K: As much as I loved Derek's return this scene took me by surprise. The decision that Malia and Lydia had to make proved to be much harder than one might expect and the result was quite emotional to watch. Halwyn was a new character and we didn't get to know him very well but as Malia pointed out it was clear how important it was for him to protect everyone from Anuk-Ite and other threats to Beacon Hills. He built the closed unit at Eichen House and spent hundreds of years there just in case Anuk-Ite got out. He deserved better than the painful death he got but Lydia and Malia knew he was their best chance to understand the monster they had to face a little better. Before he died, Halwyn got to warn them about what's going to happen once both faces of Anuk-Ite meet. He made a difference and his warning helped save Liam at the end of the hour. Holland Roden, Shelley Hennig and Casey Deidrick, all did a great job in that moment. Even though Malia didn't hesitate to revive Halwyn knowing what it will mean to him, she was clearly moved by his death. A hellhound dying is quite unusual on its own, but his agony and the way Malia and Lydia held his hand and apologized for the pain they caused him made it feel like quite a memorable scene to me. Kudos to cast & crew for their great work on the episodes and the scene. We're almost at the end.
THE GOOD PLACE, "Everything Is Great!", September 20, 2017, Actors: Kristen Bell, Jameela Jamil, Ted Danson and more, The Scenes: Eleanor figures out the truth for the 2nd time & Tahani's speech
Justyna K: This show started off as pretty good already and yet it continues to grow on me. After that brilliant twist in the season one finale it was so much fun to watch things not only from our main four characters' perspectives but also from Michael's. All his conversations with the staff were both insightful and hilarious. I especially enjoyed the part when after the party he realizes just how badly the things are falling apart and confronts all the "soulmates" about their failures. The guy admitting he told Eleanor he's going to the gym nine (!) times just during this one day made me laugh out loud for sure. But the moment I ended up choosing for the article is when Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani and Jason all find each other in the end and Eleanor figures out that something is wrong right away. I love that despite their memories being lost there's still something that keeps pushing them together, even when they don't realize it. Also, Michael's reactions in the background of the scene are brilliant. And the realization that everything he worked for fell apart in a matter of hours because of one note was really well done. I had a great time watching this premiere and I like the idea the writers have for this season already. Can't wait to see more! Kudos to the fantastic cast and the crew for their great work on the show!
Samantha: Tahani gets drunk and makes a fool of herself at the party. When I first watched this show I couldn't stand Tahani, but after binging the remaining episodes of season 1 she has really grown on me and this scene was perfect. Eleanor calling her hot stuff as she attempted to move along will never not ruin me, but it's just so funny to see Tahani as a complete drunken mess, because it is the total opposite to how kept together & optimistic she was in the first season. Also picked by Laura
THE SINNER, "Part VIII", September 20, 2017, Actors: Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman and more, The Scenes: Cora's mother visits her in jail & Cora faces her captor & Cora and Harry embrace at the end
Samantha: Cora's mother visits her in jail and they talk. This was a wonderful & beautifully acted scene. After all these weeks of Cora torturing herself & her mum torturing her in the flashbacks, it was nice to get a somewhat sweet scene. Now that Cora finally remembers what happened to Phoebe, she doesn't have a weight on her shoulders anymore and I felt so pleased for her to be able to confidently tell her mum that she didn't regret taking Phoebe out that night because she'd had the greatest night of her life & died happy. Her mother obviously wasn't happy with this & attempted to throw how Phoebe was disposed of in Cora's place, but instead of being dragged back down by this Cora simply asked why her mother hadn't reported their disappearance to the police, and for once ended the conversation with the upper hand on her mother.
Luana: Cora faces her captor. This scene was so intense, and so masterfully acted. The way she looks at him, without anger, the expression on his face feeling the overpowering weight of his shame and how he breaks down when she says she knows he did it for his son, with almost no lines these two made a heartbreaking scene a masterpiece. Jessica Biel has been brilliant throughout this season and we can only hope she gets the recognition she deserves.
DarkUFO: Cora and Harry embrace at the end.
YOU'RE THE WORST, "This Is Just Marketing", September 20, 2017, Actors: Chris Geere, Aya Cash, The Scene: Jimmy realizes that Gretchen now lives in the apartment
Luana: I love where Gretchen's rage is going and if her vengeance is enacted from up close all the better, every scene is better with Aya Cash and Chris Geere in it.
Saloni: Jimmy realizing that Gretchen now lives in the apartment, and she tells him how she won't continue to suffer because of all the mistakes he made. Oh man, Aya Cash and Chris Geere are phenomenal.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: CULT, "Neighbors from Hell", September 19, 2017, Actors: Cooper Dodson, Sarah Paulson and more, The Scene: Oz shows the footage of Ally to Ivy
DarkUFO: Oz shows the footage of Ally being seduced by Winter to Ivy and the fight that follows.
BETTER THINGS, "Rising", September 21, 2017, Actors: Pamela Adlon and more
The Scene: Sam gives her date a reality check
Saloni: Sam gives her date a reality check about what a bummer he's been. Pamela Adlon's frustrated outburst was such fun to watch. Excellent writing and dialogue delivery.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, "La Serpiente", September 17, 2017, Actors: Colman Domingo, Kim Dickens
The Scene: Victor tells Madison everything is gonna be okay (picked by Marko)
Milo: Jim arrests a would-be criminal at the bar despite Penguin's new laws. This was a good, fun scene in Gotham for me that stood out because this is exactly what the comics version of Gordon would do, keep doing what's right even when Penguin's laws are in effect.
Marko: Bruce and Selina on the rooftop scene.
Justyna K: This show was such an entertaining summer addition. I would love to see season two, but I'm glad the writers made sure that the story doesn't feel interrupted if there won't be one. There were many memorable moments, great character developments and even a few happy endings during the hour. I'd love to highlight them all but I wanted to give a shout-out to the big fight scene when Manfred lets the spirits of multiple demons in and confronts Colconnar to save his newfound home and friends from the evil. Out of all the character developments we've seen on the show, Manfred's the one that stood out to me the most. He was a lost psychic always trying to outrun trouble and never staying in one place and ended up leading the fight against the creatures from hell just to protect the people of Midnight. He truly embraced the heroic role in the last episodes and took a great risk to battle the evil. Everybody had their part to play in the final confrontation and I'm glad to see how it all turned out. Kudos to cast and crew for their work on the season!
Kinsley: The wedding and reception scenes. I honestly wasn't expecting things to end with everyone in one piece. I totally didn't see Olivia and Lem's wedding coming, but I thought it was perfect nonetheless. I'm glad that they left all the couples in a good place and didn't throw in any life or death cliffhangers in case the show doesn't get renewed.
Darth Locke: Jenny and Mary lie to the British Officers about the nature of Jenny's newborn baby, while Jamie hides with the baby in the other room. There were so many scenes I could have chosen for this episode, but this scene was so intense and I wasn't sure if they could pull off the lie, if not for Mary interfering by taking the blame for the pistol going off.
Luana: Jamie and Fergus talk after he's been hurt. This was a very sweet moment, Fergus is amazing and the fact that he can look past his injury is astounding. But it was also important what it meant for Jamie, the reminder that he has something to fight for was absolutely necessary.
Jennise: Jamie breaks down in Jenny’s arms. It wasn’t just that Jamie had sacrificed so much since Culloden or that he’d had to watch Fergus’ behanding. It was Sam Heughan’s performance.
Darth Locke: (Flashback) After their car breaks down in the middle of the desert, Ray and Abby stumble upon an ice-skating rink. This season has truly been depressing, but despite that, the writing and acting performances have been top notch, especially the scenes between Schrieber and Malcomson. I don't really know where the season is going, but I am sure this might be a crossroads of sorts for Ray.
Laura: A hilarious sequence in a hilarious episode. Truly, there were so many small beats from this episode I wanted to highlight here, most of them being very short and in that memory montage towards the end of the episode, but this specific bit was the best thing I saw all week. It starts with Morty being able to to understand animal language and can translate it to English with that weird looking helmet. And somehow it ended with an uprising of squirrels surrounding the garage, to which Rick tells Morty they have to leave this dimension for good. Which dimension are we in now? This raises so many more questions than it answers. And I think that’s the beauty of it. That’s what we get for watching Morty f*ck with squirrels, I guess.
DJRiter: Darius tells Grace he can't be in Ark because of a genetic disease and that no one would want him there. Grace finally admits to him and the audience that she wants him there, she wants him and they share a tender goodbye kiss. There has been amazing chemistry between Finnigan and Santiago Cabrera throughout the series. In this beautifully acted scene, Finnigan again proves to me that she is the series MVP by showing that Grace is the strongest when she is the most vulnerable.
Justyna K: As much as I loved Derek's return this scene took me by surprise. The decision that Malia and Lydia had to make proved to be much harder than one might expect and the result was quite emotional to watch. Halwyn was a new character and we didn't get to know him very well but as Malia pointed out it was clear how important it was for him to protect everyone from Anuk-Ite and other threats to Beacon Hills. He built the closed unit at Eichen House and spent hundreds of years there just in case Anuk-Ite got out. He deserved better than the painful death he got but Lydia and Malia knew he was their best chance to understand the monster they had to face a little better. Before he died, Halwyn got to warn them about what's going to happen once both faces of Anuk-Ite meet. He made a difference and his warning helped save Liam at the end of the hour. Holland Roden, Shelley Hennig and Casey Deidrick, all did a great job in that moment. Even though Malia didn't hesitate to revive Halwyn knowing what it will mean to him, she was clearly moved by his death. A hellhound dying is quite unusual on its own, but his agony and the way Malia and Lydia held his hand and apologized for the pain they caused him made it feel like quite a memorable scene to me. Kudos to cast & crew for their great work on the episodes and the scene. We're almost at the end.
Justyna K: This show started off as pretty good already and yet it continues to grow on me. After that brilliant twist in the season one finale it was so much fun to watch things not only from our main four characters' perspectives but also from Michael's. All his conversations with the staff were both insightful and hilarious. I especially enjoyed the part when after the party he realizes just how badly the things are falling apart and confronts all the "soulmates" about their failures. The guy admitting he told Eleanor he's going to the gym nine (!) times just during this one day made me laugh out loud for sure. But the moment I ended up choosing for the article is when Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani and Jason all find each other in the end and Eleanor figures out that something is wrong right away. I love that despite their memories being lost there's still something that keeps pushing them together, even when they don't realize it. Also, Michael's reactions in the background of the scene are brilliant. And the realization that everything he worked for fell apart in a matter of hours because of one note was really well done. I had a great time watching this premiere and I like the idea the writers have for this season already. Can't wait to see more! Kudos to the fantastic cast and the crew for their great work on the show!
Samantha: Tahani gets drunk and makes a fool of herself at the party. When I first watched this show I couldn't stand Tahani, but after binging the remaining episodes of season 1 she has really grown on me and this scene was perfect. Eleanor calling her hot stuff as she attempted to move along will never not ruin me, but it's just so funny to see Tahani as a complete drunken mess, because it is the total opposite to how kept together & optimistic she was in the first season. Also picked by Laura
Samantha: Cora's mother visits her in jail and they talk. This was a wonderful & beautifully acted scene. After all these weeks of Cora torturing herself & her mum torturing her in the flashbacks, it was nice to get a somewhat sweet scene. Now that Cora finally remembers what happened to Phoebe, she doesn't have a weight on her shoulders anymore and I felt so pleased for her to be able to confidently tell her mum that she didn't regret taking Phoebe out that night because she'd had the greatest night of her life & died happy. Her mother obviously wasn't happy with this & attempted to throw how Phoebe was disposed of in Cora's place, but instead of being dragged back down by this Cora simply asked why her mother hadn't reported their disappearance to the police, and for once ended the conversation with the upper hand on her mother.
Luana: Cora faces her captor. This scene was so intense, and so masterfully acted. The way she looks at him, without anger, the expression on his face feeling the overpowering weight of his shame and how he breaks down when she says she knows he did it for his son, with almost no lines these two made a heartbreaking scene a masterpiece. Jessica Biel has been brilliant throughout this season and we can only hope she gets the recognition she deserves.
DarkUFO: Cora and Harry embrace at the end.
Luana: I love where Gretchen's rage is going and if her vengeance is enacted from up close all the better, every scene is better with Aya Cash and Chris Geere in it.
Saloni: Jimmy realizing that Gretchen now lives in the apartment, and she tells him how she won't continue to suffer because of all the mistakes he made. Oh man, Aya Cash and Chris Geere are phenomenal.
