Some of the highest-rated TV episodes from a show chronicle stories that de-center the main character. Sometimes, these narratives are bottle episodes, but they don’t necessarily have to fall into this format for them to focus on secondary characters. Some TV show’s bottle episodes are pointless, and these detract from the overall quality of the series. However, spending time away from the protagonists and getting to know other characters can help the worldbuilding of the show and make the audience more invested in the overarching plot. Additionally, these episodes can save money and time for showrunners and producers.
There are creative ways to work around the main character’s arc, and these storylines demonstrate how creative the writers of a TV series are.
Leaving out the protagonist for a few episodes doesn’t indicate that a TV show is disrespectful to its main characters, as their return after a break in the action makes the viewer appreciate them more. There are creative ways to work around the main character’s arc, and these storylines demonstrate how creative the writers of a TV series are. This is why they’re often so well-received by critics. Every genre of television incorporates these episodes into their plot, and in recent years, streaming shows have been even more innovative in approaching these subjects.
10 Doctor Who (1963–Present) – “Blink”
Season 3, Episode 10
“Blink” premiered during David Tennant’s first era on Doctor Who as the tenth Doctor. Steven Moffat, who went on to become the showrunner for many seasons, wrote one of the most iconic episodes in the series’ history. “Blink” saw the Doctor and their companion Martha (Freema Agyeman) trapped in the past thanks to the Weeping Angels. This was the first episode to introduce the Weeping Angels, one of the most terrifying antagonists in Doctor Who.
Mulligan is a great actress, and the episode is so good that the viewer barely misses the Doctor.
Since the Doctor and Martha are stuck in the past, the audience follows the story of Sally Sparrow, played by a young Carey Mulligan, as she encounters the Angels and becomes the lifeline for the Doctor and Martha to return to the present. The audience only sees the Doctor in person a few times throughout the episode, with their longest scene being a recorded videotape message giving Sally instructions to find the Tardis and stop the angels. Mulligan is a great actress, and the episode is so good that the viewer barely misses the Doctor.
9 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996–2003) – “The Wish”
Season 3, Episode 9
After getting her heart broken by Xander in Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 3, Cordelia makes a wish without thinking that has dire consequences for the entire world. “The Wish” marks the first appearance of Anya, who’s still a vengeance demon, when she comes to town after sensing Cordelia’s deep feeling of betrayal. After some goading, Cordelia wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale, and Anya grants her request. From the beginning, it’s Cordelia’s episode, and Buffy is gone or in the background.
Cordelia wakes up to find Sunnydale ravaged by vampires, as Buffy wasn’t there to stop the Master from rising. Willow and Xander have been turned into vampires, and Giles is fighting against the forces of evil with a ragtag group of students. Towards the end of the episode, Buffy reappears, but she’s not the Buffy that audiences know and love. She’s independent, stubborn, and uninterested in working with others, and in this alternate reality, the Master kills her.
8 Atlanta – “B.A.N.”
Season 1, Episode 7
Donald Glover’s character, Earn, is only addressed offscreen in the Atlanta season 1 episode “B.A.N.,” as the majority of the story revolves around Paper Boi’s experience on a talk show on the Black American Network. Brian Tyree Henry is at his best in “B.A.N.,” touching upon relevant social issues like the intersection of gender and race in his conversation with an activist who’s invited to speak alongside him. The episode is intercut with surrealist commercials and asides of different characters who’ve never been seen before.
Glover has proven himself to be a visionary in film, television, music, and many other facets of the creative industries.
Glover has proven himself to be a visionary in film, television, music, and many other facets of the creative industries. Donald Glover’s best movies and TV shows include Atlanta at the top of the list, as his contributions as a writer, actor, and director made the show the incredible work of television that it is. “B.A.N.” was both written and directed by Glover, and his absence from the episode allows Henry to shine and for the audience to learn more about Paper Boi and the show’s take on the political climate without bogging down the overarching story.
7 Smallville (2001–2017) – “Gemini”
Season 7, Season 9
Lois Lane takes center stage in the Smallville episode “Gemini,” as Clark has been missing from Smallville. However, he reappears and works with Lana to save Chloe from a bomb that Adrian has planted. Adrian reveals to Lois that he’s a clone Lex Luthor created, and by the end of the story, Grant realizes that he’s one of Lex’s clones as well. “Gemini” is full of shocking betrayals and revelations between the secondary characters in Smallville.
Tom Welling is still present in the episode but as Bizzaro instead of Superman. Bizzaro is masquerading as Clark throughout the episode, making it seem as though he’s present when he’s frozen in the fortress of solitude. Though the actor who plays Clark is in the episode, the actual character never makes an appearance. It’s a clever way to subvert audience expectations and set up the frightening arc with Bizarro that unfolds in the later episodes.
6 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) – “Lower Decks”
Season 7, Episode 15
The “redshirt” stereotype for disposable characters originated from the Star Trek franchise, but the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Lower Decks” subverts this trope. In the season 7 episode, a group of junior officers go through the trials and tribulations of moving up in the ranks of Starfleet and how every day can turn into a dangerous mission aboard the ship. While the show usually chronicled the stories of the senior officers on the bridge, “Lower Decks” reminded the audience that there are teams of important people working below their feet.
“Lower Decks” has been singled out as one of the best episodes of the series many times and is a highlight of the seventh season.
“Lower Decks” shows why Patti Yasutake’s Nurse Ogawa was so important to Star Trek: TNG, as Yasutake’s performance is the emotional heart of the story. The story of the episode becomes surprisingly poignant and emotional, as the death included in the narrative is a devastating moment of loss for the characters who aren’t often centered by the series. “Lower Decks” has been singled out as one of the best episodes of the series many times and is a highlight of the seventh season.
5 The Sopranos (1999–2007) – “Pine Barrens”
Season 3, Episode 11
Though James Gandolfini usually carried every episode of The Sopranos, he’s almost completely absent in “Pine Barrens,” which centers on Christopher and Paulie. While Christopher’s backstory and side stories had been developed up to this point, Paulie remained more of a mystery despite his growing tension with Tony. While The Sopranos consistently paints its characters as deeply flawed and imperfect, Paulie and Chris are at their worst in “Pine Barrens,” making it a scrutinizing character study.
The episode sees Christopher and Paulie lost and trapped in the New Jersey Pine Barrens in the middle of winter to dump the body of a rival mafia member. “Pine Barrens’ devolves into a narrative reminiscent of Lord of the Flies as Chris and Paulie have to survive in the wilderness in ways they never have before. Additionally, they are forced to grapple with the violence of their actions and the fact that Tony cares little about their safety and lives.
4 The Last Of Us (2023–Present) – “Long, Long Time”
Season 1, Episode 3
The Last of Us is one of the most faithful video game adaptations on TV, but episode 3 of the series, “Long, Long Time,” reimagined an aspect of the game in a beautiful way. Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett play Bill and Frank, lovers who meet and build a life together during the apocalypse. Joel and Ellie hit the road heading to their home for help, and the story splits off, explaining the backstory of the two men and their relationship.
Though they fall for each other in the midst of violence, the narrative that unfolds in the narrative is human and relatable.
Though they fall for each other in the midst of violence, the narrative that unfolds in the narrative is human and relatable. Joel and Ellie are in the story at the beginning and end of the episode, but the love story and experience of growing old together in the middle of violence is what sustains the project. The Last of Us is a generally violent and unforgiving show, demonstrating some of the worst of humanity, and “Long, Long Time” is an empathetic look at people’s experiences and a welcome change from the cruelty.
3 The Bear (2022–Present) – “Honeydew” & “Forks”
Season 2, Episodes 4 & 7
The Bear season 2 has some of the strongest episodes of the series, and there are two incredible standalone stories within the arc. “Honeydew” sees Marcus travel to Copenhagen to work in a different kitchen and expand his horizons to develop new desserts for the restaurant. Marcus is one of the characters that the series hadn’t focused on as much, and “Honeydew” opened viewers’ eyes to his relationship with food, his career, and himself. His conversations with guest star Will Poulter reveal a lot about him and leave Carmy in the background.
Conversely, “Forks” has a few scenes between Ritchie and Carmy, but the episode primarily deals with Ritichie’s time in another Chicago kitchen, which changes him forever. One of the highest-rated episodes of the season, “Forks,” explains to the audience what makes the fine dining industry so special and humanizes Ritchie in an unexpected way. He learns a lot and decides that working at the restaurant and giving people amazing experiences with food is what he wants.
2 BoJack Horseman (2014–2020) – “See Mr. Peanutbutter Run”
Season 4, Episode 1
In the season premiere of BoJack Horseman season 4, the somewhat nebulous character of Mr. Peanutbutter is explored in “See Mr. Peanutbutter Run.” After the explosive events of the season 3 finale, BoJack is missing from the series, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats wondering what happened to him. However, Mr. Peanutbutter’s bid for Governor of California is more than enough to capture the attention of viewers in the episode.
Diane starts to realize that she isn’t happy with Mr. Peanutbutter and tries to get in contact with BoJack, but he remains out of the picture.
Much of the episode is a searing comment about the nature of politics and campaigns in the U.S., and BoJack Horseman was always a series that was in conversation with relevant cultural and social issues. However, the story is equally about Mr. Peanutbutter’s rise to fame and the events that made him the man he is, as well as his relationship with Diane. Diane starts to realize that she isn’t happy with Mr. Peanutbutter and tries to get in contact with BoJack, but he remains out of the picture.
1 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) – “Zuko Alone”
Season 2, Episode 7
Zuko’s character arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best redemption stories ever seen on TV, in animation or live-action. While Zuko is a vital character in the series, he serves as an antagonist until the final season, and Aang is inarguably the protagonist of the show. Aang is nowhere to be seen in “Zuko Alone,” as the episode picks up with Zuko exiled in the Earth Kingdom after having parted ways with his Uncle Iroh.
Zuko has spent his life believing the rhetoric of the Fire Nation and his tyrant father, even after he was banished. However, his time with an Earth Kingdom family whose son is fighting in the war and the people who prey on them changes him. “Zuko Alone” is a turning point for Zuko and is one of his first steps towards becoming a hero and joining forces with Aang. The episode demonstrates why Zuko is one of the best and most complex characters in the show.
