18 Best TV Episodes Of 2017 (So Far)

2. The Book Of Nora - The Leftovers

The third run of The Leftovers is one of the most powerful and gorgeous seasons of television in recent memory, and it's all perfectly capped off by The Book of Nora, which is its strongest episode (though The Most Powerful Man In The World... ran it very close) and one of the series' very best.

The final season is all about bringing closure, so much so that by the time we reach the finale it doesn't even need to feature most of the characters. It's a stunning achievement - and testament to the work of Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta et al - that the final episode can focus almost solely on Nora - introduced as a supporting character - and be so captivating.

After a brief moment at the start between her and Matt, Carrie Coon is largely left to, er, carry the episode. She's done great work on two TV shows this year, but this is her masterpiece, making you feel absolutely everything the character is experiencing. It is, of course, beautifully directed by the great Mimi Leder, especially in its closing moments.

Anyone searching for too many answers should've learned better by this point. Instead what we get is a mediation on life, loss, and ultimately love, with those moments between Kevin and Nora a standout, giving this unique series a touching, satisfying, and incredibly human send-off.