10 Greatest TV Episodes Of All-Time

8. "Pine Barrens" - (3.11) The Sopranos

Though many have tried to put into words what, exactly, makes the eleventh episode of The Sopranos' fantastic third season great, it seems to have become increasingly apparent that the genius of "Pine Barrens" can't really be made plain. That's to say, there's a strange kind of mysticism that surrounds this particularly memorable 60 minutes, which sees Christopher and Paulie lost in the woods when a murder goes horribly wrong. The result is a perfect blend of jet black comedy and compulsive drama.

The Sopranos worked best, of course, when it fused comedy and drama to create a strange kind of hole, and no episode immortalises the flavour and spirit of HBO's greatest ever show lie "Pine Barrens." Most people remember this episode due to its now infamous lingering plot thread, as the boys fail to catch up with their target - a target who is never mentioned or seen again in any episode. Creator David Chase was pushing boundaries here, of course, but even at its most basic level, "Pine Barrens" is real genius.