18 Best TV Moments Of 2018

1. The Face Off - The Americans

For the standout scene in its very last episode, The Americans goes back to the very beginning. The show's pilot ended with Stan searching the Jennings' garage, suspicious of his new neighbours. It isn't the end here, but it's nonetheless fitting that the conclusion hinges on what happens when Stan comes face-to-face with them in a parking garage, finally knowing the truth after all these years.

The confrontation, which sees Stan opposite Phillip, Elizabeth, and Paige, is every bit as intense as you'd expect from the spy thriller part of The Americans. But even more impressively, it's the family drama aspect of the show that comes to the fore, turning this not just into an 'aha!', but something profoundly sad. This is only partly about an FBI Agent catching Russian spies, It plays heavier on the friendship that existed between Stan and Phillip, of the betrayal of trust, the lies, the broken bonds, and the difficult decisions that must be made.

It would've been easy to turn this moment into a fireworks display. Instead, they go for something a little quieter, but with the incredible performances from Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, the beautiful writing from series creators Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and taut direction from Chris Long, we have one of the most powerful scenes of the entire series. This, right here, is The Americans.

What were your favourite TV moments from 2018? Let us know down in the comments.