20 Best TV Episodes Of 2018

6. Falling - Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects Falling
HBO

Before a finale to set your teeth on edge, we were all Falling. In the seventh episode of HBO's gorgeously horrifying Southern Gothic mystery, we're tumbling down towards the big reveals, Amy Adams' Camille is spiralling out into something she can't control. And all the pieces are falling into place.

As penultimate episodes go, this is a stunner - not that we should've expected anything less from Sharp Objects. It's an hour that has to setup an awful lot of things (and an awful lot of awful things, for that matter), but it never feels like table dressing. If anything, this is turning the table over and letting everything on it crash down to the floor.

It's in Jean-Marc Valleé's beautiful, hauntingly elliptical direction and editing; in Gillian Flynn & Scott Brown's razor-sharp, twisted script; in the terror imbued by Adora, the quiet strength of Camille, the suffering of Amma, that this episode rises above the others.

It's a little bit of sweet before the bitter; the kind of taste that never leaves your tongue.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.