20 Best TV Episodes Of 2018

19. Furs By Sebastian - Maniac

Maniac Furs By Sebastian
Netflix

Another strange, mystery box series, Netflix's Maniac was a manic drug-addled trip through the minds of Annie (Emma Stone) and Owen (Jonah Hill) that spoke to the power of human connection and the pros and cons of self-medication, while taking us on some wild journeys inside their heads.

Episode 4, titled Furs By Sebastian, is when Maniac really started firing on all cylinders and realising its full potential. With Owen and Annie under the influence of the drug trial, we're transported to an alt-reality that essentially serves as a riotous riff on the Coen's Raising Arizona - just this time, with a lemur.

It's a deviation from the main narrative thread, but it works as a superb crime caper; Stone and Hill's chemistry shines brightest here, with the latter in particular getting to show off her comedic chops (and flair for accents). There's art-deco stylings, a death dance, a mob-shootout, and a kidnapped lemur. It's as weird as possible, but that's matched by how wonderful it is.

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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.