Television as a medium is perfect for creatives to tell extended stories, often stretching storylines out across episodes and even seasons. While films are forced to wrap things up within a couple of hours, TV shows can take their time to really develop their characters. This leads to fans becoming engrossed in their favorite shows, often feeling like they are saying goodbye to some of their closest friends when the show eventually ends.
While each episode usually works to move the narrative further, sometimes a series may make a diversion and tell a standalone story removed from the show’s central plot. These may feature regular cast members or even brand-new characters as they tell a self-contained story that wraps everything up in one episode. Often these episodes are perfect introductions for new viewers to understand the core concepts of a show.
5 ‘Lost’ – “Ab Aeterno” (2010)
Before Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, Lost was the most talked about series on television, as viewers shared their predictions about the nature of the island after each new episode. It made for event television, as the writers would often throw a new curveball into the mix every few episodes to keep fans guessing. Richard (Nestor Carbonell) was always one of the most mysterious members of the show’s stacked cast, and “Ab Aeterno” finally provided some answers about the island’s immortal resident. Beginning as a devoted husband in 1867, the acclaimed episode shows how he reached the island and gained his abilities.
