30 Memorable TV Moments from 2018

Television did a lot of amazing things year.

As we finish looking at the best of 2018 when it comes to TV, our staff members are recalling some of the moments that stood out most to them this year from shows including 9-1-1, The Handmaid’s Tale, Grey’s Anatomy, Legends of Tomorrow, and more. 

Here’s a look at our staff’s most memorable TV moments from 2018:

1. Hen Stands up for Herself (9-1-1)

The moment on 9-1-1 where Hen stands up for herself against her bigoted captain sends chills down my spine every time I watch it. It’s a show of strength for all women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ members who have to work in any sort of hostile workplace.

– Mary Misasi

2. The Power of Beebo (Legends of Tomorrow)

The best moment in television this year was without a doubt, the season finale of Legends of Tomorrow. The entire team calls on the power of Beebo to help them defeat Mallus once and for all.

This was truly a defining moment for the show, mixing in teamwork, magic, and just the right amount of cheese. Only the Legends could pull something off like this! Bravo!

– Charles E. Henning

3. “Personal Jesus” (Grey’s Anatomy)

April Kepner’s eyes in the shower scenes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 10, “Personal Jesus,” are particularly haunting. You don’t even need the voiceover to tell you a switch has flipped in her. It’s sad, but at the time there was something beautiful about it that I can’t quite put into words.

– Esme Mazzeo

4. Oprah at the Golden Globes

Oprah’s speech at this past year’s Golden Globes was one of the best award show speeches I have seen ever and it was certainly the call to arms and inspiration many of us needed– and still need — this year.

Additionally, with so many different ways to take in television (Netflix, On Demand, cable, etc.), there aren’t a lot of moments that feel like a trued shared television experience, but this one did. Everyone I was friends with was texting, tweeting, or commenting about Oprah’s speech, praising her passionate rally cry.

– Cristina Iskander

5. Scoobynatural

For me, it’s definitely Scoobynatural, the crossover between Supernatural and Scooby-Doo. Combining these two of my favorite things seemed risky at first, but it culminated in one of the funniest, most exciting TV episodes of the year. Adding Sam, Dean, and Castiel to the Scooby gang was such an interesting idea. Here’s hoping for more in the future!

– Nick Hogan

6. Madam Satan’s Line About Women in Power

Earlier this year, I happened to read a Guardian article that asked if witches were the ultimate feminists, and it stayed with me for over a year. There’s something about Chilling Adventures of Sabrina that seemed to take the same undertone.

One of my favorite moments, that sticks with me is when Madam Satan is trying to get Sabrina to sign her name is The Book of the Beast in “Chapter 10: The Witching Hour,” and she says:

MADAM SATAN: I know you’re scared Sabrina. Because all women are taught to fear power. Own your power. Don’t accept it from the Dark Lord. Take it. Weild it. Save your friends.

This is the kind of quote that I need to put on the front of a notebook or on a post-it where I’ll see it daily.

– Lauren Busser

7. Jack Emerges from the Fire (This is Us)

Airing after the Superbowl, the episode when we finally saw how Jack died on This is Us was the ultimate emotional night of television. Even though we *knew* his cause of death was from that fire, that small moment of hope when he emerges from the fire with Kate’s dog was incredibly powerful, and made his death later feel that much more tragic.

– Ashley Bissette Sumerel

8. Waverly and Jolene (Wynonna Earp)

The final confrontation between Waverly and Jolene on Wynonna Earp Season 3 Episode 5, “Jolene,” left a really lasting impression on me. There was such sincerity and honesty in both the writing and performances that it felt bigger than the confines of the story.

It struck such a personal note that certain moments were almost uncomfortable to watch. Ultimately though, it was that rawness that made it feel validating and what stays with me. I still think about that episode and scene a lot.

– Sarah Fields

9. Jessica Lange Returns to American Horror Story

One of the big hooks for this year’s installment of anthology series, American Horror Story, was that it promised to bring back several fan-favorite characters from previous iterations of the show. (Specifically from its first season, subtitled “Murder House,” and its third, called “Coven.”) The season didn’t disappoint, featuring returns from famous alums like Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Angela Bassett, Emma Roberts, Frances Conroy, Taissa Farmiga, as well as several AHS regulars such Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters pulling double duty by playing both new and old characters.

But the best moment of the season, without doubt, was the return of Jessica Lange as Murder House’s Constance Langdon, an utterly iconic role for which she won an Emmy and which helped to make the first season of AHS such a breakout hit.

Lange, who hasn’t been seen on AHS since 2014’s Freak Show has been sorely missed, and Constance’s reappearance gave added emotional heft to the rise of Michael, the Anti-Christ. (You know, since he was her grandson and all.) “Return to Murder House” was by far the best episode of the season, and it turns almost entirely on Lange’s involvement in it.

– Lacy Baugher

10. Multiple Janets (The Good Place)

Holy shirtballs! It’s clear we’re big fans of The Good Place at Tell-Tale TV, but it’s just that good. Season 3 has been stellar, but Darcy Carden’s performance on this midseason finale is what dreams — and Emmys — are made of.

Carden always does great work but her turn as the Janet version of all of the core four, Eleanor, Jason, Chidi, and Tahani, coupled with her performances of them impersonating each other, was the comedic moment of the year for me.

– Cristina Iskander

11. Avery Comes Home (Murphy Brown)

Okay, we didn’t really think Murphy Brown would end its season with a holiday episode in which the title character’s son is hurt or killed while reporting in Afghanistan, but it’s a relief to have him home and a joy to end the season on this relationship that has brought so much to the revival.

Bonus: there is still material there that could be used for storylines next season (hint, hint, CBS!)  

– Caitlin Wyneken

12. Felicity’s Speech About What Being Part of Team Arrow (Arrow)

For everything that Arrow Season 6 was rough in terms of more than a few story choices, there was one that stood out and it was the development of the Queen-Smoak family. Felicity’s speech on Arrow Season 6 Episode 11, “We Fall,” is one of those moments.

The way that the scene is interwoven with Felicity explaining to William the kind of life she and Oliver lead and what that means for their family as Oliver’s out in the field adds something to the moment (and everything we’ve seen in Season 7) that still has me thinking about it even as 2018 closes out.

– Brianna Martinez

13. Jesus Meets The Whisperers (The Walking Dead) 

Throughout Season 9, The Walking Dead had teased that the walkers were evolving but it’s not until the mid-season finale, in a horrifying graveyard showdown, that the show reveals amongst the undead hide people in skin suits awaiting the right time to make themselves known.

The moment The Whisperers do reveal themselves is devastating to watch as one of the walkers dodge Jesus’ sword and stabs him in the back with it. While it’s hard to separate feelings of bitterness over Jesus’ underutilized character and premature death, his final moments are spent kicking ass and reminding us just how awesome this show’s zombie premise can still be.

Jesus’ death does set up for one of the eeriest villain introductions on any show EVER and the unpredictability and terror The Whisperers managed to demonstrate within a single moment is incredibly unnerving — but undeniably thrilling.

– Alicia Gilstorf

14. Stan Confronts Phillip and Elizabeth (The Americans) 

The Americans Season 6 paid off multiple slow burns, but none more than Elizabeth and Philip’s neighbor and FBI agent, Stan Beeman, confronting the two spies as they made their escape with their daughter Paige in a parking garage.

It’s a scene that is filled with unbearable with tension as Phillip and Elizabeth try to lie their way out with Stan like they’ve done a thousand times before. Stan has been in the dark for so long, but he finally knows all and has the upper hand.

Phillip ultimately realizes only the truth will save them. Every actor brings their A-game, and it’s a scene worth waiting six years for. The friendship between Stan and the Jennings was built on a lie, but the love the FBI agent had for this family was very real.

– Jennifer Knutson

15. Penelope struggles with PTSD (One Day at a Time)

Justina Machado’s performance in “Hello, Penelope” was absolutely gutwrenching as it took a closer look at the character’s PTSD, addressing all aspects which is something rarely done.

The struggles, the highs and lows of mental health, and the effect it can have on those around you was such a pivotal moment for Penelope and her family. It is such a rarity on television to have that kind of representation addressing a mental health disorder in such a real and honest way.

– Hillary Esquina

Next Page