Top 11 of 2011: The Biggest Moments

As we prepare to usher in a new year of television, I have compiled a list of my favourite TV moments and highlights of 2011. It's been a while since I was this excited about television again, considering that past few years haven't yielded much in the way of quality entertainment, but 2011 has been a rather great year.


11. Chuck & Sarah tie the knot: Chuck 4.24 'Chuck Vs. the Cliffhanger'

It took 4 seasons, but the inevitability of Chuck and Sarah finally took hold when they made their vows in the wonderful fourth season finale.

I always root for the underdogs, and Chuck and Sarah’s romance was just that. There were a lot of obstacles during the first three seasons, and we all knew where it was going to end up, but seeing it finally come true was a dream for ‘Chuck’ fans.

10. "Bitch, I Worked at a Bank!": Top Model All Stars

It finished with one of the most questioningly strange endings, but the Top Model All-star cycle boasted some gems from its less than intelligent competitors over the course of the 13 episode cycle. From the run-f-the-mill “in it to win it” statements, to outbursts like this one, cycle 17 was bursting with entertainment, regardless of its lack of credibility.

Angelea is the definition of an over-inflated ego, and it’s sad to have to mow down her hilarious statements to just one, but her justification of class in this classic top model moment should go down in reality TV history. Well done, Angelea. The runner-up for best Top Model moment was Allison’s quick disposal of shots in Greece. She should be made president, or something.

09. Naomi Faces Mr. Cannon: 90210 3.12 'Liars'

Following the devastation that a rape can have on a young girl wasn’t something that 90210 did with complete accuracy, but when it leads to dramatic moments like this one, all of the build up is worth it.

It must be a complete mind-fuck to be faced with the opportunity to get back at someone who hurt you in one of the worst ways imaginable, but all of the constant development that the writers have done to Naomi over the years paid off when she proved herself the bigger person. I doubt anything as powerful as this will come up again, but even the small hope that something half as great as this could happen again is enough to keep me watching.

08. The Curse Begins: Once Upon a Time 1.01 'Pilot'

'Once Upon a Time' has been one of the series that has re-defined the type of stories that can be made applicable in a TV setting. The pilot was one of the best starts I’ve ever seen for a fantasy series. Though it’s flashbacks open it up to constant ‘Lost’ comparisons, the truth of the matter is that it is far superior to it, and so far has demonstrated that it has a much clearer picture of the direction it wishes to take than ‘Lost’ ever did.

The curse began in the pilot, when we witnessed the Evil Queen tear down the world that each of the characters belonged in. It clever utilised their identities to allow them to take on a meaningful position in the ‘real world’. It also ensured that the scope for a potential long-running series exists with a story that can easily continue on for a number of seasons, and not feel like an overwrought mess.

07. Jessica Meets the Sun: True Blood 4.07 'The Cold Grey light of Dawn'

As a rule, any cliff-hanger that ends with the fate of a regular character up in the air can generally be disregarded, but because of all the other facts that worked in its favour, Jessica’s near-miss as a result of Sofia’s spell was one of the greatest moments of its already amazing fourth season.

There was a lot going on when this episode reached its climax, but by marrying the big spell with Jessica’s proclivity of being one of the weaker vampires in Bon temps, one would be honestly worried that she might have met her end. Of course she didn’t though. It was the moment when the pace of season 4 really picked up.

06. Sarah Michelle Gellar is Back: Ringer 1.01 'Pilot'

It may not have been in the way it should have been, but for all intents and purposes she’s back.

‘Ringer’ hasn’t been the greatest platform that she could have used to launch herself back into the television game, considering her affiliation with one of the greatest cult programmes of all time, but it’s been great to see her again, and ‘Ringer’ isn’t all that bad...really.

05. "She's Not the Only Child of Blackwell...": The Secret Circle 1.09 'Balcoin'

I’m one of the people who have been impressed with Kevin Williamson’s newest creation so far. It has proven that it won’t be left in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ footsteps, and while it’s pacing has been a lot slower, it has till maintained a level of intrigue that has so far kept me invested.

While ‘The Vampire Diaries’ constantly throttles us with big revelation after revelation, ‘The Secret Circle’ has yet to demonstrate that ability in any big way. Until now. After Jake’s big secret was finally made public, the viewers also learned that Cassie isn’t the only witch who will be struggling with her dark side. She has a sibling. It opened up so many different possibilities and kept my mind whirling over this way too long hiatus as to where they will decide to go with it next.

04. The Game Changes: Game of Thrones 1.10 'Fire and Blood'

My devotion to the series is merely out of a desire to ensure I’m kept in the loop when it comes to a major television event like this one. There were a number of times when ‘Game of Thrones’ went a tad bit OTT, but it was never one for going easy on its characters, or taking the easy way out of a storyline that would only end up one way.

You have to give the writers credit for not only following its source material, but also ensuring that it keeps those who already know the story entertained in the meantime.  This big moment, along with Ned's shocking death, really solidified my love for 'Game of Thrones' in a way I never thought possible. Killing off your big lead is a ballsy move, but I have no doubt that it will only serve as a catalyst for propelling the story into an even bigger scope.

03. "Is That Aria?!": Pretty Little Liars 2.03 'My Name is Trouble'

‘Pretty Little Liars’ has been one of the most consistently entertaining soaps on television, never promising anything less than over-the-top trash. Its basic premise is too silly to evoke any real eeriness, but the confrontation between Aria and Jenna in ‘My Name is Trouble’ was the best moment the series ever had.

Tammin Sursok has been the greatest of the supporting cast members, but in this scene the darkness that surrounds Jenna was broken down to a vulnerable core then built up to thoroughly menacing rival in a matter of seconds. Not only did it have some of the best creative work the series has ever shown, but the performances by both Tammin and Lucy were nothing short of perfect.

02. The Barn Door Opens: The Walking Dead 2.07 'Pretty Much Dead Already'

Given the levels of utter boredom that ‘The Walking Dead’ reached during its second season, it’s surprisingly nice that it would manage to make sense of it all in one tiny scene that was filled with not only gore and violence, but complete devastation and heart-break.

We were saddled with endless clues, and trips back and forth to the woods, the only fruitful excursion being the episode that finally deconstructed the mystery that was Daryl, so it was a complete surprise that it would all make sense in one short excerpt that made all the tediousness make sense, and also ensured that ‘The Walking Dead’ isn’t here for happy endings.

01. Jenna's Sacrifice: The Vampire Diaries 2.21 'The Sun Also Rises'

Considering how little an impact Jenna made on ‘The Vampire Diaries’, it’s unbelievably bizarre that her death was the most painful and dramatic moments, not only for the series as a whole, but for television in general.

The series has constantly moved back and forth between complete trashy-fun to genuinely well produced television, but only during the tail end of its second season did it cement itself as a force to be reckoned with. Considering the shaky ground it once started on, this scene is made even more poignant. It has somehow become one of the greatest fantasy series around, and that's something that never should have happened with a series that was nothing but a cheap shot at riding the vampire craze. Leave it to ‘The Vampire Diaries’ to make its most useless character awesome then kill her off the following episode. Jeez.

So, here's to an even bigger 2012; Happy New Year!